Pain that has lasted more than three months changes how you sleep, move, work and feel, and it rarely gets better with a ten-minute appointment. At Red Hill Family Clinic we set aside longer consultations for chronic pain, so your GP has time to understand the whole picture, review what you have already tried, and build a management plan with you that is followed up properly.

Book a long appointment Call (03) 5985 6662

Who this is for

Anyone living with persistent pain, including back and neck pain, arthritis and joint pain, nerve pain, headaches and migraine, fibromyalgia, pain after injury or surgery, and pain related to other long-term conditions. Many of our patients work physically, on farms, vineyards and building sites, and have lived with pain for years. You do not need a referral and you do not need to have seen a specialist first.

What happens at a chronic pain consultation

A full history

Your GP will ask how the pain started, how it behaves, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects your sleep, mood, work and relationships. They will go through every treatment you have tried so far, from physiotherapy and exercise to medicines and surgery, and what happened with each.

Examination and investigations

A physical examination, a review of any scans or specialist letters you already have, and blood tests or imaging where they will change the plan.

A management plan

Chronic pain is best managed from several directions at once. Depending on your situation, your plan may include a graded movement or exercise program, physiotherapy or exercise physiology, sleep and stress strategies, psychological support, a review of your current medicines, and referral to a specialist pain service where needed. Your GP will discuss the treatment options that are appropriate for you and explain the benefits and risks of each.

Follow-up

You will see the same GP at agreed intervals to check what is working, adjust the plan and keep an eye on your overall health. Where your pain is linked to a chronic condition, a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan can give you Medicare support for allied health visits.

Our approach

We take chronic pain seriously and we take it slowly. That means a proper assessment before any treatment decision, honest conversations about what is and is not likely to help, a focus on function and quality of life rather than a single number on a pain scale, and care that is coordinated with the other professionals involved. Our GPs work within Australian clinical guidelines, and any treatment is decided together with you in the consultation.

Fees

Chronic pain consultations are booked as long appointments and are privately billed; they are not bulk billed. A Medicare rebate applies to the consultation. Please ask reception for the current fee when you book, and bring any scans, specialist letters and test results you already have.

Common questions

Do I need a referral?

No. Book a long appointment and tell reception it is for chronic pain.

Which doctors see chronic pain patients?

Dr Harijs (Harry) Pavasaris, who consults at Red Hill, and Dr Rahul Sinha at our Rye clinic both have a particular interest in chronic pain management.

Can this be done by telehealth?

The first appointment is in person so your GP can examine you. Some follow-up appointments can be done by phone or video.

Will you decide my treatment before I come in?

No. Treatment options are discussed and decided with you in the consultation, after a full assessment.