Anybody with long-term (chronic) pain will know just how debilitating it can be. It can affect every aspect of life, from quality of life and reduced sleep to lowered exercise tolerance, close relationships, and ability to work.
Over time, the ongoing challenges and pressures of unmanaged or poorly controlled pain can all take a heavy toll on physical, mental, and emotional health. It can easily lead to severe frustration, sadness, depression, or anger.
When pain is not being adequately managed or controlled, it is sensible to arrange an appointment with a Consultant in Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia, who medical doctor who specialises in pain management.
At The Sarum Road Hospital in Winchester, Hampshire, highly experienced Pain Management Consultants help people aged 18+ suffering with chronic pain. The would be delighted to help you too.
Chronic pain can be experienced in different ways. When people book a private Pain Management appointment at The Sarum Road Hospital, they often complain of one (or more) of these problems:
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Sciatica
- Headaches / Migraines
- Facial pain
- Nerve pain - including post-operative pain, phantom pain, or pain after shingles
- Fibromyalgia – a long-term condition causing pain all over the body
- Joint pain – particularly in joints that cannot benefit from joint replacement surgery
While a number of treatments are available, not all causes and types of pain can be successfully cured. Your Consultant will work closely with you to ensure you receive the most effective treatment possible for your specific condition.
Treatments can be split into two categories:
- Medication
- Interventional procedures
Pain management – medication
Different types of pain medicine will help with different types and causes of pain. For example, if inflammation is causing pain, an anti-inflammatory drug, or a combination of paracetamol and an opioid (a strong painkiller that has a similar effect to morphine) will often be most suitable. If your pain is being caused by a nerve problem, medication to desensitise the affected nerve may be most effective.
We can also provide cutting-edge treatment, such as ketamine and lidocaine infusion therapies. These can be very helpful at managing chronic pain and depression, and your Consultant will discuss these with you if they may be of help.
Our highly experienced Consultants ensure that all options for pain medication are available at The Sarum Road Hospital. Finding the correct medication, and the most effective dose for you, may involve reviewing and adjusting treatment. Regular review will help ensure you continue to receive the most appropriate treatment.
Pain management – interventional procedures
Interventional procedures for pain management include:
- Nerve blocks
- Nerve root blocks
- Facet joint injections
- Radiofrequency denervation
- Trigger point injections
Certain injections may be given for:
- Diagnostic purposes - to confirm the cause of your pain
- Therapeutic purposes - to treat the problem and to relieve symptoms
Nerves send electrical impulses (messages) from one part of the body to another part to trigger some type of response. A nerve block interrupts this electrical impulse from reaching certain nerves in order to help relieve pain.
A nerve root block involves injecting an anaesthetic and steroid at the nerve root (the precise point a nerve leaves the spinal cord). The anaesthetic works to numb the pain and the steroid helps reduce inflammation. A nerve root block is usually directed at one specific nerve, with X-ray guidance used to ensure precise positioning.
Facet joints are small joints in the spine. In a facet joint injection, anaesthetic and steroid is injected into the facet joint to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
Back or neck pain may be relieved by radiofrequency denervation, where radiofrequency waves are used to interrupt the function of a nerve
When you first visit The Sarum Road Hospital, your Consultant will take a medical history and talk with you in detail about your pain and any other symptoms you may have.
To help them ensure you receive the best treatment possible, they will want to know things like:
- The symptoms you have
- How long you’ve had these symptoms
- The location of your pain
- How the pain is currently affecting you
- Anything your pain is preventing you from doing
- Whether you have a pain management plan in place already, or are currently receiving any type of treatment
It may be hard to discuss difficult or emotive issues linked to your chronic pain, but your private appointment is a safe, relaxed place for this.
If you have a partner, they are very welcome to come with you to your appointment. It can be incredibly helpful to have their input into the discussion, and it is important for them to feel closely involved in how we intend to manage your pain.
Your Consultant will review your current treatment plan and discuss possible changes or alternative options with you. Should you have any questions or concerns, they will be very happy to talk through them with you.
Further investigations such as blood tests, X-ray, CT, MRI, or ultrasound may be required, and these are easily arranged for you if needed.
In some cases, your Consultant may discuss treatment options with specialists in other fields such as spinal surgery, neurology, rheumatology, and psychology, to ensure you receive the best possible help.
Pain management is not usually a one-time treatment, as chronic pain may flare up at random intervals. Regular review helps ensure your pain is always managed as well as possible, and we are usually guided by you about the frequency of any follow-up appointments.
Many of our patients live locally in and around Winchester, although excellent road access makes it very easy to travel to us from us further away.
You may be referred to us by your GP, another specialist such as a spinal or orthopaedic surgeon, your private medical insurance provider, or by a friend or family member who has been helped by us previously.
A medical referral can be helpful, although you can self-refer to avoid delay, and we treat people using private medical insurance or a self-pay option.
When you choose to visit The Sarum Road Hospital, you will benefit from:
Avoid long waiting lists! – We can book you a private appointment with an experienced Pain Management Consultant at a time that’s convenient for you.
Consultant-led care, always – You will always see the same Consultant when you visit us, ensuring excellent continuity of care.
Remote appointments available – Pain management appointments are usually carried out in person at The Sarum Road Hospital, but we can provide remote appointments by telephone or video call if required (and where clinically appropriate).
Easy access to other specialities – Pain Management overlaps with many other areas of medicine. As a result, your Consultant works closely with other experts like spinal and orthopaedic surgeons, psychologists, physiotherapists, and radiologists when appropriate to deliver you the best possible pain relief.
Recommended by our patients – In an independent survey, 99.5% of the people we treated said they were likely or extremely likely to recommend The Sarum Road Hospital to their friends and family.
Location – Located in a stunning rural setting, right on the edge of the Royal Winchester Golf Club, the hospital is easy to travel to and only minutes from the centre of Winchester
