FAQ
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than six months. The International Association for the Study of Pain (“IASP”) definition of chronic pain is pain lasting more than three months. Chronic pain can be mild or excruciating, episodic or continuous, merely inconvenient or totally incapacitating. With chronic pain, signals of pain remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months or even years. This can take both a physical and emotional toll on a person.
Self-referral?
You can directly request to be seen in the clinic for musculoskeletal-related pain conditions, but it is advisable that you get a referral from your general practitioner as we are provided with more extensive in-depth information about your past medical history and associated contributing factors, which contribute to more thorough treatment options.
How are MSM Pain Clinic's services different from other health providers for pain relief?
Our approach to pain management is comprehensive. We aim to target the pain at the source rather simply treat or suppress symptoms with medication. Pain medications are used to enable a person to become more active and be more comfortable for a short period time, but the ultimate goal is the reduction of medication over a period of time. Some pain clinics base their treatment philosophy on a change of mind-set and learning to live with pain, but at MSM Pain Clinic we believe your pain is genuine and that there are ways to address the cause of the pain and reduce it and thereby improve overall wellbeing.
If I have been suffering from pain for a long time, can you still help me?
Yes, many people suffer from long-term pain as no one has looked at other possible source of this pain, and until that is addressed the person will continue to suffer. If people are suffering from pain due to complex situations, there is still the possibility to improve their quality of life and reduce medication.
If I have had a back operation and am still suffering from pain, can you do something to control my pain?
Yes, in most instances operation only either remove the perceived source of pain (like disc) or fuse the spine segment but they do not bring about healing and change in the function of nervous system, and one depends on the body's own power to heal and to relieve the pain. After an operation, there can be other possible sources of pain from scarring and extra strain on neighbouring structures. By addressing the possible sources of pain, suffering and quality of life can be improved.
Can MSM Pain Clinic fix my pain?
The human body is different to non-living objects, like cars or computers where one only has to replace parts and fix the object, and no feelings or emotions are involved. At MSM Pain Clinic we advise and educate you, and for your treatment to be successful, it requires full participation by you. If you do not fully participate, or only partially participate in your treatment, you may not experience much in the way of pain relief. There is also no way of predicting the way your body will respond to treatment. We aim to establish the problem, and then work towards a solution, but this is always dependent on how your body reacts to the treatment, and it may take different courses of treatment to achieve a result; however, because each person is different in terms of how they respond, there can be no guarantees.
Do you provide emergency services for acute pain?
No, you need to see your doctor or attend at the emergency department of your local hospital.
What can be expected in the initial and follow up consultation?
- Comprehensive pain assessment and examination by doctor
- Evaluation of medical history and records
- Medication screening
- Thorough explanation of your condition and appropriate medications
- Development of individualized pain management plan
- Set individual goals of treatment and advice
- Office visit: 45 to 60 minutes as needed
If necessary:
- Additional screening and diagnostic testing referrals (X-rays, MRI, etc.)
- Referrals to physiotherapy
Follow up visits:
- Consultation with doctor to report the progress
- Re-examination
- Evaluation of any new testing or reports
- Evaluation of individualized pain management plan
- Review of personal goals and quality of life enhancements, including work activities/requirements and social interactions/relationships
- Clinic visit - 30 minutes
If necessary:
- Referrals for additional testing or evaluation
- Adjustment of medication protocol
Rights
The following 10 rights are your rights as a consumer, and cover my obligations to you as a provider:
Right 1: The right to be treated with respect
Right 2: The right to freedom from discrimination, coercion, harassment, and exploitation
Right 3: The right to dignity and independence
Right 4: The right to services of an appropriate standard
Right 5: The right to effective communication
Right 6: The right to be fully informed
Right 7: The right to make an informed choice and give informed consent
Right 8: The right to support
Right 9: Rights in respect of teaching or research
Right 10: The right to complain