Patients with persistent pain (lasting for three months or more) where chronic pain in impacts on a patient's physical and/or psychological function and:

• Patient lives within the catchment area for the Interdisciplinary Persistent Pain Centre, Robina. The catchment for the IPPC includes the following Hospital and Health Service Districts: Gold Coast, Darling Downs, West Moreton and South-West. It also covers Northern Rivers NSW to Coffs Harbour in the south.

Prior to referral, it is expected that:

• all active medical investigations and specialist consultations (e.g. orthopaedic, neurosurgery, rheumatology, neurology etc.) are completed
• Insurance and/or Workers’ Compensation claims related to this chronic pain condition are finalised
• acute psychiatric conditions are stable and the patient is engaged in management for this condition
• non-therapeutic drug dependence is stable and being treated by a drug and alcohol specialist.

Who can refer?

Referrals are accepted from a patient’s GP who remains the primary medical contact for the patient during their program at the IPPC.

• How to Refer
• GP referral template

Pain + Activity + Coping + Education = PACE 

PACE is an intensive four-week program (eight sessions) focused on improving physical, emotional, and social wellbeing and quality of life, despite the persistence of pain. 

It aims to increase participation in work, leisure, personal, and social activities and increased personal confidence to manage pain. 

Sessions run from 9am to 2.30pm (5.5 hours per session), on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Mindfulness is a four week program covering the mind and body connection, how to reconnect with thoughts, feelings, and emotions and be more present. The program includes a range of meditations and the below mindfulness meditations. 

The group program sessions run once a week, for four weeks, and are 1.5 hours per session. 

Step Up is a small group program providing education and movement strategies to improve physical health and functioning for people with persistent pain, across all conditions.  

The supervised movement group sessions by physiotherapists assist with reducing fear of movement and building self-confidence in your physical body.  

The sessions run one day per week for four weeks and take two hours per session.  

The water-based Aquatic Physiotherapy Group program is fully supervised by a physiotherapist, and focused on enhancing muscle relaxation, decreasing pain, increasing range of movement, improving balance, and increasing strength. An appointment with a physiotherapist is initially conducted to assess suitability for the program and to set your goals. 

The group program runs one day per week, for four weeks and takes one hour per session. 

Physiotherapists empower people with persistent pain to increase their quality of life by improving physical function and confidence, engaging in valued-life activity, despite pain. Increasing participation in valued activity, is achieved through education about pain, gradual exposure to movement, activity modification and understanding the important role of physical activity in persistent pain management.

Psychologists assess and formulate how biological, psychological, and social factors predispose, precipitate and perpetuate an individual’s experience of persistent pain, to deliver evidence-based psychological treatments to foster greater quality of life and improved mental health and wellbeing.

Occupational Therapists work to enable people to participate in the activities of daily living using goal setting, pacing and energy conservation, environment assessment and modification, and relaxation and sleep management. They can also assist with all aspects of returning to the workforce.

Pharmacists can provide advice on safe and effective medications and address issues to the patient's medical carers. They will provide evidence based education to the patient on different medication options to allow for informed choices including advise on associated risks, and appropriate medication-taking behaviours.

Pain Specialists assess and advise on safely managing the medical aspects of the pain. They work collaboratively with the health professionals in the clinic and your GP.  The assessment is holistic, evaluating the medical aspects of the pain in the context of your overall health. Recommendations are based on this assessment and current research. Time is devoted to explaining the pain and the place of medications, the different treatments and the benefits and risks.

Referral to the Interdisciplinary Persistent Pain Centre does not guarantee review by a Pain Specialist

Patient appointments are conducted face to face, however, we understand that on occasions this might be difficult and in these cases, we can offer a telehealth appointment as a substitute.

What is Pain?

• Pain is both a physical sensation and an emotional experience
• Acute pain is short term pain that results when there is obvious injury/illness
• Acute pain resolves once the injury is healed or the illness ends.

What is Persistent pain?

• Pain that persists past normal healing times of 3-6 months is persistent pain
• A complex problem associated with increased sensitivity of the nervous system.
• Requires a holistic, whole person approach to manage
• Is real – it is not all in your head.

The program includes understanding your pain journey in ways to:

• help to reflect on your pain journey and gain greater understanding of the impact of pain in your life
• assist with adjusting to the life changes caused by pain
• identify your values and whether you are engaging with what is important to you

• Introduce and support you to engage in active self-management strategies.
• Connect with what is important to you and re-engage with meaningful and pleasurable activities.

• Improve your physical function (e.g.walking, strength, balance)
• Increase your ability to undertake daily activities including sports, hobbies and work
• Aid you to safely access areas in your home environment

• Review your pain medication to improve its effectiveness and reduce side effects.
• Understand how to manage acute pain flare ups.
• Assist you to reduce your opioid medication.

• Gaining a greater understanding of the link between lifestyle factors and pain.
• Assist with improving sleep.
• Manage your depression, anxiety and/or stress.
• Learn strategies to improve acceptance, mindfulness of the present moment and future focus.

For more information on what persistent pain is, how to manage it, specific advice for parents and young people, visit the Persistent pain management website on the Queensland Government website.

Persistent Pain Management Series by QLD Health