Managing chronic pain with your GP

Pain that lingers for three months or more — whether it's a persistent ache in your lower back, burning nerve pain, or the daily discomfort of a condition like arthritis — is known as chronic pain. It's far more common than many people realise. In fact, Australia's national chronic pain awareness campaign reached over 7 million Australians in 2025, shining a light on just how widely this condition touches our communities. If you're living with ongoing pain, you're not alone — and importantly, you don't have to simply put up with it.

What makes chronic pain different?

It helps to understand that chronic pain isn't just acute pain that has gone on for a long time. Over weeks and months, the nervous system can become sensitised, meaning it continues to send pain signals even when the original injury or cause has healed. This doesn't mean the pain is 'in your head' — it's very real and has measurable effects on the body. But it does mean that treating chronic pain often requires a different approach than treating a fresh sprain or a short-term illness.

Chronic pain can affect your sleep, your mood, your ability to work, and your relationships. Many people with persistent pain also experience anxiety or depression alongside it, not because they are weak, but because living with daily discomfort takes a genuine toll. Understanding this connection is an important part of getting the full picture of your health.

Why your GP should be your first call

Your GP is often the best starting point when it comes to managing chronic pain. They can help piece together the full story of your pain — how it started, what makes it better or worse, and how it's affecting your daily life. From there, they can arrange relevant tests or imaging, rule out underlying conditions, and start building a management plan that suits you as an individual.

One of the most useful things a GP can do is refer you to other members of a healthcare team. Chronic pain is rarely managed well by a single person or a single treatment. Depending on your situation, your GP might refer you to a physiotherapist, a psychologist, a pain specialist, or a rheumatologist. They can also help coordinate care between these different providers so that everyone is working together rather than in isolation.

Pain management options worth knowing about

There is no single solution that works for everyone, and effective pain management usually involves a combination of approaches. Your GP will consider your specific condition, your overall health, and your personal preferences when discussing options with you. Some of the most well-supported strategies include:

• Physical therapies: Physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and structured exercise programs can improve strength, flexibility, and function. Movement often feels counterintuitive when you're in pain, but graded physical activity is one of the most evidence-based tools available.
• Psychological support: Pain psychology and approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) help people develop practical skills for living well alongside pain, rather than being controlled by it.
• Medications: These may play a role in your management plan, but they work best as part of a broader approach. Your GP can guide you on what's appropriate, including reviewing any current medications to make sure they're still helping rather than causing side effects.
• Lifestyle adjustments: Sleep quality, nutrition, stress management, and pacing your activities throughout the day can all have a meaningful impact on how pain feels and how well you function.
• Pain specialist referral: For complex or hard-to-manage pain, your GP can refer you to a multidisciplinary pain clinic, where a team of specialists work together on your care.

It's worth noting that while strong pain medications — including opioids — are sometimes appropriate in the short term, they are generally not recommended as a long-term solution for most types of chronic pain. Current evidence suggests that they can sometimes make pain harder to manage over time. Your GP can have an open, non-judgmental conversation with you about your current medications and what might be most helpful going forward.

How to make the most of your GP appointment

Talking about pain can feel difficult, especially if you've had experiences in the past of not feeling heard. Coming to your appointment prepared can make a real difference. Here are a few practical tips:

• Keep a simple pain diary for a week or two before your appointment — note when pain is worse, what you were doing, how it affected your sleep, and anything that seemed to help.
• Be specific about how pain affects your daily life, not just how it feels. Saying 'I can no longer walk to the shops' or 'I haven't slept more than four hours in months' gives your GP important context.
• Write down your questions beforehand so you don't forget them in the moment.
• Ask about a Care Plan — if you have a chronic condition, you may be eligible for a GP Management Plan, which can give you access to Medicare rebates for allied health services like physiotherapy and psychology.
• Be honest about what you've already tried and what has or hasn't worked. There's no judgement — it just helps your GP tailor their recommendations.

You deserve support — not just solutions

One of the most important things to know about chronic pain is that the goal of management isn't always to eliminate pain entirely — sometimes that isn't possible. The real goal is to improve your quality of life: to help you sleep better, do more of the things that matter to you, and feel less defined by your pain. That's a meaningful and achievable goal, and your GP can help you work towards it.

If you've been putting off seeking help because you feel like nothing will work, or because you don't want to be a burden, please know that your GP genuinely wants to hear from you. Chronic pain is a legitimate medical condition that deserves proper care and attention — not just a prescription for patience.

At Cronulla Medical Practice, our GPs are here to listen, to help you understand your options, and to work with you on a plan that fits your life. If pain is affecting your day-to-day wellbeing, we'd encourage you to make an appointment and start that conversation. Taking that first step is often the most important one.