Pre-Clinic Pain Education:
This is an online pain introductory education session held every month to provide an understanding of chronic pain and introduce the skills and techniques of pain management, to help you prepare for your appointment.
Pain Programs and Classes
Pain can affect many areas of your life, decrease your quality of life and stop you from living the life you want. St Vincent's Pain Service aims to help you change your pain and return to a meaningful life.
After your assessment with the pain specialist, they may recommend that you would benefit from being seen by allied health (physiotherapist and psychologist) to further assess whether a pain change program or class may be of assistance in your recovery. Staff can discuss with you the details of the individual classes or programs that they feel may be best suited to your needs.
The Pain Change Programs - 'Reboot' and 'Renew'
The aim pain programs is to equip you with knowledge, confidence and skills to help self-manage your pain, improve your quality of life and function. To achieve these aims the programs provide information and training in:
The programs are offered several times a year, with a maximum of 8 people per program. Further details can be provided for interested patients.
The Classes
Various classes are offered for those who may not need, or be ready, to attend a full program. These classes cover some of the factors that, evidence shows, influence the pain system. The classes are: exercise classes, a tai chi class, movement exploration class, relaxation class, mindfulness class, and new habit forming class. The exercise and movement classes are specifically designed for to help you start moving differently at a level which is right for you.
The Pain Management Program Online
The Pain Management Program Online is a collaboration between the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), headed by Prof Gavin Andrews and the Department of Pain Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, headed by A/Prof Steven Faux.
It is an automated, clinician-guided pain management program that is delivered over the internet to consist of educational lessons, personalised graded exercise plans and video demonstrations, relaxation strategies and various resources to help patients learn to self-manage their pain and improve their quality of life. Designed to enhance patient care, this program provides a low-cost, easily accessible intervention for patients with chronic pain who cannot be reached by our service, and for those who require additional support after completing the on-site Reboot Program.
The Pain Management Program Online is based upon St Vincent’s Hospital’s ‘Reboot’ Pain Management Program (face-to-face service) and modelled on existing internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (iCBT) programs successfully disseminated by the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD).
The program is unique in that it includes activity based components and a graded exercise program, alongside traditional CBT modules (including pacing, goal setting, activity planning, thought challenging, communication skills, reactivation and stress management).
https://thiswayup.org.au/how-we-can-help/courses/chronic-pain/
If you are a patient and are interested in our online program you need be referred to the program by your clinician (doctor, nurse, physiotherapist or psychologist).
Clinicians need to be registered to be able to refer a patient. Clinicians can register at www.thiswayupclinic.org/users/clinicianRegistration
Further information
If you are interested in one of our programs or classes make sure to discuss this with our team at your pain clinic assessment appointment. Our goal is to work with you to create a plan for assisting with your pain, that uses the best evidence for creating meaningful change, and that works for you as an individual. We look forward to working with you.