Chronic back or neck pain
Symptoms affecting work, sleep, movement or participation despite time and initial treatment.
Chronic and complex pain
Persistent pain care in Wollongong
A coordinated pathway for chronic and complex spine, joint and musculoskeletal pain, connecting pain and rehabilitation medicine with physiotherapy, exercise, imaging and relevant orthopaedic input.
The right starting point depends on the symptoms, duration, prior treatment and referral status. The patient services team can help direct the first appointment.
Several valid entry pointsBegin with a referred pain or rehabilitation specialist, physiotherapy or exercise physiology. The patient services team can help you choose.
Whole-person assessmentSymptoms, function, sleep, work, movement, previous treatment and health factors are considered together.
Coordinated optionsEducation, rehabilitation, medication, procedures and other specialist input may be connected when appropriate.
How the pathway can work
The team is built around the problem that needs solving.
Chronic pain rarely settles with a single intervention. The pathway can bring together medical assessment, movement, pacing, strength, imaging and procedural options around meaningful function.
A practical example
A patient with chronic back or joint pain may begin with physiotherapy or exercise physiology. Pain and rehabilitation medicine can be added when symptoms remain limiting, medication or diagnostic questions need review, or a procedure is being considered. Orthopaedic input is connected when a structural or surgical question becomes relevant.
Pain and rehabilitation medicine
Specialist assessment of chronic pain, function, medication, diagnostic questions and selected procedures.
Explore pain medicine →Physiotherapy
Direct assessment, education, symptom management and gradual restoration of movement and confidence.
Explore physiotherapy →Exercise physiology
Individualised programs build tolerance, strength and capacity around health conditions and everyday goals.
Explore exercise physiology →Whichever way you start, on-site X-ray and ultrasound, exercise rehabilitation and nursing care connect to the same plan rather than being a separate referral.
Medical expertise within a wider pathway
Dr David Manohar
Dr Manohar contributes specialist pain and rehabilitation medicine assessment where ongoing symptoms, functional limitation, medication, procedures or complex clinical questions require medical input.
View the Chronic and Complex Pain team →Problems we may help assess
Ongoing symptoms across musculoskeletal care.
Ongoing joint pain
Pain that may involve arthritis, previous injury, sensitivity, reduced capacity or several contributing factors.
Pain after injury or surgery
Symptoms that continue beyond the expected early recovery period or restrict meaningful rehabilitation.
Reduced function and confidence
Fear of movement, deconditioning or uncertainty about how to restart activity safely.
Complex medication questions
Medical review where medication, side effects, interactions or a broader treatment plan require consideration.
Diagnostic uncertainty
Ongoing symptoms where the next useful assessment or investigation is unclear.
Work and activity limitation
A structured plan to rebuild capacity for employment, caregiving, exercise or everyday life.
Multifactorial pain
Care that considers medical, physical, behavioural and contextual contributors without reducing the problem to one structure.
One coordinated plan
Build understanding, capacity and a useful next step.
1
Understand the pattern
Assessment identifies the factors most relevant to symptoms, function and goals.
2
Prioritise the plan
The team agrees on useful first steps rather than adding disconnected treatments.
3
Add expertise selectively
Medical, imaging, procedural or orthopaedic input is included when it can answer a clear question.
4
Measure meaningful progress
Recovery is considered through participation, tolerance, confidence and the activities that matter.
Your next step
Choose a starting point for chronic and complex pain care.
The patient services team can help clarify whether a medical specialist or allied health appointment is more appropriate.