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Chronic Pain Syndromes & Fibromyalgia

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About

Pain can invade our everyday lives and limit the things we love to do. Here at Active Health Clinic, we pride ourselves on the rehabilitation and management of fibromyalgia, chronic pain and a range of other conditions that are seen as ‘too hard’ or don’t fall into a traditional category or treatment approach.

Our tailored and individual programs are designed for you to manage your condition and progress towards your goals. We teach you guidelines, not rules, which you can follow for the rest of your life. Unfortunately there are no 'quick fixes' for fibromyalgia or chronic pain, however, research shows that a combination of the programs we offer have can provide significant improvements in your symptoms and function.

Program background

Active Health Clinic first started managing pain when we noticed many of our clients experienced chronic pain with their fatigue. Our clients with chronic pain responded well to our program. Over time, and with further research and professional development on pain conditions, we developed more interest in supporting people who once were in the 'too hard basket'.

Their exceptional responses to our program were exciting and encouraged our development of our pain program. Cutting edge research into central sensitisation and the treatment of pain, as well as our own personal experience with pain, led us to believe that pain can be managed with appropriate care and time. Seeing our clients' success grows our passion for helping you win the fight against pain, too.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain

Chronic widespread pain and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) are disorders of pain regulation with central sensitisation. Several tender trigger points define FMS, but recently, a composite of the following has been used to identify the syndrome:

Pain for >3 months;

Pain affecting four of five specified body areas, and;

A raised widespread pain index and symptom severity scale score for fatigue, waking unrefreshed and cognitive symptoms.

Other symptoms commonly reported include depression, anxiety, headaches, migraines, diffuse abdominal pain with changes of bowel habit (irritable bowel syndrome) and urinary frequency. The pathogenesis of these syndromes is not clear, but hyperexcitability of the central and peripheral nervous systems, changes in function of pain receptors, altered pain perception and somatisation have been hypothesised. There is functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence of altered pain and increased activity in brain areas that code for the sensory intensity of various stimuli. These conditions impair quality of life but are not life-threatening.

In clinical practice, chronic widespread pain (CWP) is defined as ‘pain lasting >3 months that affects both sides of the body both above and below the waist, including some part of the axial skeleton’. Many patients with CWP report sleep disturbance and chronic fatigue.

Our Program

Our program consists of 10-15 individual, personalised sessions over 6-18 months. The sessions are aimed at helping you develop tools and strategies to manage your pain on your own.

The program covers:

Understanding the neurophysiology of your condition

Pain management

Setback planning

Gradual exposure strategies

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)

Our program aims to help you have a ‘normal day’ or return to work or school and life. Through pacing activity, we are able to build your capacity, without increasing your symptoms. We know this journey is a bit rocky so we give you the skills to deal with any future problems, through setback planning and providing you with a therapy manual you can turn to in times of need.

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Cost and questions

For program costs and rebates available, please call the clinic.

Do I need a referral? What if I can't get to your clinic?

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. Our clinics are located in Blackburn, Mornington, Bendigo & Essendon, Victoria, however, all services are offered via telehealth also.

Can I exercise if I’m already in pain?

Yes, "motion is lotion". Exercise can be a confronting idea when you already have significant pain, however, exercise is one of the key rehabilitation tools for fibromyalgia and chronic pain. It is essential to move with care and under the supervision of an experienced practitioner who can guide you, allowing you to move without experiencing more pain. It is normal to experience some discomfort whilst moving and exercising. We will work out the exercise type and load most appropriate for you based on your current symptoms, ability to move and overall history. For some people, exercise may include functional activities, such as showering, cooking or light chores. You will be able to increase your exercise and activity gradually, giving your body enough time to adapt and manage any symptom triggers.

Physical activity is very important for people with fibromyalgia or chronic pain, to manage and reduce pain, to avoid deconditioning, and to reduce the risk of general health problems, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. In our program, we will focus on your specific health and pain limitations to make sure exercise does not lead to you feeling worse, but helps you move and function better, and improves your overall health and wellbeing.

Dietetics in Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia

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. Many people with Chronic Pain Syndrome or Fibromyalgia also experience abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms that can make enjoying food difficult. Research suggests a link 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.

Some topics that may be covered to support you and your body with fatigue include:

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.

What Our Patients Are Saying

“For all the CFS and fibromyalgia suffers out there, time, patience and pacing only make us stronger. I send out love, courage, faith and healing. We can get better!”

- Lee-Anne, 33

Thanks to everyone at AHC for the program and for helping me get my life back. If you doubt if it works, or are afraid to believe that you can be well again, I challenge you: try it and prove it doesn’t work! What have you got to lose?

- Gail, 47

"Active Health Clinic, you are so understanding and compassionate for a terrible illness and I hope that many more will use your services on their path to recovery"

- John, 28