Date: Sunday 10 September 2023
Time: 1.30 pm – 5.00 pm
Cost: Member: $195 | Non-Member: $250
Overview:
The workshop intends to deliver to the audience of rehabilitation medicine and other physicians who are interested in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain from a broader perspective.
The aims of this workshop are:
Case Presentations:
Dr Geoffrey Speldewinde, “Low back pain”
In private Rehabilitation Medicine practice, we are referred patients that have hit ‘roadblocks’. How readily can we determine those extra factors that can colour an injured worker’s journey before, or even whilst, they impact on the outcome?
I present a case of an otherwise well and mature 35yo single mother working full-time as a ‘retail assistant’ with first-onset Low Back Pain. Her struggles to regain her desired work capacity despite multidisciplinary efforts, including interventional pain diagnosis and therapeutic options, are described.
Dr Jurriaan de Groot, “When expectations are out of Sync: an aggravating factor to be aware of”
A case is presented of a 26-year-old dairy farm worker who sustained blunt trauma to her right foot, culminating in CRPS Type I. Despite receiving a significant amount of appropriate rehabilitation input over a period of 4 years, she faced a challenging journey with a suboptimal outcome. Although there were personal factors, including pregnancy, external insurance-related factors played a major role. Especially the influence of lack of familiarity with the diagnosis and its natural history on the part of case managers, leading to unrealistic expectations, will be discussed. It is postulated that this not only led to a breakdown in communication with the rehabilitation team but also added an aggravating stressor, impacting on the severity of the patient’s condition. A review of the case management practices of employees with CRPS covered by accredited employer schemes in NZ is recommended.
Dr Baraa Kassim, “CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) type 1: is Return to Work still an option?”
47 years old lady presented with an ankle fracture at work. After 3 months of non-weight bearing, she developed ankle pain and symptoms of CRPS type 1. Prompt referral to the pain management centre by the surgeon and early treatment approval by the insurance. Multidisciplinary involvement in her care early, goal setting, regular monitoring, open communication with the case manager, and early return to work plan set up while undergoing therapy. Trial different modalities of therapy and regularly modify goals. Successfully returned to full duties in 12 months, still maintaining her position at 6 months post, with minimal pain medications use.
Speakers:
Dr Geoff Speldewinde has trained extensively in all aspects of general rehabilitation, specialising further in musculoskeletal and pain management.
Dr Jurriaan de Groot has experience in many aspects of Rehabilitation Medicine, with interests in serious injury rehabilitation and management of persistent pain across the body-mind domains.
Dr Baraa Kassim is an adult rehabilitation specialist and the director of Chronic Pain Management Program. She has a special interest and experience in the holistic and multidisciplinary management of chronic pain as well as the rehabilitation of patients with complex care needs.
Ms Liane Steele is Manager, Clinical Standards and Practice with the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA). She has over 30 years experience working in the area of injury management and return to work and function in the NSW personal injury schemes.
Dr Mary Wyatt is an experienced Occupational Physician with a strong interest in return to work management. Mary has led AFOEM policy work on the Health Benefits of Good Work® and the recent policy on work injury schemes - It pays to care.
Professor Michael Nicholas is a Clinical Psychologist with over 40 years of experience in the field of pain. He is the Director of Pain Education at the Pain Management Research Institute - Kolling Institute, Sydney Medical School and the Director of multidisciplinary pain management programs (including ADAPT) at the MJC Pain Management & Research Centre at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney.
Dr Chiaki Kojima is a Consultant Physician in Rehabilitation Medicine. Her interests are chronic disease management from a MDT rehabilitation point of view.
Reference:
Dr Mary Wyatt’s “It pays to care” (RACP)