Understanding Chronic Pain
Chronic pain lasts beyond 3 to 6 months and can affect sleep, work, and daily life. Our consultant team provides evidence-based, non-surgical care tailored to your condition and goals.
What is Chronic Pain?
Pain that persists beyond the usual healing time, often continuing after the original injury has settled. It can occur in any part of the body and usually needs a specialist, long-term approach.
Persistent Pain
Lasts beyond 3 to 6 months and may continue even when tests or imaging show healing has occurred.
Daily Life Impact
Often affects sleep, mood, movement, and the ability to work or take part in everyday activities.
Specialist Management
With the right plan, many people see meaningful improvement in pain and function over time.
How Chronic Pain Can Affect You
Symptoms vary between people. Understanding your pattern helps us build the right treatment plan.
Aching, burning, sharp, or shooting pain that does not settle as expected, often in the back, neck, joints, or limbs.
Poor sleep and tiredness are common, which can make pain feel harder to manage during the day.
Anxiety, low mood, and difficulty concentrating often go hand in hand with long-term pain.
Acute Pain vs Chronic Pain
Understanding the difference can help you decide when to seek specialist help.
Acute Pain
- Comes on suddenly after injury or illness
- Usually settles within days to weeks
- Serves as a warning signal
- Often responds well to standard treatment
Chronic Pain
- Lasts beyond 3 to 6 months
- Often persists after the injury has healed
- Affects sleep, mood, and daily activities
- Needs a specialist, tailored approach
If your pain has lasted more than 3 months and is not improving, it may be time to see a pain specialist. We can help work out what is going on and what options are available to you.
Our Treatment Approach
A multidisciplinary strategy combining specialist assessment, non-surgical procedures, and ongoing review.
Request a Consultation
Submit a request online or call our team. A GP referral is recommended.
Assessment
A 30 to 45 minute consultation to review your history, examine you, and discuss your goals.
Personalised Plan
A tailored pain management plan based on your condition and what matters to you.
Follow-Up
Regular review to track progress and adjust treatment as needed.
Specialist Consultation
AssessmentThorough review of your pain, medical history, and how it affects daily life before any treatment is recommended.
Interventional Care
Non-Surgical ProceduresTargeted injections, nerve blocks, and other day-case procedures to reduce pain without major surgery.
Multidisciplinary Care
Coordinated SupportMedication review, rehabilitation, and coordinated specialist input when your pain needs a combined approach.
Conditions We Treat
Select the area that best describes your pain. Each page explains what we treat and how we can help.
Back Pain
Disc problems, sciatica, and spinal conditions.
Learn more →Headache and Facial Pain
Migraines, tension headaches, and neuralgia.
Learn more →Neck Pain
Whiplash, disc disorders, and cervical spine pain.
Learn more →Nerve Pain
Neuropathic pain and trapped nerves.
Learn more →Joint and Arthritis Pain
Osteoarthritis and inflammatory joint conditions.
Learn more →Fibromyalgia
Widespread pain, fatigue, and related symptoms.
Learn more →CRPS
Complex regional pain syndrome.
Learn more →Post-Surgical Pain
Persistent pain after surgery.
Learn more →View All Conditions
Browse our full list of pain conditions.
View all →Common Questions About Chronic Pain
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is pain that persists beyond 3 to 6 months, after the expected healing time has passed. It can affect any part of the body and often requires specialist management to improve quality of life. Unlike acute pain, which is a normal response to injury, chronic pain can continue even after the original cause has healed.
Do I need a GP referral?
Yes, you will need a GP referral so we can review your full medical history before your appointment. Ask your GP to refer you to Beacon Pain Clinic, and then book your consultation here or call us on 01 293 7177.
What happens at my first appointment?
Your first visit lasts about 30 to 45 minutes. The specialist will go through your medical history, carry out an examination, and discuss your symptoms with you. From there, we create a tailored pain management plan designed around what will work best for you.
Is chronic pain treatment covered by insurance?
We accept all major health insurers including VHI, Laya, and Irish Life. We recommend checking with your insurer to confirm what is covered under your specific policy.
What treatments are available for chronic pain?
We offer a range of treatments including specialist consultations, targeted injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, medication management, and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. The right approach depends on your specific condition and needs. We will discuss the best options with you during your consultation.
How is chronic pain different from acute pain?
Acute pain is a normal response to injury and usually settles within days to weeks as the body heals. Chronic pain persists beyond 3 to 6 months, often after the original injury has healed. It requires a different treatment approach focused on long-term management and improving daily function, rather than simply treating an injury.
Our approach is guided by research from the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).