The pain system involves all of our body’s systems and is a sensible and necessary system that functions to protect our bodies from a perceived threat. Pain changes the way we move, think and behave, so that we take the necessary steps vital for healing or safety.

Sometimes the pain system can be ‘faulty’ and act in unusual ways. Chronic pain or persistent pain is pain that lasts longer than 3 months – beyond the healing period of tissue damage. This generally means that you experience pain despite having no new damage to the tissue. Pain does however impact on your ability to carry out your normal activities, whether these are at home or work, or in social or recreational settings.

People with chronic pain will face different problems and barriers that prevent them from living their normal lifestyle, and stop them from achieving their goals.

In order to help you with these barriers we have developed our Chronic Pain Course in conjunction with the Department of Pain Medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. The course takes a multidisciplinary approach to pain management and is based on the effective Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model. In this course you will learn CBT skills to help better manage your chronic pain and improve your quality of life.

Brisbane, Australia

The Functional Movement Training Centre 

The methodology of Movement Therapy evolved from purely clinical beginnings. Dr David Johnson’s unique awareness of movement proficiency and development of the biomechanics of NeuroHAB defined functional movement, together with his Neurosurgery and spinal surgery practice, allowed the puzzle pieces to be put together to create a clear understanding of why, on a global scale back pain rehabilitation is failing. Incidence, prevalence, and recurrence of back pain symptoms are escalating, being amongst the nations highest economic health burdens. The primary reason for failure to control this epidemic is the misguided approach of targeting back pain symptoms and not the root of the disease which is movement dysfunction. The vast majority of therapies don’t have a definition or a mechanism of correcting the disease of Movement Dysfunction. THIS SETS US APART!

Australia

Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) has a directory to help you find accredited professionals. 

Once in a while, I stumble across a treasure trove of expertise.  The NOI Group mostly provides training and seminars to physical therapists, but with a little sleuthing,  this listing will help you find a top-notch practitioner in your corner of the world.  Use Google to do the rest.

Victoria, Australia

The Rehabilitation Medicine Group was established in 2013 to provide a private and personalised approach to the rehabilitation of chronic pain and disability resulting from disease, injury or illness.

At its core is the philosophy of providing clinically excellent rehabilitation programs of education and exercise to enable a person to better manage their own health. They are passionate about providing the best evidence based rehabilitation solution for you to improve your ability to move, function, work, socialise and play. Dr Nathan Johns, a specialist Rehabilitation Medicine Physician, leads our team of rehabilitation clinicians.

Telephone: +613 9555 7769

Fax +613 8738 1504

Email: reception@thermg.com.au

Australia

Pain Australia provides a pain service directory. 

Adelaide, Australia

The International Spine Centre experts understand how debilitating, lonely and hopeless a back condition can make you feel.

It’s why they've created a truly unique, collaborative inter-disciplinary treatment centre to deliver hope of a life beyond pain.

So far they've helped thousands of sufferers, from 90 year olds to Olympic athletes, with incredible results – and it’s their hope that you are their next success story.

Perth, Australia

Peter O’Sullivan, from Australia, is one bright physiotherapist. I first encountered him when I was trying to figure out what had gone wrong with Tiger Woods’ back. Here he shares his thoughts on Woods’ likely odds in the 2014 PGA tournament.

And here you can learn more about his sports medicine practice in Western Australia.

Here’s a good list of doctors who treat Mind Body Syndrome (MBS) and Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) across the country. The work they do is similar to the psychophysiological approach of Dr. David Schechter, another doctor featured in this resource section, and the acclaimed Dr. John Sarno, who developed the approach.

Austria, Australia, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland

This no-nonsense website is an excellent resource for preventative and therapeutic strength training. Their slogan? “A strong back knows no pain.” They have locations worldwide, and will conduct a free first personal session to lay out your situation and your training goals.