Do you need a referral for a pain management programme?

A pain management programme usually brings together approaches such as movement, pacing, education, coping skills and medication review. An initial assessment helps the team understand how persistent pain affects sleep, work, mood and daily activity. A referral from a doctor or another clinician can provide medical history, current medicines and previous treatment details, but some programmes accept direct enquiries.

Contact the programme and ask whether self-referral is accepted, what records are needed and whether an assessment is required before enrolment. If you are referred, tell the clinician about pain locations, symptoms that change with activity, medicines, previous procedures and your goals. Bring a current medicine list and any relevant letters. Do not stop prescribed treatment while waiting for an appointment.

Seek urgent medical help for new weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the inner thighs, severe pain after a major injury, or pain with fever and feeling acutely unwell. These features need medical assessment rather than waiting for a programme intake.

Ask which referral route fits your situation, what the assessment will cover, how the programme works with your existing care, and what to do if symptoms worsen before the first session.