Pain management team and the pain clinic

What is the pain clinic?

The pain clinic has a multidisciplinary team that provides assessment, treatment and support for young people and their families with recurrent or long-standing (chronic) pain problems.

You will see about 4 people including:

• a consultant in pain medicine
• a clinical psychologist or cognitive behavioural therapist
• a clinical nurse in pain management
• a pain therapist (with physiotherapy or occupational therapy background)

Where is the pain clinic?

The initial pain clinic appointment will be held face-to-face in the Outpatient Department located just inside the main entrance Sheffield Children’s Hospital, just off Clarkson Street. Use the self-service check-in screens to let us know you’re here. If you have any problems you can check in at reception.

How long will the appointment last?

New patients and their parents will have an appointment arranged for the clinic by the new referrals team at the hospital. As pain has an effect on all family members, we strongly encourage both parents (or primary carers) to attend this appointment where possible. At this initial appointment various members of the team will see you for assessment, usually in a small informal group with possible input on a one to one basis.

You will also be asked to complete some questionnaires and return them before you attend the appointment.

At the clinic we aim to gain a clear understanding of your situation and the sort of problems that you are facing. Once the initial consultation is complete you will be asked to wait in the waiting area for a short time while the team consider possible management options for your situation. You will then be invited back into the consultation room where the treatment plan will then be explained and discussed in detail with you.

Follow–up appointments will be arranged with individual members of the team, in line with your treatment plan and as appropriate. Sharing of relevant information between team members and other professionals in order to give the most co-ordinated and effective treatment is usual. Permission for this will be discussed during the clinic appointment.

Why a multidisciplinary team?

Pain problems are usually influenced by a variety of factors. Young people with recurrent or chronic pain problems are known to benefit from a combination of psychological approaches, physical therapy, occupational therapy and medication. Having a range of people initially involved means that clear information can be gained by different professionals, whilst avoiding the need for many appointments. It also means that help and advice will be co-ordinated between members of the team.

We recognise that living with chronic pain can be stressful and distressing therefore we aim to help with both the causes and the on-going effects of pain.

Who can we expect to see?

The pain clinic offers a multidisciplinary service involving the following people:

Consultants in paediatric pain medicine and anaesthetics

• Take part in the initial clinic assessment
• Review past medical history
• Specialise in analgesia and pain relieving treatments

Clinical psychologists and family/cognitive behavioural therapists

0114 271 7296

• Take part in the initial clinic assessment
• Assess how pain has impacted on current coping of both the young person with pain and family members
• Look at the impact on emotional wellbeing, such as low mood and anxiety
• Offer talking therapies and possibly medication to help with this
• Address any difficulties in family relationships and attachments as a result of living with long term pain

Clinical nurse specialists, pain management

0114 271 7397

• Take part in the initial clinic assessment
• Teach coping strategies
• Co-ordinate the service and are the contact point for further information
• Provide medication advice

Physiotherapists and occupational therapists

0114 271 7227

• Take part in the initial clinic assessment
• Look at how pain affects lifestyle, independence, physical activities and general well-being
• Promote understanding regarding the effects of pain within the body and how the use of coping strategies, planned activity, exercise and problem-solving can help to overcome this
• Pain management approaches such as TENS and acupuncture may also be available where appropriate

Additional Information

Varied refreshments are available in the cafe situated in the main hospital.

There is a Q park car park opposite the Children’s Hospital on Durham Road as well as pay & display street parking. There is also a car park at the nearby Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Bus routes 51 and 52 from Sheffield City Centre stop in front of the hospital.

Bus number 6 stops near the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, which is a short walk from the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.