Beyond Back Pain: Uncovering New Targets for Chronic Pain Treatment in the UK – It’s not “just in your head” — here’s the nerve pathway behind it
As our world-class Pain Doctors at the London Pain Clinic, regularly explain: long-term pain describe a proven neurological condition in which the nervous system becomes over sensitised. In the case of the latter, the nervous system transmits pain signals even when the individual concerned has not developed any new tissue damage. Moreover, although we would normally expect acute pain (such as the after impact of an injury), to decrease with the healing process, in some instances, “the brain and body continue to send out pain signals long after our body has healed. These signals can be hard to stop, are often intense and at times seem to come for no obvious reason” [1].
This scenario involves an intricate interaction between the brain and the body wherein psychological elements (including stress), influence the sufferer’s pain perception and impact physical tension. This scenario can seriously impact the individual’s everyday life, including their work and home life. And because this condition is so widespread, new innovative targets for long-term pain treatment in the UK, have been implemented by our renowned Pain Specialists here in the Harley Street Pain Clinic.
Chronic Pain Treatment Protocols
After you have had an online or in-person consultation with one of our Pain Doctors, and any necessary examination, tests and scans are completed, you will then be given an accurate diagnosis (something that is not always possible to attain from a GP, as the majority of them have not undergone the necessary additional years of training and in-house clinical expertise in pain, pain management, targeted approaches beyond pharmaceuticals, and the latest research-backed leading-edge treatment options).
Once you have been correctly diagnosed, your Pain Consultant will then draw up a Holistic Personalised Treatment Plan. This is likely to include a synergy of multiple types of treatment. This may comprise:
- Conventional treatment
- The latest state-of-the-art therapies (including targeted physiotherapy)
- Science-backed injectables (including Botox; pain blockers which serve to block the pain signals; and trigger point injections which relieve muscle tightness, tension, and pressure generated by each trigger point. The muscle then relaxes, thereby allowing freedom of movement without pain)
- Topical remedies
- Advice on diet and supplements
- Recommendation on physical activity
- Lifestyle guidance
Did You Know?
Pain is a crucial physiological function that has evolved in order to warn us that we are being impacted by a noxious stimuli. So thus, this minimises: “the risk of tissue damage and protects us against ongoing tissue injury. However, uncontrolled or inappropriate pain may have negative and far-reaching consequences. For instance, in the case of persistent intractable pain, individuals may adopt avoidance behaviour, leading to detrimental changes in mobility, mood and social function” [2].
Nerve Pain: the Main Points
Whenever you have a consultation with one of our Pain Doctors, they will always explain your condition to you, in easy to understand laymen’s terms. Here is a list of the key elements pertaining to neuralgia (nerve pain) that you should be aware of :
- Nerve pain can feel like a burning, stabbing or shooting sensation
- The treatment our Pain Specialists will recommend to ameliorate your nerve pain, depends on the root cause of the issue, and may include a broad range of treatments therapies and injectables that work in synergy to deliver quick optimum results
- Having the right treatment is vital in order to ameliorate your pain and your life back on track [3]
References
[1]. NHS Inform (2025). “What is Chronic Pain?”
[2]. Shuang Liu1 and Leigh Kellih. Physiology of pain—a narrative review on the pain pathway and its application in the pain management. DMR Vol 5 (December 30, 2022).
https://dmr.amegroups.org/article/view/8443/html
[3]. HealthDirect (2025). “Nerve Pain (Neuralgia).”
