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Chronic Pain Syndromes & Fibromyalgia

Support and strategies for people suffering with chronic pain, built by people who live with it too.

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What's Chronic Pain?
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The AHC Program for Chronic Pain Syndromes & Fibromyalgia

Our program aims to help you establish a ‘normal day’ or return to work, university or school, and day to day life. Through pacing and gradual return to activity, we are able to slowly and confidently build your capacity, without increasing your symptoms. 

 

We know this journey is a bit rocky. Our programs have been developed to give you the skills to deal with any future hurdles through setback planning, and provide you with a therapy manual you can turn to in times of need.

- Nathan Butler

Founder, Active Health Clinic

Real Talk From Our Chronic Pain Experts

What is the Program?

Living with chronic pain or fibromyalgia can take a real toll on your body, your energy, and your daily life. Long-term progress takes care and support from people who truly understand what it’s like. Many of us at AHC live with chronic pain ourselves, so we get how heavy it can feel.

 

With our program, you receive a personalised plan tailored to your goals, symptoms, and desired pace.

1:1 Sessions

You'll be in good hands with our expert exercise physiologists, dietitians and occupational therapists.

8-12 sessions

We aim to build out all your tools for your toolkit to better manage your conditions, for some this is a few sessions, and others it can be longer term support. 

Go at your own pace

Join wherever works best from you. We can support you in-person at any of our clinics, or online via telehealth.

Most people space their sessions over 6–18 months.

Your Program, Tailored to You

Title

Understanding the neurophysiology of your condition

Pain management

Setback planning

Gradual exposure strategies, such as GMI (if applicable)

Parasympathetic activity / Relaxation techniques

How to identify your body’s stress response

DIM/SIMS – Threats and safety messages to the mind/body

Return to work planning

Return to school planning

Identifying the demands of your activity and your capacity (using a variety of tools eg. heart rate monitors, heart rate variability and activity diaries)

Movement guidelines/exercise advice

Trigger identification and modification

Causes of sleep disturbances and techniques to help with sleep

Mindfulness exercises and how to live more mindfully

Stress, anxiety and mood management strategies

Symptom Mapping

Ergonomics for pain

For AFAB: Understanding your menstrual cycle, its impact on your symptoms and how to support this

Pacing strategies (physically, mentally, socially, environmentally, emotionally)

Strength training to improve physical capacity, without exacerbation of symptoms (if applicable)

Nutrition Support for Chronic Pain

Helping Your Body Feel Heard

Living with chronic and widespread pain can impact your ability to shop, prepare, cook and eat the food that you need to maintain adequate nutrition. 

You’re not alone. Many people with Chronic Pain Syndrome or Fibromyalgia also experience abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms that can make enjoying food difficult. Additionally, research suggests there are strong links between chronic pain and IBS. 

Our dietitians pride themselves on their ability to meet you at your capacity, and help you implement a range of 'fatigue-friendly food strategies' in a realistic and sustainable way. 

Through our program, you'll gain access to strategies that support your nutrition in the short term, while helping you develop consistent habits that align with your energy levels and symptoms.

Topics our Dietitians Can Support You With

Making food more accessible and more fatigue friendly.

Strategies to reduce the impact of preparing and cooking meals.

Improving and stabilising appetite by creating a sustainable and consistent eating routine.

Guidance around eating a range of foods across the day that support sustainable energy levels.

Eating patterns to improve your energy levels and support your overall wellbeing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a referral? 

A referral isn't always necessary however may impact on your ability to get a rebate - speak to our friendly reception staff and they can help you.

How much does the program cost?

Invisible Illnesses like Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia can present in very different ways for different people.

 

Because of this, our programs are tailored to how your condition manifests, and hence, the costs vary based on the support needed. 

 

For program costs and information about available rebates, please give us a call!

03 9878 5394

What if I can't get to your clinic?

We’ve been offering telehealth for over 10 years and have refined our approach to make it feel personal, flexible, and easy to access. Around 80% of our clients choose to work with us this way. 

 

For those who prefer in-person sessions, our clinics are located in Blackburn, Frankston, Bendigo, and Essendon, Victoria.

Who will I be working with?

You’ll be supported by a team that truly understands chronic pain and fibromyalgia.

 

Our clinicians include exercise physiologists, dietitians, and physical therapists. All are fully qualified, and most have experienced in managing some form of invisible illness themselves.

Can I exercise if I’m already in pain?

Yes, "motion is lotion." We know that the idea of exercise can feel overwhelming when you're already in pain. But for people living with fibromyalgia or chronic pain, gentle movement is one of the most effective tools for rehabilitation.

It’s important to move with care—and with the right guidance. Our practitioners will work closely with you to figure out what type of movement best suits your current symptoms, physical ability, and personal history. This could mean structured exercise, or just starting with everyday tasks like showering, cooking, or light chores.

You’ll build up slowly and safely, giving your body time to adapt and respond without triggering more pain. Some discomfort is normal, but we’ll help you avoid doing too much too soon.

Physical activity plays a key role in managing pain, preventing deconditioning, and supporting general health. In our program, we tailor everything to your body and your pace—so you can move more easily, with less pain, and more confidence.

Start Your Recovery Journey

1. Tell Us Your Story

A no-pressure call where we get to know you, your symptoms, and listen to your journey

2. Get a Personalised Plan

We design a custom support plan based on your needs. It might include a thorough assessment, dietetic care, pacing tools, movement therapy and other services.

3. Own Your Journey

You’ll work with trusted clinicians, online or in-person, at a pace that works for your body

Tell Us Your Story Today!

Schedule Call

03 9878 5394

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What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than three months, beyond the usual healing time. Unlike acute pain (which signals injury or illness and goes away once healed), chronic pain often persists even after the original cause has resolved—or may not have a clear cause at all.

If you’re dealing with ongoing pain, you know how much it can interrupt your daily life. It might make work harder, limit your energy, or pull you away from things you care about. You’re not lazy or overreacting. Your pain is real, even if it’s invisible to others.

Chronic vs Widespread Pain vs Fibromyalgia: What's the Difference?

Chronic Pain is an umbrella term for ongoing pain that lasts longer than three months. It refers to disorders of pain regulation with central sensitisation.

 

It can affect one part of the body or show up in multiple areas, often without a clear cause.

Chronic Widespread Pain (CWP)

In clinical practice, chronic widespread pain is defined as pain which:

has lasted more than 3 months;

affects both sides of the body both above and below the waist, and;

extends to some part of the axial skeleton.

Fibromyalgia (FMS)

Fibromyalgia is a specific type of widespread, chronic pain that comes with many additional symptoms. 

 

Doctors used to look for tender points to diagnose fibromyalgia. These days, they use a combination of signs that you might already be familiar with:

Pain that has lasted more than 3 months

Pain in at least four out of five main areas of the body

Ongoing symptoms like deep fatigue, poor sleep, or brain fog that affect your day-to-day life
Other Common Symptoms

Persistent pain in four out of five key body areas

Fatigue that doesn’t go away

Waking up feeling unrefreshed

Trouble thinking clearly

Headaches and/or migraines

Depression and/or anxiety

Urinary and/or digestive issues like IBS

What We Know About How Pain Works

While the exact cause of chronic pain and fibromyalgia is still being studied, experts believe your nervous system becomes unusually sensitive. This means your brain and nerves respond more strongly to sensations that would not be painful for others.

Brain scans show increased activity in areas that process pain intensity. Although this heightened sensitivity can feel overwhelming, it does not usually signal serious damage. We understand how frustrating this can be, and our goal is to help you regain control by guiding your nervous system back to feeling safer and calmer.

Are You Missing a Diagnosis?

This quick, free tool was built to help people with complex symptoms connect the dots. It's not a diagnosis, but it might just give you clarity on what to look into next.

Our programs are tailored to YOUR symptoms

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

ME/CFS, Post-Viral Conditions, Long Covid, Autoimmune & Neurological related fatigue

Learn More

Hypermobility & Connective Tissue Disorders

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD)

Learn More

Pain Syndromes

Fibromyalgia, Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Learn More

Sleep 
Disorders

Narcolepsy, Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Learn More

Dysautonomia

Orthostatic Intolerance (OI), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

Learn More

Mast Cell Disorders

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Mastocytosis

Long COVID

ME/CFS, Post-Viral Conditions, Long Covid, Autoimmune & Neurological related fatigue, Fibromyalgia

Learn More

Associated Diet Conditions

Gastroparesis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), MCAS, Eating Disorders, MALS

Learn More

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