Pain can arise from many different systems in the body. Treating symptoms alone, without appropriate assessment, may delay identification of important underlying conditions. Equally, repeated investigations without a clear management plan can increase distress and disability.

For this reason, pain care often benefits from an interdisciplinary approach, where healthcare professionals work together to:

Exclude serious or time-sensitive conditions

Identify modifiable contributors to pain

Support function and daily participation

Guide safe, long-term symptom management

Acute Pain

Acute pain usually has a recent and identifiable cause, such as injury, infection, or inflammation. Assessment focuses on determining the cause and ensuring that appropriate treatment is initiated promptly.

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain persists beyond expected healing time and may continue even after an initial injury has resolved. In many cases, pain is influenced by a combination of factors including tissue changes, nervous system sensitivity, health conditions, lifestyle factors, and psychosocial stressors.

Chronic pain does not always indicate ongoing damage, but it does require structured assessment and management.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common contributors to persistent pain, particularly affecting weight-bearing joints such as the spine, hips, and knees.

It is a long-term condition involving changes to joint cartilage, bone, and surrounding tissues. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, reduced movement, and functional limitation.

Management focuses on:

Education and activity modification

Maintaining joint strength and mobility

Weight and metabolic health where relevant

Pain management strategies tailored to the individual

Early assessment allows for more targeted, effective care.

Headache Disorders and Migraine

Headaches are a frequent cause of both acute and chronic pain. There are multiple headache types, and accurate diagnosis is important for appropriate management.

Migraine is a common neurological condition that may involve:

Recurrent, often unilateral head pain

Sensitivity to light or sound

Nausea or vomiting

Visual or sensory disturbances (aura) in some individuals

Migraine patterns vary widely between individuals. Management may include education, lifestyle strategies, medication, and trigger identification.

Changes in headache pattern or new neurological symptoms should always be medically assessed.

Pain Following Surgery

Some individuals experience persistent pain after surgery. This may relate to:

The original condition

Tissue healing and nerve sensitivity

Pre-existing health factors

Post-operative rehabilitation and recovery

Optimising health before and after surgery—through movement, nutrition, and medical management—can influence outcomes. Persistent post-surgical pain is complex and benefits from a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach.

Inflammatory Arthritis (Including Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout)

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

RA is an autoimmune inflammatory condition affecting joints and sometimes other organs. It often presents with symmetrical joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.

Diagnosis and disease-modifying treatment are led by a rheumatologist, with interdisciplinary input to support function, lifestyle adaptation, and symptom management.

Gout

Gout is caused by elevated uric acid levels and typically presents as acute, severe joint inflammation—often affecting the big toe. Long-term management focuses on medication, dietary strategies, and lifestyle modification to reduce flares and joint damage.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Syndromes

Fibromyalgia is characterised by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and heightened sensitivity to sensory input. It is associated with altered pain processing rather than ongoing tissue injury.

Symptoms may include:

Generalised pain and stiffness

Fatigue and non-restorative sleep

Cognitive difficulty (“brain fog”)

Headaches and gastrointestinal symptoms

Management is multimodal and may include education, movement-based rehabilitation, psychological support, and symptom-focused strategies.