Technology tackles Chronic Pain on the Northern Beaches

Radiofrequency technology is being used to combat chronic pain in a procedure being offered at Northern Beaches Hospital.

Leading Northern Beaches pain specialist, Dr Tim Hucker said the procedure is offering hope to people with chronic pain particularly with back or neck pain. In the lead up to National Pain Week (25-31 July), Dr Hucker urges people not to give up and seek help for their pain.

“There are now many ways to tackle pain including technologies like radiofrequency treatments and spinal cord stimulation. Radiofrequency treatment can inhibit or desensitize nerves from sending pain signals. It’s performed under local anaesthetic and light sedation only and involves carefully placing needles directly to nerves that are causing pain to interrupt the signals to the brain. It’s very effective and can provide long-lasting pain reduction from six months to a year or more.”

More than 54,800 Northern Beaches residents are estimated to be living with chronic pain every day, according to a new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

“One in 5 Beaches residents over 45 are living with persistent, ongoing pain which can be stressful and make working and enjoying life quite unbearable. Chronic pain cost the Australian economy $139 billion but the personal costs can be debilitating for sufferers. Back pain is probably the leading cause of disability, missed work and impaired quality of life but there’s a variety of management options.”

Dr Hucker said electrical treatments like radiofrequency or spinal cord stimulation are just one of the tools to tackle pain.

“The first step is working with your GP and reporting pain loud and clear to your medical team so a pain management program can be tailored to your needs. Working as a team, we can jointly create treatment options unique to the person’s pain experience.”