THIS IS A FREE COMMUNITY PROGRAM
For People with Chronic Pain
Available in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow and Penrith areas.
The program runs 3 hours per week, for 6 weeks.
If you have chronic pain, please call Effective Plan Management to join this FREE program.
Have you:
- Suffered from pain-related disability for more than six months?
- Felt anxious or depressed because of ongoing pain?
- Found it difficult to do the things you want to do because of pain?
Over the next two years, Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network, in conjunction with the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, will be running a series of low intensity Community Chronic Pain Management Programs in an effort help people suffering from chronic or persistent pain better manage their condition.
Free Community Chronic Pain Management Program
Program details are as follows:
- Who: Sufferers of chronic or persistent pain
- Duration: Three hours per week for six weeks
- Cost: Free
- Referrals: A referral letter is required from your doctor to access this program.
During the program you will learn about:
- What pain is
- How to increase your physical activity
- How to set goals
- Pacing yourself, and relaxation techniques.
Want more information?
Contact Leon Anderson, Community Chronic Pain Management Program Lead Facilitator on [email protected] or telephone (02) 4722 9300. Alternatively, call Effective Plan Management for assistance and we will direct your enquiry.
How to get a referral from your doctor
Download and complete the referral form with your doctor, or call us for assistance with your referral.
Community Chronic Pain Management Program
More Information for Doctors and Patients
Chronic Pain imposes a significant burden of disease on the community with 1 in 5 people reporting to experience chronic or persistent pain. Current research supports small group education sessions for people suffering low to moderate distress and interference in quality of life, as an effective tool for management of persisting pain.
Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network in conjunction with the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, is piloting a series of 6 week chronic pain management programs over the next 2 years. Each program is delivered in a 3 hour face-to-face session once a week that will run over 6 consecutive weeks. Sessions consists of theory and experiential learning, covering the basics of CPM neurophysiology and research explained with functional relevance. The program will help participants to identify goals, barriers and boundaries, crisis management strategies and self-help routines.
Participants will be provided with a workbook and are expected to attend each face to face session follow up support sessions at 4 and 12 weeks post program. Participants will finish the program with a list of resources and websites, skills in relaxation, stretching, exercise and diaries to help establish routines. Referring GPs will receive a report following the program that details the client’s progress through the program to assist with follow-up and continued cycle of care.
For the pilot of this program, the following is a guide as to which patients may be suitable for inclusion, and which may not.
Suitable Patients
- Patients identified by their GP as having chronic pain
- Pain longer than 6 months or beyond the normal healing time of an injury resulting in declining functional and psychological well-being (e.g., musculoskeletal pain, whiplash, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia).
- Independently mobile
- Understanding of the written and spoken materials presented
- Ability and willingness to attend all sessions
- Low to moderate complexity
Exclusions
- Worker’s compensation or third party insurance claims
- Opioids > 60mgs oral morphine equivalent per day
- Inability to participate in a group
- Presence of significant mental health disorders
- Significant disability
If you have a patient that may be interested or that you think would benefit from this program, please contact Leon Anderson at IOH on [email protected] or by phone (02) 4722 9300.
