While surgery may have become the reflex response to managing chronic pain, at the Pain Collective, we believe that your pain can be effectively managed without surgery before it becomes necessary to seek surgical intervention. Many of the changes that occur in the body that drive chronic pain can be undone with informed non-surgical management. The Pain Collective believes that non-surgical management is the treatment option of choice for chronic pain because you as a patient experience faster recovery, more comfort, and are at a lower risk of serious complications. Most importantly –conservative treatment with lifestyle changes and diligent carecan result in longer lasting relief. Whilstsurgery does have its place, it is fortunately rarely required. 

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in six adults live with chronic lower back pain. There are many important sensitive structures located in the lower back, which also happens to play a key role in maintaining posture and facilitating movement.  

Pain in the lower back can stem from a range of changes including muscle strain, disc disease, arthritis of the spine, nerve compression, and in many cases, it may even be impossible to identify a particular structural contributor.  

Structural changes that may be present are common in the adult spine, and identifying the root cause is key to choosing the correct treatment for your pain.  

Our aim is, as far as possible, to diagnose the root cause of the pain to ensure effective and lasting management of your pain. We focus on restoring function and reducing pain through a combination of lifestyle strategies like anti-inflammatory nutrition, walking, mindfulness, limber therapy, other therapeutic approaches and interventional pain procedures. When paired with the correct therapy modalities and targeted interventional pain procedures, non-surgical management strategies lead to quicker recovery and better overall patient satisfaction.

Facet block: This is a procedure that targets the specific nerve responsible for danger signals coming from the joints in the spine – known as facet joints. It is a common procedure used in the management of pain in the back or neck. 

Nerve block: A nerve block aims at blocking the danger signals at a single nerve that is responsible for pain. This pain can either come from damage to the nerve itself, chemical irritation of the nerve, or from a damaged structure close to the nerve, such as a large joint. 

Radiofrequency Neuromodulation: Radiofrequency Neuromodulation is an interventional technique that effectively resets the firing threshold of a nerve. Through electromagnetic impulses the nerve raises its firing threshold allowing for chronic and dysregulated danger signals to fade, reducing pain. 

Vagal nerve stimulation: A Vagus nerve stimulator is an external electronic stimulator that delivers a consistent set current to a site that is innervated by the vagus nerve. The Vagus nerve is part of the autonomous nerve system and stimulating this nerve is effective for dealing with pain and sometimes, depression. 

Exercise/physical activity rehabilitation: Responsibly prescribed exercise therapy is great for rehabilitation of various joints and structures within the body. Over time we lose some of our mobility and this can be exacerbated by pain. We believe that movement is the medicine that restores mobility and improves pain.  

Medication Management: Anti-inflammatory medication can play a helpful role in regulating chronic pain but must be prescribed with caution.  There are excellent organic alternatives. Analgesia is reserved for short-term pain management.