Pain Recovery

Pain is an experience, that like a rainbow is different for different people depending on their viewing perspectives. As clinicians we think of pain in 2 broad categories; acute (lasting for several months) and persistent (lasting longer than several months). We make this general distinction because the reasons for the ongoing pain experience starts to change, the longer a pain exists, and the treatment approaches likewise need to change.

With acute pain treatment strategies involve moderating the pain source, for example wound from surgery, contact injury at football or headache associated with stress or mental overload. Treatments can involve strapping or brace application to protect injured tissue, education about relative rest, pacing strategies for pain management and exercises to maintain strength and mobility. With appropriate advice and treatment acute pain settles over the course of a few weeks. We can't speed up the process of healing, but with correct treatment and advice we can optimise your rate of healing and maximise your recovery.

Persistent pain is different in that often tissue healing has taken place, yet degrees of pain persist. The reasons for this are complex and individual. For this reason, it is very important that a specific and detailed assessment is carried out to determine what biological (e.g., unresolved healing, delayed healing, lack of strength/flexibility, sleep quality), social (e.g., concerns relating to work, family, finance, long-term employment), and psychological (e.g., anxiety, stress, depression) factors may be contributing to the ongoing experience of pain.

Our team of Physiotherapists have extensive clinical experience and training and are keen to work with you to assist you better manage your pain. For example, Dr Doug Cary is a musculoskeletal physiotherapy specialist with a special interest in complex pain and sleep disruption. He completed his PhD examining the relationships between spinal pain, sleep quality and sleep posture and has completed a Cognitive Behaviour Treatment course for Pain, through the University of Sydney. Physiotherapists at Esperance Physiotherapy use an evidenced based approach, our pain Recovery Program, to assist you taking control again of your life and overcoming the pain that has frequently taken over your life. We also provide several group classes like GLAD, and Osteoporosis & Strength Class to assist in this recovery process.