London Pain Clinic provides access to Consultant Specialists in Pain Medicine for the assessment and management of acute and chronic pain conditions.
Our consultants assess each patient individually, taking account of their symptoms, medical history, previous investigations, current medication and treatment goals. Following assessment, the treating consultant may recommend an individualised management plan tailored to the patient’s clinical needs.
Management options may include medication review, rehabilitation advice, specialist investigations, referral to other healthcare professionals, and interventional pain procedures where clinically appropriate.
Where investigations, procedures, treatment, admission or facility-based care are required, these are arranged at hospitals or other appropriately regulated healthcare providers and facilities where the treating consultant holds practising privileges or equivalent authorisation.
Those hospitals, healthcare providers and facilities are separate legal entities and are responsible for their own CQC registration where required, clinical governance arrangements, staffing, premises, equipment, inspection arrangements and facility services.
Conditions Commonly Assessed and Managed by the Consultants
Consultant Specialists in Pain Medicine may assess and manage a wide range of pain conditions, including:
• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Nerve pain
• Head and facial pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Joint pain
• Arthritis-related pain
• Sciatica
• Post-surgical pain
• Complex regional pain syndrome
• Cancer-related pain
• Pelvic pain
• Neuropathic pain
Why Patients Choose Consultant-Led Pain Management
Pain may arise from injury, surgery, inflammation, nerve irritation, musculoskeletal problems, long-term medical conditions or, in some cases, from no immediately obvious cause.
A Consultant Specialist in Pain Medicine is a medical doctor with specialist training and experience in assessing, diagnosing and managing complex pain conditions.
The consultant’s role is to assess the likely cause of pain, review relevant investigations, consider previous treatment, explain appropriate options and recommend a management plan based on the patient’s individual circumstances.
Investigations and Diagnostic Testing
Where clinically indicated, the treating consultant may recommend further investigations such as imaging, pathology testing or specialist diagnostic assessment.
Such investigations are undertaken by separate healthcare, imaging or pathology providers, subject to their own regulatory arrangements, terms and charges.
Interventional Pain Procedures
Where clinically appropriate, a consultant may recommend interventional pain procedures.
These may include:
• Back pain injections
• Spinal injections
• Epidural injections
• Facet joint injections
• Sacroiliac joint injections
• Nerve blocks
• Radiofrequency procedures
• Neuromodulation techniques
• Dorsal root ganglion stimulation
• Occipital nerve stimulation
Interventional pain procedures are undertaken by individual consultants only where clinically appropriate and, where facility-based care is required, within appropriately regulated hospitals or healthcare facilities where the treating consultant holds practising privileges or equivalent authorisation.
The relevant hospital, healthcare provider or facility is responsible for its own CQC registration where required, clinical governance, staffing, premises, equipment, inspection arrangements and facility services.
Types of Pain
Pain can be short-term or long-term and may affect different parts of the body in different ways.
Common categories of pain include:
Acute Pain
Acute pain is usually short-term and may follow an injury, inflammation, infection, surgery or another identifiable cause.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is pain that persists for months or longer. It may be associated with conditions such as arthritis, nerve pain, fibromyalgia, spinal pain or long-term musculoskeletal problems.
Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain arises from irritation, injury or dysfunction affecting the nerves or nervous system. It may cause burning, tingling, shooting, stabbing or electric shock-like symptoms.
Nociceptive Pain
Nociceptive pain arises from actual or potential tissue injury and may involve muscles, joints, bones, ligaments, skin or internal organs.
Personalised Pain Management Plans
Following assessment, the treating consultant may recommend a personalised pain management plan.
This may include medication review, lifestyle advice, rehabilitation strategies, specialist referral, further investigations or interventional procedures where appropriate.
The recommended approach will depend on the patient’s diagnosis, symptoms, clinical findings, previous treatment, medical history and personal goals.
Consultants associated with London Pain Clinic aim to provide clear advice and appropriate treatment recommendations to help patients understand their condition and consider suitable management options.
