Different health professionals help manage pain. They will often discuss ways to manage pain at a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. If your pain is not well controlled, ask your general practitioner (GP) or palliative care specialist for a referral to a pain medicine specialist who is part of a multidisciplinary pain team.
Health professionals you may see
| general practitioner (GP) | assists with treatment decisions; provides ongoing care in partnership with specialists |
| surgeon | surgically removes tumours from the body |
| radiation oncologist | treats cancer by prescribing and overseeing a course of radiation therapy |
| medical oncologist | treats cancer with drug therapies such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy (systemic treatment) |
| palliative care specialist | treats pain and other symptoms to maximise wellbeing and improve quality of life |
| pain medicine specialist | treats all types of pain, particularly ongoing pain or pain that is difficult to control |
| pain management team | includes pain specialist and nurses who work together to treat pain, particularly if it is difficult to control |
| nurse practitioner | works in an advanced nursing role; may prescribe some medicines and tests |
| nurse | administers drugs and provides care, information and support |
| pharmacist | dispenses medicines and gives advice about dosage and side effects |
| anaesthetist | provides anaesthetic medicines, monitors you during surgery, and provides pain relief during and after surgery |
| physiotherapist | helps with restoring movement and mobility, and preventing further injury |
| exercise physiologist | prescribes exercise to help people with medical conditions improve their overall health, fitness, strength and energy levels |
| occupational therapist | assists in adapting your living and working environment to help you resume usual activities |
| psychologist | helps identify and manage the thoughts, emotions and behaviours that affect your pain |
| counsellor | helps you understand and manage your emotional response to diagnosis and treatment, usually in the short term |
| social worker | helps with emotional, practical or financial issues |
→ READ MORE: Making treatment decisions
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Professor Paul Glare, Chair of Pain Medicine, Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW (clinical update); Dr Tim Hucker, Pain Specialist, Northern Beaches Hospital, Director, Northern Beaches Pain Management, NSW (clinical update); Dr Keiron Bradley, Palliative Care Consultant, Bethesda Health Care, WA; A/Prof Anne Burke, Co-Director Psychology, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, President, Australian Pain Society, Statewide Chronic Pain Clinical Network, SA, School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, SA; Tumelo Dube, Accredited Pain Physiotherapist, Michael J Cousins Pain Management and Research Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Prof Paul Glare (see above); Andrew Greig, Consumer; Annette Lindley, Consumer; Prof Melanie Lovell, Palliative Care Specialist HammondCare, Sydney Medical School and The University of Technology Sydney, NSW; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Melanie Proper, Pain Management Specialist Nurse Practitioner, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Dr Alison White, Palliative Medicine Specialist and Director of Hospice and Palliative Care Services, St John of God Health Care, WA.
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