We are a regional multidisciplinary pain clinic providing a variety of procedural and non-procedural interventions for patients with pain.
Mission Statement
To provide timely and efficient intervention to individuals with pain conditions, which meets best practice and uses a multidisciplinary and consumer-focussed approach.
Goals:
- to improve individuals' functional performance and quality of life
- to modify the perception of and response to pain
- to enhance self-management and reduce reliance on the health care system
- to promote appropriate use of medication and reduce substance dependency
Referral Process
Patients can be referred by their local doctor, specialist, psychologist, vocational rehabilitation provider or other health professional.
Referrals can be directed to:
Dr Todhunter
Phone: (02) 6023 6516
Fax: (02) 6023 6518
PO Box 97
ALBURY NSW 2640
or
Dr Esther Langenegger
Program Manager, Pain Management Program
Phone: (02) 6051 7414
Fax: (02) 6051 7422
PO Box 156
WODONGA VIC 3689
Selection Criteria
All patients with subacute or chronic pain, whether due to benign or malignant causes, are eligible for referral to the clinic, including public, private and compensible patients.
Geographical Area
The clinic is based at the Wodonga Hospital and serves a regional population of approximately 520,000 in Northeast Victoria and Southwest New South Wales.
Cost
Enquiries relating to the cost of the inpatient program and various procedural interventions can be made by telephoning either of the numbers above.
Services Provided
The clinic offers a wide range of procedural interventions aimed at reducing pain levels in patients with a variety of chronic pain problems, both benign and cancer-related.
Available procedures include:
- diagnostic and "permanent" nerve blocks
- radiofrequency zygapophysial joint denervation
- transforaminal steroid injections
- epidural injections
- epidural neurolysis
- botox injections for painful spasticity/hypertonia
- insertion of intrathecal pumps and spinal cord stimulators
- intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty (IDET).
Chronic Pain Management
Patients for whom procedural interventions are not appropriate can be referred directly to the chronic Pain Management Program.
The Pain Management Program is a three week residential cognitive-behavioural modification and physical reactivation program based on the biopsychosocial model of chronic pain and conducted by an interdisciplinary team comprised of:
- pain management consultant
- rehabilitation medical officer/musculoskeletal physician
- psychologist
- physiotherapist
- occupational therapist
- clinical nurse consultant
- allied health assistants.
The focus of the program is on pain management rather than cure, with clients encouraged to develop skills enabling self-management of their pain and reduced reliance on health care providers.
Program components include:
1. Educational sessions on:
- the nature of pain
- psychological links with chronic pain
- rationalisation and reduction of medication usage
- stress and anger management
- pacing and activity planning
- assertiveness and self-esteem
2. Relaxation using a variety of techniques including:
- visualisation
- progressive muscular relaxation
- controlled breathing
- passive neuromuscular relaxation
- self-hypnosis
- spot techniques
- tai chi
3. Physical reactivation incorporating:
- postural re-training
- walking
- stretching
- exercises
- hydrotherapy
4. Individual sessions as appropriate in:
- psychology
- medication management
- vocational counselling
