Chronic Pain Treatment

You should consult a doctor for chronic pain if:

• The pain lasts longer than three months, even after an injury or illness has healed.
• It interferes with daily activities, work, sleep, or social life.
• Over-the-counter medications and home remedies aren’t providing relief.
• The pain is accompanied by other symptoms like numbness, weakness, fever, or unexplained weight loss.
• It causes emotional distress, anxiety, or depression.
• You’re relying on pain medications regularly without improvement.
• The pain is worsening over time or spreading to other areas.

Chronic pain is pain that lasts 3 months or more often continuing long after an injury or illness has healed. It can be constant or come and go, and might feel dull, burning, aching, sharp, or throbbing. Chronic pain isn’t always linked to an obvious physical cause and can be influenced by factors like nerve damage, inflammation, or changes in the way the brain processes pain signals.

In contrast, acute pain is a temporary, protective response to injury, illness, or surgery like a sprained ankle, cut, or headache. It typically has a clear cause, is short-term, and resolves as the underlying issue heals, usually within days to weeks.

There are different conditions that can be associated with chronic pain such as nerve pain, pain caused by a bone, muscle or joint condition, cancer pain, pain due to migraine, osteoporosis, arthritis, or chronic pain that starts after an injury or surgery.

Chronic pain can develop from a variety of causes, often involving a combination of physical, neurological, and psychological factors. Common causes include:

• Previous injury or surgery: Pain can persist long after tissues have healed.
• Arthritis: Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can cause ongoing joint and muscle pain.
• Nerve damage (neuropathy): Conditions like diabetes, shingles, or nerve compression can lead to persistent nerve pain.
• Back problems: Herniated (bulged) discs, spinal stenosis (narrowing) , or muscle strain often result in chronic back pain.
• Chronic illnesses: Conditions such as fibromyalgia, endometriosis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are linked to long-term pain.
• Infections: Certain infections, like shingles, can trigger chronic nerve pain.
• Poor posture or repetitive strain: Ongoing strain from work, sports, or daily habits can cause muscle and joint pain.
• Psychological factors: Stress, anxiety, and depression can amplify the perception of pain and worsen chronic conditions.

Chronic pain can become serious, especially if it’s left untreated or poorly managed. While the pain itself might start as a manageable discomfort, over time it can lead to significant physical, emotional, and social consequences.

Serious impacts of chronic pain include:

• Reduced mobility and physical function, affecting daily tasks, work, and exercise.
• Sleep disturbances, which can worsen fatigue and mental health issues.
• Emotional challenges like depression, anxiety, irritability, and social isolation.
• Dependence on medications, particularly opioid painkillers, which carry risks of side effects and addiction.
• Worsening of underlying health conditions if pain discourages activity and self-care.

Chronic pain is complex, often involving nerve changes, inflammation, or changes to how the brain processes pain signals. Chronic pain may improve over time especially if the underlying cause can be treated or managed, but it rarely resolves completely on its own without some form of intervention. Unlike acute pain, which naturally subsides as the body heals, chronic pain persists beyond normal healing times, often for three months or more. Without addressing these factors through medical care, lifestyle changes, physical therapy, or psychological support, the pain can continue or even worsen.

Chronic pain is diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination and diagnostic tests if needed. You can get your initial consultation through a telehealth doctor as well to diagnose and get a referral for further investigation. The doctor might ask questions about how long you have had the pain, where is it located, what triggers or worsens it, and how it affects your daily life, sleep and mental health.

Telehealth is a highly helpful option for chronic pain management, especially in Australia where access to healthcare can be challenging in regional and remote areas. Through telehealth, you can consult AHPRA-registered doctors online 24/7, discuss your symptoms, get pain management advice, and have prescriptions or specialist referrals arranged without needing to visit a clinic in person.

Telehealth is particularly useful for:

• Ongoing check-ins and medication reviews
• Mental health support, since chronic pain often affects mood, anxiety, and sleep
• Lifestyle and self-care guidance, including diet, exercise, and stress management tips
• Early intervention when symptoms worsen

Lifestyle changes play an important role in managing chronic pain and improving the quality of life. Here are some effective, evidence-backed lifestyle changes that can help:

• Regular gentle exercise: Activities like walking, swimming, yoga, or stretching improve mobility, and reduce stiffness.
• Balanced anti-inflammatory diet: Focus on whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, nuts, and omega-3-rich fish. Reduce processed foods, sugar, and excessive alcohol.
• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Practices like meditation, deep breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation.
• Quality sleep habits: Prioritise consistent bedtimes, limit screens before bed, and create a restful environment.
• Stress management: Try journaling, spending time in nature, or creative hobbies.
• Limit smoking and heavy drinking, as both can aggravate pain and slow healing.

Chronic pain can significantly affect mental health. Living with ongoing, unresolved pain often leads to emotional and psychological challenges, especially when it impacts sleep, work, relationships, and everyday activities. Many people with chronic pain experience anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances and low self-esteem.

Yes, while natural remedies won’t replace medical care, they can complement your chronic pain management plan and help ease discomfort. Here are some natural remedies for chronic pain:

• Heat and cold therapy: Heat packs ease muscle stiffness, while cold packs reduce swelling and numb sharp pain.
• Gentle exercise: Activities like walking, stretching, yoga, or tai chi help improve mobility and release natural endorphins.
• Herbal remedies: Turmeric (curcumin), ginger, and willow bark have anti-inflammatory properties. Always check with your doctor before use.
• Magnesium-rich foods: Leafy greens, nuts, and seeds may help with muscle cramps and nerve pain.
• Aromatherapy: Essential oils like lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus can promote relaxation and ease pain perception.

Chronic pain often needs quick medical advice or a script or medical certificate in case it hinders a person’s ability to work or attend a school/university. It is convenient to speak to a doctor online from the comfort of your home through Hola Health’s 24/7 online doctor service. Here is a step-by-step guide to speaking to a telehealth doctor:

• Visit Hola Health website or download Hola Health app.
• Choose a consultation type from telehealth consultations page.
• Fill in your details along with your Medicare information and make the payment.
• Connect with a licensed health practitioner and discuss your medical concerns.
• Post the consultation, if needed, you will receive GP referrals or medical certificates via email and online scripts via SMS.

Yes, you can get an online prescription via a telehealth appointment if the doctor approves. To get an online script, visit the Hola website or app, choose your consultation, fill in your details and make the payment. Post a brief consultation with an AHPRA-accredited online doctor, your script will be sent via SMS if warranted. These online scripts can be dispensed from most pharmacies across Australia or you can get medicine delivery home from an online pharmacy.

Getting a medical certificate online through Hola Health is a simple and hassle-free process. To get a medical certificate online through Hola Health, here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Choose the type of certificate you need. Hola Health offers medical certificate online for work, medical certificate for uni/school, carer’s leave certificate, medical certificate for stress and multiple-day medical certificate online.
• Fill out a quick, secure online form with your details and payment.
• An AHPRA-registered health practitioner will review your request within 15 minutes. In case of a multi-day medical certificate, you will have a short online doctor consult.
• If approved, your medical certificate is emailed to you instantly.

If you’re managing chronic pain, your GP or telehealth doctor can provide several types of helpful referrals to support your care plan:

• Specialist referrals to investigate and deep delve into your medical condition.
• Radiology referrals to investigate underlying causes.
• Pathology referrals to rule out infections or inflammatory conditions.
• Blood test referrals to check for other contributing factors

Yes, Hola doctors are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. You can connect to a night doctor anytime you need medical advice, an urgent script, a medical certificate or a referral.

Here’s how Hola Health makes accessing healthcare online in Australia simple and hassle-free:

• Book an online doctor consultation in Australia anytime, day or night, and connect with qualified, AHPRA-registered Australian GPs via secure telehealth from the comfort of your home.
• Get a medical certificate online in Australia fast, perfect for work, uni, carer’s leave, or multiple sick days, issued by licensed Aussie health practitioners with no in-person visit required.
• Request an instant online script in Australia for common medications, sent directly to your phone within minutes after your consultation.
• Access online referrals to specialists in Australia, along with pathology test referrals, blood test referrals, and radiology scan referrals, all conveniently organised via telehealth.
• Obtain a Mental Health Treatment Plan online in Australia through a GP consult, it is 100% fully bulk billed.
• Order medications online with home delivery in Australia, saving you time and avoiding trips to the pharmacy when you’re unwell.

Instantly connect to a registered practitioner within 15 minutes from anywhere in Australia, 24/7 for:

• 24/7 telehealth appointments
• Valid online scripts in Australia
• 24/7 Legitimate medical certificates
• GP referrals online