Booking an appointment with Hunter Pain Specialists

Our expert team of Nurses

A holistic approach to understanding pain management

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

Congratulations to Dr Russo and colleagues on the publication of their journal article in Pain Medicine.

Causes for acute and chronic low back pain

In this video, Dr Russo provides an introduction to acute and chronic low back pain.

The language of pain: how patients and physicians communicate

Have you ever struggled to describe your pain to a medical professional?

Pain management and cancer

A pain clinic can be useful for a subset of patients who have cancer pain, especially where that cancer pain is not responding to standard treatment by the general practitioner or treatment by the oncologist.

Dr Russo's work receives accolade at ASRA meeting

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

Mental Health Month

The links between our physical pain and our mental health can be more complex than they seem.

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

If you're interested in starting a new sport as an over-35er, how can you play without getting sidelined early?

Our teaching

How we share our knowledge

Describing pain

Why detail is important

Research at Hunter Pain Specialists

Find out how research impacts our daily work

Facial Pain Awareness

Raising awareness of Facial Pain

Psychiatry and pain management

Without settling the brain down is very hard to settle the pain down

When to seek help for pain

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?

Healthy ageing can help us reduce the chances of experiencing pain

How can radiofrequency help?

Pain and depression

Pain and depression are closely related.

Barriers to seeking help

How to reduce your risk of arthritis

Arthritis affects millions of people but there are steps we can take to reduce our risks of developing it.

Dr Russo in Vancouver

Women and pain

Did you know that women experience pain differently to men?

Ageing - muscles, bones and joints

Ever wondered how do our muscles, bones and joints change as we age?

Sports Injuries - Ankle Sprain

Sport is a part of the Australian lifestyle. Unfortunately, it can lead to sports injuries. In this article we talk about ankle sprains — how to identify them, how to prevent them and what to do if we experience one.

Welcome to our 10 year club

This week we celebrated three of our team members.

Use of medicinal cannabis for pain management

In this article Dr Russo explains his approach to using cannabis to treat his patients' pain

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

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 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

INS 15th World Congress will be taking place from 21st to 26th May in Barcelona, Spain.

Welcome Dr Suiter

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.

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

A walk a day may keep the pain away

The benefits of incorporating a daily walk into your lifestyle are endless and can make a tremendous difference to those experiencing chronic pain. Examples include improved mood, boosted immunity, improved heart health, lower blood pressure, increased lung capacity and the list continues.

How to use food to fight inflammation

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

Chronic low back pain treatments are not always effective and provide only transient relief for many. This study allows us to determine new ways in which we can treat this difficult condition.

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

National Pain Week Survey by Chronic Pain Australia

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

Practice Trends of Neuromodulation Therapies for Pain and Spasticity 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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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 Specialists Supports the Special Children's Christmas Party

Thank you so much for your support of the Special Children’s Christmas Party.

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.

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...

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

Analgesic Efficacy and Safety of Curcumanoids in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review and...

How do we Measure Pain?

Whether pain is acute or chronic, injury or disease-related, located in the back or the head...

Marc's Musings | March 2016

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

Marc's Musings | February 2016

Effective Perioperative Vitamin C Supplementation on Post-Operative Pain and the...

Osteoarthritis

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has designated...

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

Dr Toby Newton-John recently wrote an interesting article discussing...

Marc's Musings | November 2015

Signs and Symptoms of Myofascial Pain: An International Survey of Pain...

Preventing Acute Pain from Becoming Chronic - A Viewpoint

The term “Golden Month” refers to a period of approximately one month following...

International Neuromodulation Society

Dr Russo (front row 3rd from left) attends the International Neuromodulation...

Neuromodulation for Chronic Pain

Neuromodulation represents an advanced pain management therapy for patients...

Marc's Musings | October 2015

Sleep and Pain Sensitivity in Adults. Sivertsen et...

Marc's Musings | August 2015

Effect of Melatonin on Depressive Symptoms...

Neuropathic Pain

Each year, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) designates...

ISO9001 Certification

ISO9001 Certification reflects an organisation’s commitment...

Marc's Musings | May 2015

Effect of Written Emotional Disclosure on Secondary Hyperalgesia in Women with Trauma...

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a progressive multifactorial...

Health Professionals Musings February 2015

Effect of Written Emotional Disclosure on Secondary Hyperalgesia in...

Health Professionals Musings January 2015

Risk Factors for Serious Prescription Opioid Related Toxicity...

Health Professionals Musings September 2014

This Cochrane review looked at 22 trials with over 8000 participants...

Health Professionals Musings May 2014

Caudal vs. Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections as Short Term...

Health Professionals Musings March 2014

What is the Evidence that Neuropathic Pain is Present...

Health Professionals Musings June 2014

Pre-Operative Pain Neuroscience Education for Lumbar...

Health Professionals Musings August 2014

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contribution for Diagnosing Symptomatic Neurovascular...

Health Professionals Musings April 2014

Neuropathic Pain in the General Population: A Systematic...

Hunter Pain Clinic Newsletter - July 2014

Health Professionals Musings February 2014

Health Professionals Musings 2013

New Spinal Cord Stimulator

Major research into the use of a new spinal cord stimulator...

Hunter Pain Clinic Newsletter - March 2013

Bacteria cause one third of all low back pain.

Health Professional Musings 2012

Marc's Musings 2012

Health Professional Musings. Jan-Dec 2012

Marc’s Musing Jan - Dec 2012

Newcastle Herald Ad Impact Seminar

Newcastle Herald’s marketing experts hosted an evening...

Giving Chronic Pain a Medical Platform of its Own

Most doctors view pain as a symptom of an underlying...

Hunter Pain Clinic Newsletter - Issue 5, June 2011

Pain Clinic Assessment