Why Team Approach Matters: Interdisciplinary Care for Chronic Pain

Why a team approach matters: interdisciplinary care for chronic pain

Living with pain is exhausting. It affects our sleep, mood, work and family life. You are not alone—chronic pain is common in Ireland—and there are ways to improve life with pain. One of the most helpful is interdisciplinary care: different health professionals working together with you at the centre to make a plan that fits your life. [1–3]

What “interdisciplinary” actually means

Interdisciplinary care brings together a small team who share information and goals. Depending on your needs, that team might include your GP, physiotherapist, psychologist, occupational therapist, pain specialist nurse, pharmacist, and pain medicine consultant.

The focus is not just on medicines or procedures. It’s on you—your goals, your movement, your sleep, your mood, your confidence, your flare-up plan, your family and work roles. [1–3,5]

Understanding pain differently

Many people don’t fully realise that pain doesn’t always mean tissue damage. Think of pain as your body’s alarm system. Sometimes that alarm keeps going off even after healing has happened, or it becomes extra sensitive. This isn’t “all in your head”—it’s real pain caused by changes in your nervous system. Understanding this with the support of your healthcare team can help reduce fear about movement and activity, which are key parts of getting better. [1]

A good plan is clear and practical. It usually blends:

• Understanding pain: education about how pain works in the body and brain.
• Movement you can build on: pacing, graded activity, gentle strengthening or mobility.
• Skills for tough moments: pacing, relaxation, breathwork, sleep support, flare-up planning.
• Medicines when helpful: used thoughtfully and reviewed regularly, and rarely as the only tool.[5]
• Support for life roles: workplace or college adjustments, family or carer support.

Does it work?

EFIC created a biopsychosocial model of pain infographic to show the complex factors that influence how we experience pain and how long our pain persists.

Research show biopsychosocial programmes can improve function and help people back into life compared with usual care alone.[4]

Major guidelines—from the World Health Organization and NICE—recommend exactly this kind of joined-up, person-centred approach for chronic pain. [2–3]

What the evidence says in plain English:

• There’s no single fix for most long-term pain. Combining approaches works best. [2–4]
• Movement and activity—introduced safely—are key, even when pain is present. [2–3]
• Psychological therapies (like CBT-informed approaches or pain-coping skills) support confidence, sleep and mood, which in turn supports movement and everyday life. [2–3]
• Medicines can help some people, some of the time, but are safest and most effective as one part of a wider plan. [5]

What this looks like in Ireland

Ireland has committed, skilled clinicians—across hospitals and the community—who believe in this approach. But access is uneven.

There are few Pain Management Programmes (group-based interdisciplinary rehabilitation) in Ireland, and physiotherapy and psychology input is often lacking. [7] People can face long waits to see a pain specialist.

In 2024 figures cited by the Irish Pain Society, 41% of patients had been waiting over 12 months for a first specialist appointment, and 18% the same length for first treatment. [10]

Issues with access to interdisciplinary care are common across Europe and European platforms like the European Pain Federation (EFIC) and the Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) are calling for better access to multimodal, interdisciplinary pain care and support across European countries. [5–6]

If you’re on a waiting list

We can’t wait for joined-up care to come to us and there are steps you can start now—ideally with guidance from your healthcare team:

• Ask for a shared plan. Even two or three agreed goals (sleep, walking, work task) help focus care.
• Move a little, often. Choose something doable—this might mean 5 minutes walking around your garden, gentle shoulder rolls while watching TV, or water-based exercise if you have access. Pace it. Increase by small amounts as tolerated. [2–3]
• Practice a calm-down skill daily. Slow breathing, brief relaxation, or a short mindfulness audio can reduce stress and flare intensity.
• Review medicines. Check what helps, what doesn’t, and plan regular reviews. Medicines are one tool, not the whole toolbox. [5]
• Use support. Chronic Pain Ireland offers education, self-management workshops and community—connecting with others helps us feel less alone.

The bottom line

Your pain is real. It deserves a team, not a quick fix. Interdisciplinary care won’t make every bad day vanish—but it can help you do more of what matters to you, with steadier confidence, over time. [2–4]

What to ask your GP

It can be hard to know where to start. Here are some simple questions you might bring to your next GP appointment:

• “Who else can help me?” – check if referral is possible to physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, or a pain service.
• “What can I do at home while I wait?” – ask about safe movement, pacing strategies, or community supports.

References

1. International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). Revised definition of pain and accompanying notes. Pain (2020).
2. World Health Organization. Guideline for non-surgical management of chronic primary low back pain in adults (2023).
3. NICE (UK). NG193: Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over-16s: assessment and management (2021).
4. Cochrane review (BMJ summary). Kamper SJ et al. Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain (2015).
5. European Pain Federation (EFIC). O’Brien T et al. EFIC position paper on appropriate opioid use in chronic pain management—emphasises use only within a multi-faceted, multidisciplinary plan (European Journal of Pain, 2017).
6. Societal Impact of Pain (SIP). Annual Report (2024): calls for better access to multimodal, patient-centred pain care across Europe.
7. Ireland service snapshot. Purcell A et al. A national survey of publicly funded chronic pain management services in Ireland (Irish Journal of Medical Science, 2021): five public Pain Management Programmes as of Jan 2020; multidisciplinary staffing shortages and long waits.
8. Standards for team-based care. British Pain Society/Faculty of Pain Medicine. Core Standards for Pain Management Services (2021): specifies interdisciplinary team components.
9. How common is chronic pain in Ireland? Raftery MN et al. Chronic pain in the Republic of Ireland—community prevalence… PRIME study (2011): ~35% prevalence in adults, with impact on work and wellbeing.
10. Irish access and waits. Chronic Pain Ireland. Pain Awareness Month Press Release (September 9, 2024): cites Irish Pain Society figures—27 public pain consultants; 41% waiting >12 months for first specialist appointment; 18% waiting >12 months for first treatment.