Chronic pain is usually described as pain lasting greater than 6 months. Chronic pain may or may not be associated with a disease or injury. It often lasts longer than expected for the usual course of a disease or injury. Chronic pain reduces a person's ability to function and impacts on their quality of life and emotional wellbeing.
More than 20% of New Zealanders experience chronic pain and the impact of pain often extends to family and friends.
Some of the most common chronic pain conditions are:
The Chronic Pain Service is part of the Counties Manukau Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine. It aims to provide quality chronic pain assessment and intervention that is accessible and appropriate for the people of Counties Manukau.
The Chronic Pain Service (CPS) includes professionals from a wide range of disciplines. They all have experience in assessment and management of pain from their professional perspective. The CPS team may include Anaesthetists, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Musculoskeletal Consultants.
Our aim is to restore functional ability and enable individuals to live as independently as possible, despite their pain.
Pain management involves learning different ways of thinking and acting so that pain interferes less with life. A self-management approach requires an individual and their whanau to play an active role in their pain management and emphasizes an improvement in quality of life and function, rather than a cure.
Our Team |
|
Paul Vroegop |
Clinical Lead, Psychiatrist, Pain Specialist |
Helen Hanna |
Charge Nurse Manager |
Gary Collinson |
Musculoskeletal Consultant |
Keith Laubscher |
Pain Specialist |
Jennifer Dawson |
Pain Specialist, Palliative Care Specialist |
Rachel Sara |
Pain Specialist, Consultant Anaesthetist |
Angela Cross |
O&G Specialist |
Sarah Colgan |
Senior Health Psychologist |
Sonali Dutt |
Health Psychologist |
Jessee Fia'ali'i |
Senior Health Psychologist |
Catherine Hiko |
Health Psychologist |
Chamilka Punchihewa |
Health Psychologist, Intern |
Summer Dawn |
Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist |
Lisa Ford |
Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist |
Angela Upsdell |
Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist |
Velita Menezes |
Clinical Nurse Specialist |
Saleshni Chand |
Scheduler / Administrator |
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