Persistent Pain
Tools to assess function
- ACI Pain Management Network has a range of assessment tools and resources to enable development of a Pain Management Plan
- Patient Specific Functional Scale enables patients to self-report on agreed activity goals
- Pain Disability Index (PDI) helps evaluate the impact of persistent pain on an individual’s life activities
Tools to help explain persistent pain to patients
Short videos that help explain persistent pain and its management :
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain medicine patient resources
Online patient resources that promote self-management
- ACI Pain management network (NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation)
- Pain Health (Department of Health WA)
- Chronic Pain Australia (Non-Government Organisation)
The Australian Pain Management Association offers patient resources and peer support via the Pain Link Helpline - phone 1300 340 357
To find allied health services
- To find an accredited physiotherapist with an interest in pain, visit the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APSA)
- To find an accredited exercise physiologist visit Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA)
- To find a psychologist with an interest in pain visit Australian Psychological Society “find a psychologist”, open the General Health option under Search by Issue and select Pain Management Find a Psychologist | APS (psychology.org.au)
- For other specialised pain services, see Pain Australia national pain services directory
Online cognitive behavioural therapy pain programs
- MindSpot (Macquarie University) – free access for adult Australian residents, four hours per week time commitment over eight weeks
- This Way Up (St Vincent’s Hospital) - free access via clinician referral, eight lessons to be completed over 120 days
Patient resources about exercise and pain
- ACI Pain management network ‘Pain and physical activity’ fact sheet
- ESSA’s ‘Exercise for persisting pain’ e-book
- Exercise is Medicine Australia - chronic musculoskeletal pain factsheet
Resources to support judicious use of opioids
- ACI Pain Management Network ‘Quick steps through opioid management’
- RACGP Prescribing drugs of dependence in general practice, Part C2, ‘The role of opioids in pain management’
- NPS MedicineWise Videos to guide effective conversations between health professionals and patients about the use of opioids for the management of persistent non-cancer pain
- Deprescribing guidelines
Primary Health Tasmania – guides for deprescribing opioids and NSAIDs
NSW Therapeutic Advisory Group opioid deprescribing guide
Patient information about opioids in persistent pain
NPS MedicineWise