National Pain Week 2024, July 22-July 28, aims to bring awareness to conditions and encourages people to seek support and advice from others, rather than suffering in silence.

More than 3.6 million Australians are affected by chronic pain, according to support group Chronic Pain Australia. 

Chronic pain is considered to be pain lasting longer than three months and although it can be a symptom of a known illness or injury, it can also exist without a clear reason at all.

In preparation for National Pain Week, “CityNews” speaks to some of Canberra’s experts in understanding and treating pain.

Pain support with a personal touch

Arthritis ACT can support people no matter what type of chronic pain condition they have, says CEO, Rebecca Davey.

“It’s important to remain active at all ages, to condition muscles that protect against injury”, she says, and Arthritis ACT has solutions for people of varying abilities.

“Many of our programs are held as group programs. This helps keep the costs down for you, but it also means you get to meet other participants who are dealing with similar issues,” she says.

“Sometimes when we’re living with invisible disabilities or illnesses, you feel really isolated because you feel no one else understands. In our programs, everyone understands. Many people come to our programs and make lifelong friends with others who really do ‘get you’.”

Rebecca says Arthritis ACT has staff who are not only experts in their fields, but many are peers in that they also live with the conditions themselves.

“This means we really understand where you are coming from, your fears, your hopes, and what you can do,” she says.

In conjunction with the Capital Region Health Network, Arthritis ACT also runs a free self-help course for those living with any form of debilitating fatigue.

“We also encourage loved ones to join this course with you, to help them to increase their understanding of the challenges that you are facing,” she says.

Arthritis ACT, Pain Support & ME/CFS ACT, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011041 or visit arthritisact.org.au

Expert pain and injury relief 

Dr Trevor Law, sports medicine doctor of Global Health Plus, says feet are important for biomechanical balance, like the foundation of a building, and biomechanical assessment is a significant part of his assessment for any chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Trevor, who started his sports medicine practice in 1992, provides a range of services, including general sports medicine, custom-made foot orthotics and injections for injury recovery.

“The injections include cortisone, platelet rich plasma (PRP) and prolotherapy,” he says, and all injections are done under ultrasound guidance. 

The choice of injection depends on the nature of injury – acute or chronic, Trevor says.

“For chronic painful conditions such as osteoarthritis of hips, knees and ankles, PRP injection, joint fluid replacement injection or cortisone injection can be used with good results,” he says.

Trevor says it is important to have a proper diagnosis of the condition so the appropriate treatment can be offered, and an experienced sports medicine doctor will provide a comprehensive assessment.

“For any pain problem, it is important to find out the underlying cause so that successful treatment is used for long-term effect,” he says.

“It is more effectively treated when the cause of pain is identified early before it becomes chronic.”

Global Health Plus, Unit 4, 19 Napier Close, Deakin. Call 6260 5757. 

Putting Canberra’s best foot forward

“The Walking Clinic was founded in 1978 by Richard Lee, my father,” says Ricky Lee, director and principal podiatrist of The Walking Clinic.

“We were the first podiatry clinic in the region, growing into a network of five clinics across the bush capital.”

The Walking Clinic has also opened a sixth clinic in Manuka.

At The Walking Clinic, employees are treated like family, says Ricky.

“The Walking Clinic’s family-oriented culture sets us apart from larger, corporate-run competitors,” he says.

“This creates a strong sense of unity, collaboration and camaraderie within the team.

“Every patient is given personalised attention and quality customer care. We understand that everyone’s needs and conditions are unique, requiring a bespoke approach to treatment.

“Listening, guiding and empathising with our patient’s needs and concerns delivers a treatment journey focused on results, and improving the lives of those we engage with.”

Ricky says his aim is to deliver optimum foot health for all patients.

“Allowing them to either get back on their feet as soon as possible or maintain their health, allowing all to complete the things that they love to do,” he says.

“We want to help our clientele become pain-free, and put smiles back on their faces.”

The Walking Clinic. Lyneham, 6249 1758. Belconnen, 6251 5149. Manuka, 6201 1788. Woden, 6282 5466. Kippax, 6133 9654. Garran, 6147 5797. Visit walkingclinicpodiatrist.com.au