Blog

When chronic pain isn’t getting better, it’s time for a different approach

03 Apr 2026

You’ve done everything you were told to do

Physiotherapy.

Medications.

Maybe even surgery.

And yet the pain remains.

Not just present — but persistent, unpredictable, and limiting.

This is the moment many people realise:

Pain that lasts is not always about injury

When pain continues beyond three months, it often involves changes in the nervous system.

This is called central sensitisation.

It means the body has become more sensitive to pain signals — even when the original injury has healed.

This is why:

  • scans may look normal
  • treatments may stop working
  • pain may spread or intensify

And why a different approach is needed.

When should you see a pain specialist?

You don’t need to wait until everything has failed.

Consider a specialist review if:

  • Pain has lasted longer than 3 months
  • Pain is worsening despite treatment
  • Pain continues after surgery
  • You need increasing medication, especially opioids
  • Pain is affecting your ability to work or function
  • You don’t have a clear explanation for your pain

If you recognise yourself in this list, a specialist assessment can help clarify

A different question leads to a different outcome

Most treatments focus on:

→ Where is the pain?

We focus on:

→ Why is the pain system still active?

This allows us to identify:

  • nerve-related pain
  • muscle-driven pain
  • central sensitisation
  • mixed pain patterns

And build a targeted treatment pathway

Conditions we commonly assess and treat

  • Persistent pain after surgery
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
  • Chronic pelvic pain and vaginismus
  • Nerve pain (burning, tingling, electric pain)
  • Central sensitisation syndromes
  • Severe muscle spasm and guarding

The Complex Pain Recovery Pathway

Instead of isolated treatments, we use a structured approach:

1. Specialist diagnostic assessment

Understand the dominant pain mechanism

2. Pain neuroscience education

Explain how the nervous system is contributing

3. Targeted interventions

Nerve blocks, Botox, or other procedures where appropriate

4. Ketamine assisted therapy

For selected patients with central sensitisation

5. Rehabilitation and recovery

Restoring movement, function and confidence

This approach focuses on resetting the pain system, not just managing symptoms.

Timing changes outcomes

The longer pain persists:

  • the more the nervous system adapts
  • the harder it becomes to reverse
  • the more function is affected

Early specialist input can help:

  • clarify diagnosis
  • avoid ineffective treatments
  • guide the right pathway sooner

If your pain isn’t improving, the next step is clarity

You don’t need to keep repeating treatments that aren’t working.

A specialist assessment can help you understand why your pain is persisting.

Contact us to discuss your treatment options.