New website to ease the pain of chronic pain sufferers

Western Australians with chronic musculoskeletal pain can now access a range of information and practical self-management tips with the click of a mouse. WA Health’s new painHEALTH website is the first of its kind in Australia and will help the estimated 700,000 Australians who suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Gary Geelhoed said the website would benefit anyone who experienced conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

“painHEALTH is the first web resource of its kind to address the problem of chronic musculoskeletal pain from a consumer perspective,” Dr Geelhoed said.

“Its focus is to provide consumers with evidence-based information and skills to better manage their pain condition.

“The website features short DVD programs in which people with chronic musculoskeletal pain share their real-life stories and offer hope to other sufferers.”

According to the National Pain Strategy, musculoskeletal pain is the single largest cause of chronic pain, accounting for about 25 per cent of all cases.

Dr Geelhoed said that apart from painHEALTH — which was developed in partnership with Curtin University, the University of Western Australia and Fremantle Hospital — WA Health was leading the way in addressing the burden of chronic pain, as a founding supporter of Pain Australia and provider of a ground-breaking multidisciplinary pain management program at Fremantle Hospital.

To view the website visit: Muscoloskeletal Health Network

(Source: Government of Western Australia)

More information

For more information on chronic pain, including different types of chronic pain, living with chronic pain and treatments for managing chronic pain, see Chronic Pain.