Dr David McGrath

Spine Physician

MB BS (Hons) FAFOM, RACP, FAFMM
Master of Pain Medicine

Pain Management or Cure

Focusing on pain can drive a person crazy. When no cure seems possible pain management is often advised as a second best alternatively. In practice this reduces to a number of strategies or approaches. The most common approach is cognitive behavioural training (CBT). The idea behind this intervention is the correction of ideas which are a perpetuating input, maintaining pain. It attempts to redress faulty notions such as

"Only rest will cure me" or "I cannot work while in pain".

Success is dependant on the correctness or otherwise of the concept which is being explored. Most often CBT is combined with a physical activity program under the idea that inactivity will increase pain or decrease fitness or both. Research into these programs indicates some success in reducing dependence but no significant change to pain levels.

Given enough time or incidental luck, pain may abate. Pain itself is not the target of the intervention only maladaptive behaviour, particularly in a social sense.

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