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Pain Specialist

Chronic pain affects millions of people worldwide and can significantly impact quality of life, relationships, work, and emotional wellbeing. At our practice, we understand that chronic pain is complex and multifaceted, requiring a comprehensive approach that addresses not just the physical symptoms, but the whole person.

Getting Started: Your Path to Pain Relief

Neuropathic Pain: Caused by nerve disease or damage, often described as shooting, burning, or tingling sensations.

Nociceptive Pain: Results from actual or threatened tissue damage, typically felt as sharp, throbbing, or aching pain in a specific area.

Nociplastic Pain: Pain that occurs without evidence of tissue damage, nerve damage, or pain receptor activation.

Our bodies are closely connected to the nervous system in our brain. This is why pain makes us feel worse emotionally, but also why if we are stressed, anxious or depressed our pain can feel worse. It can be a really frustrating process.

Experiences throughout our life also influence pain. Trauma, child abuse and domestic violence can all influence the way our brain processes information and worsen experiences of pain. These experiences do not cause the pain but they can make your brain more reactive to anything it perceives as a risk.

Pain is a signal telling our bodies there is a danger in the environment. This was an important form of protection when we were cavemen and had to run away from tigers or fight opposing tribes. However, in chronic pain conditions, this protective system can become overactive, sending pain signals even when there’s no immediate threat.

It is important in chronic pain for you to remain as active as possible within a paced limit. Our muscles weaken quickly if we are not using them which then causes us problems in other areas and more pain. Movement can also desensitise the problem area to pain thereby improving symptoms.

There are lots of different types of movement and variety is the best for our bodies.

For many people hydrotherapy (exercise in warm water) allows them to remain fit and strong without worsening their pain. The buoyancy of water supports your body weight while the warmth helps relax muscles and improve circulation.

Yoga can also be very helpful because of the gentle stretching and breath work which helps to relax the body and the mind. The mindful movement and focus on breathing can help break the cycle of pain and stress that often accompanies chronic conditions.

Treatment may involve addressing underlying conditions that contribute to your pain. Medication options can include antidepressants, which are effective for certain pain conditions. However, some pain medications can actually increase pain over time, which is why we combine medical treatment with movement and psychological strategies.

Non-Medication Options
  • TENS machines
  • Meditation and relaxation techniques
  • Gentle exercise programs
  • Psychological support and counseling

Important: Medication alone is not a complete solution. The best long-term outcomes come from addressing pain through movement, mental health support, and medical management together.

  • “Explain Pain” by David Butler and G Moseley – An accessible guide to how thoughts, beliefs, and context influence pain
  • “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk – Explores how trauma affects the body and can contribute to chronic pain
Online Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

A specialist pain physician is a medical doctor with additional training in diagnosing and treating various types of pain conditions. You should consider seeing one if you have been experiencing persistent pain that affects your daily life and function despite trying other treatments.

Specialist pain physicians employ a variety of treatments to help manage pain, including medication management, physical therapy, injections (such as nerve blocks or epidurals), acupuncture, nerve stimulation techniques (like spinal cord stimulation), and psychological treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy. The specific treatment recommended will depend on your individual condition and needs.

Opioids are not usually indicated in the treatment of chronic, non-cancer pain. Dr Lim will work with you to explore alternative treatments and develop a comprehensive pain management plan that may or may not include opioids, depending on the circumstances.

The timeline for experiencing improvement in pain can vary greatly depending on the underlying cause of your pain, the treatments being used, and individual factors such as your overall health and response to treatment. Some people may experience relief relatively quickly, while for others, it may take more time and adjustments to find an effective treatment regimen.

Chronic pain is often a complex and ongoing condition that may not have a definitive cure. However, with proper management and treatment, many people are able to experience significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life despite persistent pain. Specialist pain physicians focus on helping patients learn to effectively manage their pain and regain function, even if complete elimination of pain may not be achievable.  Seeing a rehabilitation physician can also help reduce the impact on your day to day function and reach your functional goals

Pain Specialist

Doctor Chong Han Lim

Call to Make Appointment
Getting Help for Your Chronic Pain
Your First Appointment

You can book directly with Dr. Lim, though a GP referral provides a higher Medicare rebate and gives Dr. Lim important background information about your previous treatments.

Your 60 minute initial consultation takes a whole-person approach, covering:

  • Your pain history and current symptoms
  • Impact on daily activities
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Childhood experiences and trauma history
  • Previous treatments attempted