Request for referral to secondary care pain services for assessment and treatment.
Persistent or chronic pain conditions can be difficult to
treat, with a poorly defined diagnosis and difficulty in identifying cause or
prognosis. It can be related to specific conditions but often there is no
specific underlying disease process which can be identified to explain the
symptoms. It can have a significant impact on people’s lives and affects mood,
sleep, mobility and social factors such as work or ability to fulfil caring
responsibilities. Medical management of patients with chronic pain is complex –
people often expect a clear diagnosis and effective
treatment but these are rarely available.
Pain services focus on reducing the suffering experienced
by a person with chronic pain. It combines physical, emotional, intellectual,
and social skills to help the individual regain control of their life and
enhance the quality and pleasure of that life despite the pain.
