Treatment for low back pain

How can radiofrequency relieve back pain?

How interdisciplinary care supports chronic pain management

Welcome Dr Aidan McParland

Our holistic approach at Hunter Pain Specialists

When to see a pain specialist for cancer-related pain

Hunter Pain procedures now at King Street Private Hospital

From 17 April 2025, all surgical procedures previously performed at Hamilton Day Surgery will now take place at King Street Private Hospital in Newcastle CBD.

Which treatments actually work for Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type II?

Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type II (PSPS-T2) is notoriously difficult to treat, and patients often try multiple therapies before finding relief. A new systematic review and network meta-analysis—led by Lisa Goudman and co-authored by Dr. Marc Russo et al.—offers much-needed clarity on which treatment options are most effective.

Does neuron morphology matter in Spinal Cord Stimulation?

"I feel we are at the second coming of Neuromodulation. When we harness what these new models are telling us, I think the results will be profound." - Professor Marc Russo

Decoding phantom pain

Phantom pain is a mysterious and often misunderstood condition where individuals feel pain or sensations in a body part that no longer exists. Understanding its causes and treatment options can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Understanding the link between PTSD and pain

Could chronic pain and PTSD be influencing each other? Learn how these two conditions often coexist and why treating them together is key to improving pain management and quality of life.

Medicinal Cannabis and Driving: Key Points from Dr. Russo

In this video, Dr. Marc Russo explains the legal differences between CBD and THC in medicinal cannabis and what they mean for driving.

Review of conventional management for refractory chronic pain before spinal cord stimulation

A/Prof Russo is a co-author a new research article: Systematic review and meta-analysis of conventional medical management in a patient population with refractory chronic pain suitable to receive a spinal cord stimulation system

Medicinal Cannabis for Pain Management

Medicinal cannabis is gaining attention as a treatment for nerve pain. Dr. Russo explores what it is, who it helps, and how it’s prescribed.

ADHD & Pain

Could adult ADHD be affecting how you manage pain? Discover the surprising ways these two might be connected.

A/Professor Marc Russo was invited for Part 2 on The Neuromodulation Podcast

The Neuromodulation Podcast – Prof. Marc Russo Part 2 – Research in Neuromodulation & How to Get Started

A/Professor Marc Russo was invited on The Neuromodulation Podcast for a special two-part series

The Neuromodulation Podcast – Prof. Marc Russo Part 1 – Closing Presidential Reflections

Understanding Spinal Cord Injury Pain and its treatment

Spinal cord injury pain is complex, requiring the expertise of specialists from pain medicine, neurology, and rehabilitation. When someone sustains a severe spinal cord injury that results in conditions like quadriplegia or paraplegia, they not only lose motor function and sensation, but many also develop chronic pain as a consequence of the injury.

Reducing Opioids: finding better solutions for nerve pain

If you visit a pain clinic and explain that you’re experiencing severe, constant pain that’s impacting your daily life despite being on a significant dose of opioids, it could be a sign that opioids aren’t the right treatment for you. 

The Opinion of Healthcare Professionals About a Proposed European Registry of Neuromodulation for Chronic Pain: An Online Survey

In the past decade, data from medical records and registries has become more important alongside clinical trials. However, there are only a few independent registries for neuromodulation. Interest in a European registry has grown but hasn’t worked out yet. This survey aims to understand the need and challenges of creating one.

A/Professor Russo receives John Boyd Craig Research Award

Understanding Ketamine for Pain Management and Mental Health

Ketamine, primarily an anaesthetic used in specific situations, also offers significant analgesic benefits at lower doses, making it effective for managing acute and neuropathic pain in emergency settings.

Painaustralia features Hunter Pain Specialists as experts on Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)

Hunter Pain Specialists were recently featured on Painaustralia, providing expert answers to common questions about spinal cord stimulation (SCS). In a series of short videos, our multidisciplinary team, including pain specialists and nurses, discuss how SCS works, its safety, effectiveness, and the chronic pain conditions it can help manage.

Understanding Low Back Pain: Acute vs. Chronic

Low back pain is a common issue that many people face at some point in their lives. It can be broadly categorised into two types: acute and chronic. Understanding the difference between them and their respective treatments can help in managing the pain more effectively.

How can radiofrequency help with chronic back pain?

Arthritis commonly affects the spine, specifically the facet joints, which unfortunately cannot be replaced like a knee or hip. However, there are effective treatment strategies available, including radiofrequency therapy.

#Painchanging at Hunter Pain Specialists

For National Pain Week 2024 we are reflecting on the theme #Painchanger.

Understanding Nerve Stimulator Trials for Chronic Pain

Living with chronic pain can be incredibly challenging, impacting every aspect of your life. When traditional pain management strategies are not enough, your pain specialist might recommend a nerve stimulator trial. But what does this mean, and what can you expect from the process? Let's delve into the details.

Understanding Radiofrequency Neurotomy: A Solution for Chronic Back Pain

Radiofrequency neurotomy is an advanced interventional procedure designed to manage specific types of back pain, particularly those originating from the small joints in the back of the spine, known as the facet joints. These joints can become painful due to injury or degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis, often associated with aging.

When to seek help for pain

Chronic pain is a multifaceted experience, varying from mild to severe and impacting every facet of life. It can go beyond physical discomfort, often intertwining with mental health issues like depression and anxiety, while also affecting social connections.

Research at Hunter Pain Specialists

Patients who seek help at a pain clinic often grapple with persistent symptoms that resist conventional treatments, causing distress and disruption to their lives. Recognising the complexity of these cases, we place a significant emphasis on research as a cornerstone of our approach to patient care.

Booking an appointment with Hunter Pain Specialists

Our expert team of Nurses

At Hunter Pain Specialists, we pride ourselves on having a team of dedicated and experienced pain management nurses who play a crucial role in this multidisciplinary care framework.

A holistic approach to understanding pain management

A holistic approach is used to treat patients with persistent pain in pain clinics because chronic pain is complex and multifactorial. It affects all aspects of the patient’s life.

Progressing into a new paradigm: how we must leave the past behind if we want a change in pain research outcomes

Chronic pain is a complex experience and studies to test the efficacy of new drugs need to mimic human pain conditions.

Causes for acute and chronic low back pain

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, about 4.0 million Australians (16% of the total population) have back problems. In this video, Dr Russo focuses on the differences between chronic and acute low back pain.

The language of pain: how patients and physicians communicate

The words we use to describe our pain can play a pivotal role in the diagnosis and management of our conditions.

Pain management and cancer

Unfortunately Cancer and pain are often associated.

Dr Russo's work receives accolade at ASRA meeting

Remote monitoring abstract authored by Dr Russo wins President's Choice at ASRA pain meeting.

How to take up a new sport as an adult without injuring ourselves

These days, there seems to be more demand for Masters sports, says Mandy Hagstrom, an exercise scientist at UNSW.

Our teaching

Hunter Pain Specialists believes that ongoing education and learning is is essential to deliver the best quality of care

Mental Health Month

For optimum results and making sure that you're minimising the chance of your pain becoming a chronic pain, it's important to attend to your mental health.

Describing pain

We have full language for describing tastes and flavours or sensations or what we've seen. But when it comes to the vocabulary of describing a painful experience, we may be lost for words.

Research at Hunter Pain Specialists

Research is an integral part of what we do in order to offer our patients the best possible treatment options.

Facial Pain Awareness

Facial pain can be incredibly debilitating.

Psychiatry and pain management

Mental health and physical health are tightly connected. In this video Dr. Pek Ang explains what role he as a psychiatrist plays in helping patients manage their pain.

When to seek help for pain

It can be hard to know when consulting a pain specialist is a useful step. In this video, Dr. Suiter provides some guidance.

Dr Russo's role as President of the International Neuromodulation Society

Listen to Dr Russo as he explains his role of President of the International Neuromodulation Society.

Is experiencing pain inevitable as we age?

Pain is complex and it can be influenced by various factors such as genetics, environment, lifestyle, and overall health.

How can radiofrequency help?

Unfortunately, the spine or facet joints, which are commonly affected by arthritis, can't simply be replaced the way a knee or a hip can. But there are other treatment strategies available. One of these treatments is radiofrequency.

Pain and depression

Treatment for co-occurring pain and depression may be most effective when it involves a combination of treatments.

Barriers to seeking help

How to reduce your risk of arthritis

Arthritis is the leading cause of chronic pain and the second most common cause of disability and early retirement due to ill health in Australia.

Dr Russo in Vancouver

Women and pain

In Australia, 1.8 million women lived with chronic pain, however, they have often felt misunderstood.

Ageing - muscles, bones and joints

As we age, our bodies undergo a number of changes. While some of these changes may impact our routines and limit our activity, being aware of them can also help us prevent complications and tackle difficulties as they arise, improving our quality of life.

Sports Injuries - Ankle Sprain

Sport is a part of the Australian lifestyle and, while an active lifestyle is definitely positive for our wellbeing, practising sports can also lead to sports injuries. In this article we talk about a common one: ankle sprains.

Welcome to our 10 year club

Use of medicinal cannabis for pain management

Congratulations to The Brain Neuromodulation Research Program!

Funding awarded for research on pain and touch signalling in the spinal cord

How house plants benefit our wellbeing

We can use science to understand what we can do and, it is within our control, to improve our lives and cope better with challenging situations.

The health benefits of laughter

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight." - Comedian Phyllis Diller

Chronic pain & Gratitude Journaling - An unlikely duo

Strong interactions between the conscious and subconscious mind and ongoing and intentional positive thinking work together to reprogram the brain.

The relationship between Chronic Pain & Mental Health

Chronic pain can be extremely debilitating and can have devastating effects on an individuals quality of life, independence, ability to work, relationships and overall well being.

Mindfulness meditation to manage pain

Chronic pain is an unmistakable obstacle to wellbeing. Mindfulness can improve coping abilities and aid the emotional distress that people with persistent pain feel.

Cancer pain: Where are we now in 2022 as regards management of cancer pain?

Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Treatment

Supporting Families

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

A novel approach to Spinal Cord Stimulation with life-changing results for patients

A novel approach to spinal cord stimulation (SCS), which involves targeting the dorsal horn dendrite—in contrast with more traditional ‘axonal’ SCS techniques—has been labelled as a “true breakthrough” in the field of pain management.

Stretching to Build Pain Tolerance

World Elder Abuse Day

Prof. Marc Russo discusses the highlights of this year’s INS congress.

The 15th World Congress of the International Neuromodulation Society (INS) was held on May 21st-26th in Barcelona, Spain. This year’s congress had the theme: “Neuromodulation: From Scientific Theory to Revolutionary Therapy”.

Sleep Hygiene

Migraine Awareness Month

Dr Russo Co-authors Paper on the Association Between Levels of Functional Disability and Health-Related Quality of Life With Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain

The article, which appears in the journal Neuromodulation, collected data from 204 patients with an Evoke ECAP-SCS device

30th of May - Multiple Sclerosis Day

Multiple sclerosis treatment

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Today, 2.8 million people around the world have MS.

Dr. Russo Co-authors Paper on the innovative use of Ambroxol for Neuropathic Pain

The article, entitled 'Ambroxol for neuropathic pain: hiding in plain sight?' appears in the scientific journal PAIN.

The challenges to get support with invisible conditions

Pain can be one of the most difficult 'invisible’ symptoms to describe and manage. Only the person experiencing it knows how it feels. It has an emotional element – it can cause distress, fear, anger and frustration, which in turn affect how you deal with it.

Dr. Russo's International Neuromodulation Society (INS) Presidential Update 2022

The INS, of which Dr Russo is President, is relaunching the in-person INS 15th World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, May 21-26, 2022. The event will continue to maintain an online presence, providing opportunities for virtual access to the educational content.

Fibromyalgia Awareness Month

Fibromyalgia is a common condition in which people experience symptoms that include widespread pain and tenderness in the body, often accompanied by fatigue and problems with memory and concentration.

Welcome Dr Suiter

It is our pleasure to welcome Dr Cillian Suiter to the Hunter Pain Specialists team.

Misconceptions about arthritis

There are many myths about what being diagnosed with arthritis means and who can be affected by this group of diseases.

Arthritis Awareness Month

Arthritis is very common, affecting 1 in 6 Australians, and the term includes conditions that we don’t often identify as part of the arthritis spectrum, such as Gout or Growing Pains.

Water for Healthy Joints

Theres no denying that time out doors coupled with physical activity can be a game changer when it comes to physical and mental health.

A walk a day may keep the pain away

How to use food to fight inflammation

An implantable restorative-neurostimulator for refractory mechanical chronic low back pain: a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial

Although nonsurgical treatments, including physical therapy, chiropractic care, nonopioid and opioid medications, injections, and medial branch rhizotomy, provide modest relief and improved function for some, they are ineffective or provide only transient relief for many.

Pain’s cause and effect: we must treat them together

Dr Russo recently published an article in InSight+. You can read the full article below.

National Pain Week Survey by Chronic Pain Australia

The aim of National Pain Week 2021 is to remind the friends, family and professionals around people who experience persistent pain, that connection is key to addressing the social isolation which pain can create.

A randomized sham-controlled clinical trial for refractory mechanical chronic low back pain

An implantable restorative-neurostimulator for refractory mechanical chronic low back pain: a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial.

Practice Trends of Neuromodulation Therapies for Pain and Spasticity in India

Dr Russo along with his colleagues conducted the first systematic nationwide survey to provide an overview of neuromodulation in the past 20 years in India.

Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome: a proposal for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome and ICD-11

2021 Global Year About Back Pain

Practice Choices in Targeted Intrathecal Drug Delivery: An Online Survey Conducted by the Polyanalgesic Consensus Committee

Primary research needs to be followed by best practice synthesis papers and then we need to do this - find out what clinicians are actually doing. Dr Russo is very grateful to having worked with some great coauthors.

Pain 2020 Conference

The only Pain Conference of the year!

Clinical trial - Do you have back pain?

Novel immune biomarkers in complex regional pain syndrome

This is the second research paper to come out of our collaborative investigator-initiated study with researchers from The University of Sydney and Macquarie University.

Prescribing Medicinal Cannabis

Rest in Peace Dr Lisa Stearns

A wonderful Doctor and a wonderful human being.

Give blood and save a life

Every single donation can help change someone's life.

NANS 2020

The North American Neuromodulation Society Annual Meeting

Dr Russo Latest Publication in No. 1 Neurosurgery journal in the world

Congratulations to Ksenia Katyk

Dr Russo collaborates in the latest Blue Book

The 2019 edition of Australasian Anaesthesia has a variety of “hot” topics relevant to any practice who needs anaesthesiologists.

Dr Russo and Dr Volschenk attend ASBD Training

Harbour to Vine Cycle Classic - New Understandings in Pain Management

Hunter Pain Specialists will be participating in the Harbour to Vine Cycle Classic - New Understandings in Pain Management event. We are excited to be part of the ride and workshop to raise awareness of the Pain Revolution and to support our bid to hold a Pain Revolution event in the Hunter in 2021.

September: Pain Awareness Month

A campaign to raise awareness about pain as a serious public health issue and to create greater understanding among health professionals, individuals and families, legislators and the wider community.

2019 Global Year Against Pain in the Most Vulnerable

Each year, the International Association of Pain (IASP) selects a topic for the Global Year Against Pain. 2019 is the Global Year Against Pain in the Most Vulnerable.

2018 for the Hunter Pain Specialists

It’s been a very busy 12 months for our clinic. The year kicked off with Dr Marc Russo attending the NANS Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.

Colour the World Orange for CRPS Awareness

Worldwide, November is recognised as CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) Awareness Month.

Dr Russo Speaks with ABC News on Proposed Private Health Insurance Changes

Dr Russo was recently interviewed by the ABC.

Chronic Pain Woes Under Federal Government’s New Proposal

Being the Director-at-Large for the Neuromodulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (NSANZ) New South Wales, Dr Marc Russo has seen first-hand what the Federal Government is proposing in relation to private health insurance funding changes.

A New Hypothesis for the Pathophysiology of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is an enigmatic disease and has defied a clear unified pathological explanation to date. It is a devastating, painful condition that may develop in a limb after an injury, surgery or other trauma.

Deprescribing Opioids

There is increasing evidence for a lack of long term benefit from conventional “pure mu” opioids when used for chronic non-cancer pain [1-3].

Medicinal Cannabis

Currently, Hunter Pain Clinic is assessing where the role of medicinal cannabis might lie in terms of treatment of persistent non-cancer pain.

Neuromodulation: History and Updates

Neuromodulation represents an advanced pain management therapy for patients with chronic, refractory pain.

Neuromodulation Society of Australia and New Zealand meeting

Dr Russo and the Executive Board of NSANZ meeting with Mr Omar Ishrak, CEO of the Medtronic company.

Dr Russo Implants Australia's First Intellis Device

Dr Russo recently implanted Australia's first Intellis device - the world's smallest spinal cord stimulator system.

Alternative Analgesics to Codeine for Acute Pain

As both the public and medical practitioners would know there has been an up-scheduling of codeine in pharmacies.

Hunter Pain Specialists Supports the Special Children's Christmas Party

Thank you so much for your support of the Special Children’s Christmas Party and for giving hundreds and hundreds of local families just like Chloe’s a perfect day. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Slow Breathing

The act of controlling one’s breath for the purpose of restoring or enhancing health has been practiced for thousands of years amongst Eastern cultures.

Hunter Pain Clinic Maintains Quality Management Certification

The Hunter Pain Clinic team were thrilled to recently receive recertification of AS/NZS ISO 9001-2016: Quality Management Systems.

New Technology Brings Hope to Pain Sufferers

Dr Russo has performed the first cases of Stimwave spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation in Australia.

Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain is a broad term to describe any pain within the area of the lower abdomen/pelvis.

Dr Stanley Wong visits Hunter Pain Clinic

It has been our pleasure to have Dr Stanley Wong from the Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Hong Kong with us for the past three months.

Non-opioid Analgesics and Non-traditional Opioids in General Practice

Dr Marc Russo and Dr Willem Volschenk have co-authored a paper that appeared in Healthed.

2017 Neuromodulation Society of Australia and New Zealand and Australian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meetings

Dr Russo recently attended the Neuromodulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (NSANZ) 12th Annual Scientific Meeting and the 2017 Australian Pain Society (APS) 37th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Etanercept Injections for Pain

Etanercept is an injectable medication used to treat various inflammatory conditions.

Global Year Against Pain After Surgery

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has designated 2017 as the “Global Year Against Pain After Surgery”.

Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS) is a relatively modern neurostimulation therapy for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain.

4th Scientific Meeting and 5th Anniversary of Laboratory and Clinical Research for Pain Institute

Over the weekend, Dr Marc Russo attended the 4th Scientific Meeting...

Radiofrequency Neurotomy

Radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN), also known as radiofrequency ablation, is a...

Mental Health and Chronic Pain

October is Mental Health Month – a month designated to raising awareness and understanding of mental health issues across the nation, and to promote mental wellbeing, coping strategies and recovery.

Intramuscular Botox for Pain

Botulinum toxin type A is a neurotoxin produced by strains of the Clostridium botulinum bacteria that has therapeutic properties when injected into muscle tissue.

Marc's Musings | September 2016

Participants were recruited from the 1946-1951 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal...

Advanced Trainee in Pain Medicine May 2017-May 2018

Candidates are sought for the position of Advanced Trainee in Pain Medicine at Hunter Pain Specialists, a multidisciplinary Pain Clinic in Newcastle, NSW, Australia.

Dr Marc Russo features in Nature - The world's most highly cited interdisciplinary science journal

Marc's Musings | August 2016

How do we Measure Pain?

Whether pain is acute or chronic, injury or disease-related, located in the back or the head or somewhere else in the body, doctors will often ask their patients to quantify their pain using a pain rating scale.

Marc's Musings | March 2016

Effect of Perioperative Intravenous Lidocaine Infusion on Acute and Chronic Pain...

Marc's Musings | February 2016

Osteoarthritis

Not Helping a Partner with Chronic Pain May Be the Quickest Road to Recovery

Marc's Musings | November 2015

Preventing Acute Pain from Becoming Chronic - A Viewpoint

International Neuromodulation Society

Neuromodulation for Chronic Pain

Marc's Musings | October 2015

Marc's Musings | August 2015

Neuropathic Pain

Each year, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) designates a focus topic in order to raise awareness and promote research into an area of pain. The focus for 2014-2015 is Neuropathic Pain.

ISO9001 Certification

Marc's Musings | May 2015

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

Health Professionals Musings February 2015

Health Professionals Musings January 2015

Health Professionals Musings June 2014

Health Professionals Musings March 2014

Health Professionals Musings May 2014

Health Professionals Musings August 2014

Health Professionals Musings April 2014

Health Professionals Musings September 2014

Hunter Pain Clinic Newsletter - July 2014

Health Professionals Musings February 2014

Health Professionals Musings 2013

New Spinal Cord Stimulator

Hunter Pain Clinic Newsletter - March 2013

Health Professional Musings 2012

Health Professional Musings. Jan-Dec 2012

Newcastle Herald Ad Impact Seminar

Giving Chronic Pain a Medical Platform of its Own

Hunter Pain Clinic Newsletter - Issue 5, June 2011