, there are still no effective treatments available. However, according to the authors of a study published this week, a new approach could transform a person’s experience of pain.
“None of these treatments is a cure nor do they work for everyone and medication – which only relieves pain in a small percentage of people – can come with nasty side effects,” says Neuroscience Research Australia and UNSW chronic pain expert, Professor Sylvia Gustin. “We are not saying that we can decrease the pain to zero,” Gustin adds. “It’s more that you have something to work on daily to increase your quality of life. It’s the missing link that is needed because people are suffering.”, facilitated by Gustin and Norman-Nott. She had a spinal fusion at age 12 to treat severe scoliosis. It led to osteoarthritis and, seemingly out of the blue, pain flared in her early 20s and never went away.
Green says “when you’re in chronic pain, you feel so helpless and there’s just nothing that can be done”.A combination of medication, a surgical treatment called radiofrequency ablation, daily gentle exercise, heat packs and massage therapy have provided some relief, Green says. The skills she learned via the program with Gustin and Norman-Nott have also improved her perception of the pain and allowed her to manage it.