Chronic pain is one of the most common and most difficult health challenges to manage well. Unlike acute pain, which signals a specific injury and resolves as that injury heals, chronic pain persists: sometimes for months, sometimes for years, and often in ways that feel disconnected from any clear, ongoing cause. For people living with it on the Sunshine Coast, the practical question is the same: what can a GP actually do to help, and where does GP care fit in alongside physiotherapy, specialists, and other approaches?
This guide explains what chronic pain management looks like in general practice: what your GP can investigate, prescribe, and coordinate, how GP Management Plans work for chronic pain, and what a long-term care relationship with a GP actually involves. All of this is based on what is available at One Health Clinics Maroochydore.
Quick Answer: Your GP can investigate the cause of your pain, prescribe and review pain medications, prepare a GP Management Plan giving you access to Medicare-subsidised allied health visits, coordinate referrals to physiotherapists and pain specialists, and provide ongoing monitoring for long-term conditions. One Health Clinics Maroochydore provides chronic pain care for new and existing patients, with Medicare rebates for eligible in-clinic patients.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Chronic pain is a complex condition: the approaches described in this article are a general guide to what GP care may involve, and treatment is always assessed individually. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have about your pain or your treatment options.
What Is Chronic Pain and Why Does It Need Ongoing GP Care?
Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that has persisted for three months or longer, either continuously or intermittently. It can arise from a specific condition (arthritis, nerve damage, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, a spinal problem), or it can persist beyond the expected healing period of an original injury with no ongoing structural cause. For more on how chronic pain is defined, visit healthdirect.gov.au.
What makes chronic pain distinct from acute pain is not just its duration. Chronic pain frequently involves changes to how the nervous system processes pain signals, meaning the experience of pain can continue even when there is no active tissue damage. It is also closely linked to sleep quality, mental health, and physical function in ways that mean managing it well almost always requires looking at more than the pain itself.
GP care is central to that broader approach. Your GP is the coordinator: investigating what is driving the pain, prescribing medications, making referrals, preparing care plans, and monitoring how everything is working over time. The allied health providers and specialists your GP refers to each play a role, but your GP holds the overall picture.
What Your GP Can Do for Chronic Pain
Investigate the Cause
Before managing chronic pain, your GP will want to understand what is driving it. This involves a thorough history: when the pain started, where it is, what makes it better or worse, what treatments have been tried, and how it is affecting your daily life. Depending on what that assessment suggests, your GP may order:
- Blood tests: inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR), full blood count, rheumatological panels, thyroid function
- Imaging: X-rays, ultrasound, or referrals for MRI or CT depending on the suspected cause
- Specialist referrals: to rheumatologists, neurologists, orthopaedic surgeons, or pain specialists where the cause needs further investigation
Not all chronic pain has a clear identifiable cause that imaging will reveal. Your GP will explain what investigations are appropriate for your specific situation and what the results mean for your management.
Prescribe and Review Pain Medications
Medication is often part of chronic pain management, but it is rarely the whole answer, and what works varies significantly between individuals. Your GP will assess what medications are appropriate for your type of pain and your overall health picture, and will review them regularly to assess whether they are providing benefit and whether adjustments are needed.
Common medication categories used in chronic pain management include:
- Simple analgesics: paracetamol, used regularly and at appropriate doses for mild to moderate pain
- Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs): for inflammatory pain conditions, reviewed carefully given risks with long-term use, particularly for kidney function and gastrointestinal health
- Neuropathic pain agents: medications such as amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin, or pregabalin, used when nerve pain or central sensitisation is a component of the pain
- Topical medications: creams and patches that deliver medication locally with lower systemic absorption
- Low-dose naltrexone: used in some chronic pain presentations, discussed during your GP consultation if relevant
- Opioid analgesics: reserved for specific situations where other options have not provided adequate relief, with careful monitoring and regular review
Disclaimer: Medications described in this article are referenced as general categories only. Prescribing decisions are made individually by your GP based on your full medical history, other medications you are taking, and the specific nature of your pain condition. Do not start, stop, or change any pain medication without first consulting your GP. Some pain medications have significant risks with long-term use: your GP will monitor for these at regular review appointments.
Refer to Allied Health and Specialist Providers
For most people with chronic pain, medication alone is not sufficient management. Your GP can refer you to a range of allied health and specialist providers, depending on what your pain requires:
- Physiotherapist: for musculoskeletal pain, post-injury rehabilitation, movement retraining, and graded exercise programs
- Psychologist: for the psychological component of chronic pain, including pain-related anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Pain specialist: for complex chronic pain that has not responded to first- and second-line management, or where interventional options such as nerve blocks or spinal cord stimulation may be relevant
- Rheumatologist: for inflammatory arthritis, autoimmune conditions, or other systemic causes of chronic pain
- Exercise physiologist: for graduated exercise programs, particularly for patients with chronic conditions where standard physiotherapy is not the right fit
- Dietitian: where metabolic or inflammatory dietary factors are contributing to pain or where weight management is relevant to the pain condition
Provide Ongoing Monitoring and Review
Chronic pain does not stay the same. It fluctuates, responds differently to treatment over time, and is affected by sleep, stress, activity levels, and other health conditions. Regular GP reviews are what make the difference between a management plan that works and one that gradually stops working because nobody noticed what was changing.
At One Health Clinics Maroochydore, chronic pain reviews are structured appointments, not just prescription renewals. Your GP will monitor:
| What gets monitored | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Pain levels and functional impact | To assess whether current treatment is working and whether the plan needs adjusting |
| Medication effectiveness and side effects | To ensure pain medications are providing benefit without causing harm |
| Mood and sleep | Chronic pain and mental health are closely linked: deterioration in either affects the other |
| Allied health attendance and progress | To ensure referrals are being acted on and having the intended effect |
| Pathology results where relevant | Inflammatory markers, kidney function (for long-term NSAID use), and condition-specific monitoring |
| Functional capacity | Whether pain is affecting your ability to work, socialise, or manage daily activities |
Review frequency depends on how stable your condition is and what is being monitored. Some patients need monthly reviews when a medication has just been started or changed. Others with stable, well-managed conditions may only need reviews every three to six months.
GP Management Plans for Chronic Pain
If your chronic pain has persisted for more than six months and requires care from multiple health providers, you are likely eligible for a GP Management Plan (GPMP). A GPMP is a written document your GP prepares that sets out your health goals, the treatments involved, and the providers contributing to your care.
The most significant practical benefit for patients with chronic pain is access to up to 5 Medicare-subsidised allied health visits per calendar year. These subsidised visits can be spread across different providers (physiotherapy, psychology, exercise physiology, podiatry, and others), depending on what your plan includes. This can meaningfully reduce the cost of allied health care that is often central to effective chronic pain management.
For current Medicare information, visit Services Australia.
A GPMP is reviewed at least every 12 months, and often every 3 to 6 months for patients with more active pain conditions. Your GP will advise on the right schedule for your situation.
To learn more about our services and book a chronic pain review, visit our GP clinic in Maroochydore page.
Disclaimer: GP Management Plans (GPMP) and the Medicare-subsidised allied health visits associated with them are subject to individual eligibility assessment. Not all patients with pain will be eligible for a GPMP. Medicare rebate amounts and the number of subsidised visits available are set by the Australian Government and are subject to change. Confirm current eligibility and rebate conditions with your GP or Services Australia before booking allied health appointments on the basis of information in this article.
The Role of Psychology in Chronic Pain Management
One of the most consistent findings in chronic pain research is that the psychological component of pain (the way pain affects mood, sleep, relationships, and sense of self) significantly influences both the experience of pain and the outcome of treatment. Chronic pain and depression or anxiety co-occur at high rates, each making the other worse.
Psychological therapies, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), have strong evidence for reducing pain-related distress, improving function, and helping people live better lives despite pain that has not fully resolved. These therapies do not make pain go away: they change the relationship to pain in ways that reduce its impact.
At One Health Clinics Maroochydore, your GP can prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) if your chronic pain has significantly affected your mental health. An MHTP provides access to subsidised psychology sessions under Medicare. Alternatively, psychology can be included as one of your allied health referrals under a GP Management Plan.
Mention your mental health at your GP appointment: it is a clinical part of your pain picture, not a separate concern.
Telehealth for Chronic Pain Reviews
Many routine chronic pain review appointments can be conducted via telehealth: reviewing pathology results, discussing how medications are going, adjusting your management plan, or checking in on how you are coping. For patients whose pain or mobility makes travelling to the clinic difficult, telehealth removes that barrier for appointments that do not require physical examination.
One Health Clinics Maroochydore offers telehealth appointments for eligible patients, with Medicare rebates for eligible in-clinic patients.
Related reading: Telehealth GP on the Sunshine Coast: How to See a Doctor Without Leaving Home
What to Bring to a Chronic Pain Appointment
The more information you can give your GP, the more useful your appointment will be. Before you come in, it helps to have:
- A clear account of your pain: where it is, when it started, what makes it better or worse, how it has changed over time
- A list of all current medications, including those prescribed by other doctors and any over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or supplements
- Any recent imaging reports, blood test results, or specialist letters relating to your pain
- A note of what treatments you have already tried and what effect they had
- An honest assessment of how the pain is affecting your sleep, mood, work, and daily activities: this information directly shapes the management plan
If you have been managing your pain for a long time and are seeing One Health Clinics for the first time, book a long consultation (30 minutes) so your GP has adequate time to take a full history and discuss the options properly.
Frequently Asked Questions: Chronic Pain GP Sunshine Coast
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Do I need a referral to see a GP at One Health Clinics Maroochydore for chronic pain?
No. You can book directly online or call 1300 689 133. For a first appointment about chronic pain, book a long consultation (30 minutes) to ensure your GP has adequate time.
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Is chronic pain management covered by Medicare at One Health Clinics Maroochydore?
One Health Clinics Maroochydore is a private billing clinic. A Medicare rebate applies for eligible patients for in-clinic appointments, including GPMP preparation and reviews; telehealth is rebated only as an in-clinic follow-up within the last 12 months. For current fees and rebates, see the clinic fees section, or call 1300 689 133 to confirm your eligibility before booking.
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What is the difference between a GP and a pain specialist?
Your GP is the coordinator of your overall care and is the right starting point for chronic pain. They can investigate, prescribe, and refer. A pain specialist is a doctor (usually an anaesthetist with subspecialty training) who manages complex chronic pain that has not responded to first- and second-line treatment. Your GP will refer you to a pain specialist if they assess that specialist input is needed. You cannot self-refer to a pain specialist and claim a Medicare rebate: you need a GP referral.
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How often will I need to see my GP for chronic pain?
This depends on the nature of your pain and how well it is controlled. Patients with stable conditions may need reviews every 3 to 6 months. Patients with a new diagnosis, a recent medication change, or a less stable condition may need monthly reviews until things settle. Your GP will establish a review schedule appropriate for your situation.
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Can my GP help with pain from a specific condition such as arthritis, endometriosis, or fibromyalgia?
Yes. Pain from specific conditions can all be managed within a GP context, with specialist referrals arranged where needed. For arthritis, your GP can manage medications and refer to a rheumatologist or physiotherapist. For endometriosis, your GP can refer to a gynaecologist and support pain management alongside that specialist care. For fibromyalgia, your GP coordinates a multidisciplinary approach involving medication review, psychology, and graded exercise. The starting point in every case is a thorough assessment at your GP appointment.
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Is there anything I can do at home to help manage chronic pain?
Yes. Between appointments, self-management strategies that have evidence behind them include graded physical activity (avoiding both inactivity and overexertion), sleep hygiene practices, stress reduction techniques, and mindfulness-based approaches. Your GP or allied health provider can advise on what is most relevant for your specific pain condition. For self-management strategies, visit healthdirect.gov.au.
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What if my pain is getting worse or I think something serious is wrong?
Do not wait for your next scheduled review. Contact One Health Clinics Maroochydore on 1300 689 133 to book an earlier appointment. If your pain changes suddenly in character, becomes severe and unexplained, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as weight loss, fever, or neurological changes, book urgently or attend your nearest emergency department. If you are unsure whether your situation requires urgent care, call healthdirect.gov.au on 1800 022 222 (24 hours, 7 days) to speak with a registered nurse.
Disclaimer: One Health Clinics Maroochydore is a primary care clinic and is not an emergency service. If you are experiencing sudden, severe, or unexplained pain: particularly chest pain, severe abdominal pain, pain accompanied by neurological symptoms, or pain following a significant injury: seek urgent medical attention. Call 000 for a medical emergency. For health advice when you are unsure, contact healthdirect.gov.au on 1800 022 222 (24 hours, 7 days) to speak with a registered nurse.
Book a Chronic Pain Review at One Health Clinics Maroochydore
Living with chronic pain is harder when you do not have a GP who knows your history and coordinates your care consistently. At One Health Clinics Maroochydore, new patients with chronic pain conditions are welcome. Book a long consultation (30 minutes) for your first appointment so your GP has adequate time to take a full history and discuss the right approach for your situation.
Book onlineYou can also call the clinic on 1300 689 133. The clinic is at Inside Wholelife, 32 Wises Rd Maroochydore QLD 4556. Private billing applies, with Medicare rebates for eligible in-clinic patients: for current fees, see the clinic fees section.
Current opening hours are listed below.
| Mon: | 8:30am - 5:30pm |
|---|---|
| Tue: | 8:30am - 4:00pm |
| Wed - Fri: | 8am - 4pm, Telehealth appointments only |
| Sat, Sun: | Closed |