Pelvic Pain Clinic
Pelvic pain affects at least 1 in 5 New Zealanders.
Pelvic pain
Historically the treatment of this has been via surgery or medications; however it is increasingly recognised that this approach does not work for everyone, and that repeated multiple surgeries aren’t the best care.
Instead modern treatment for pelvic pain is via ‘multidisciplinary team’ care, which involves a specialist team working closely together to take a whole person approach to your care because we know that parts of life can be impacted by persistent pain, and one size does not fit all.
What we offer
Our approach to helping people living with pain may be a little different from other specialists you have seen. We work with those living with pain to support and empower them in their recovery journey. This involves the person with pain, and their family/whānau being active participants in their treatments.
Treatment plans are individualised but may include a combination of learning more about your pain, some specialist medications, physiotherapy, dietary and lifestyle changes and pain psychology.
Treatment plans are individualised but may include a combination of learning more about your pain, some specialist medications, physiotherapy, dietary and lifestyle changes and pain psychology.
Dr Joseph and Dr Mills work with adults of all ages and genders living with many types of pain problems, but have a special expertise in female pelvic and genital pain, and are both involved in research that works towards finding best-evidence treatments in this area.
Who we are:
Dr Karen Joseph
Dr Karen Joseph has completed specialist training and registration in the scopes of Pain Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Sexual and Reproductive Health, and is the only doctor in Australasia with this broad expertise.
She also works as a specialist at Christchurch Women’s Hospital- where she has set up and runs the Pelvic Pain Clinic. She has been involved with the development of the Ministry of Health care pathway document Diagnosis and Management of Endometriosis in New Zealand, a RANZCOG online education programme for doctors and tool for patients about best management of endometriosis, and and the Mesh Injury expert advisory group.
Dr Jessica Mills
Dr Jessica Mills has been a clinical psychologist at the Burwood Pain Management Centre since 2015. Her clinical work focuses on the assessment and treatment of chronic pain, the development and piloting of group programmes for patients living with pain, and the sociopsychobiomedical treatment of chronic pelvic pain.
Her work with those living with pelvic pain led her to complete training in sex therapy and sexual dysfunction accredited by the AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators Counsellors and Therapists).
Which physiotherapist do you recommend?
We work closely with a number of female physiotherapists who are a vital member of the team for many living with pain. The therapists that we work with have specialist training to work with either chronic pain, or pelvic health, and after your assessment we will be able to advise on the best individual for your needs.
If you are already working with a physiotherapist then we are happy to collaborate with their care.
Other specialists
At times other specialist providers may be required to provide a whole person approach to your care. When this is the case we are happy to collaborate with these providers and make appropriate recommendations if required.
How do I get an appointment in the Pelvic Pain Clinic?
We accept referrals from GPs and other specialists. If your pain is the result of an accident, or treatment injury (including mesh related pain), and has been granted ACC cover we require referral from your ACC case manager.
We ask that all referrals are accompanied by copies of all your relevant past medical records (e.g. specialist letters, operation notes etc) and a completed pelvic pain questionnaire:
- Pelvic pain questionnaire (assigned female at birth)
- Pelvic pain questionnaire (assigned male at birth)
We recognise that the questionnaire may take you a while to fill in, however even though our assessment appointments are several hours long, most people living with pelvic pain have been suffering with a complex range of symptoms for many years, and having your answers beforehand means we can make the most efficient use of your appointment time.
