Chronic visceral pain
Red flags
Refer to alternate diagnostic services.
- Unexplained weight loss
- Previous or suspected malignancy
- Unexplained alteration in bowel habit
The following may lead to more urgent categorisation
- Severe symptoms despite optimum management
- Escalating opioid dependency
Chronic visceral pain includes:
- Pelvic pain
- Endometriosis
- Chronic PID
- Post-surgical/trauma
- Abdominal pain
- Adhesions
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Post-surgical/trauma pain
These conditions should be fully investigated and referred to Gynaecology/General Surgery before considering PPMS referral.
Other important information for referring practitioners
Lifestyle changes
- Encourage healthy activity within pain limits
- Consider physio/exercise physiologist referral
- Hydrotherapy
- Ensure adequate sleep
- Check for mood disturbances and relationship difficulties
- Consider psychology referral for any associated mood disturbances and to assist in pain control
Medical management
- Optimise medical management of predisposing secondary condition (if present)
- Set realistic goals
- Treat associated mood disorders
- Avoid over-reliance on medication, encourage self-management and set realistic goals for treatment
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- If trialling medication start at low dose and titrate upwards
- Agree on trial period for medication
- Try to avoid opioid medication – only use opioid drugs for exacerbations and set time limits on prescribing
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Fax: 1300 364 952
Electronic: eReferral system
Mail: Metro North Central Patient Intake
Aspley Community Centre
776 Zillmere Road
ASPLEY QLD 4034
Health pathways
Access to Health Pathways is free for clinicians in Metro North Brisbane.
For login details email:
healthpathways
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.
Locations
Resources
- Named Referral Information Sheet
- Outpatient clinic information
- General referral criteria
- eReferral template
Clinical resources
- PPMS eReferral form
- Persistant pain referral forms and templates
- Management Guide for General Practitioners, Queensland Health
- Use of Opioids in Chronic Non-Malignant Pain, Quick Clinical Guideline
- Review article, Drug Management of Visceral Pain