What is chronic pain?
Chronic (or persistent) pain is pain that has continued long after the original injury. Sometimes there has not been an injury or illness at all. Medical tests may not show what is wrong, and treatments may not have helped.
Meanwhile, the pain can interfere with your ability to function and have significant effects on your mood, relationships and wellbeing. Searching for solutions to pain that doesn’t go away can be frustrating and exhausting.
What makes pain chronic?
Science is discovering that, although you feel pain in your body, changes in the brain and other parts of the nervous system may be maintaining it. This is sometimes referred to as neuroplastic pain. This results in changes in the way your nervous system deals with physical sensations. It may be driven by factors such as the severity of the initial pain, nerve damage, fear, anxiety and not feeling safe. Modern approaches to pain therapy help the brain, your body and how you feel.
What happens during chronic pain therapy?
1. Assessment
When you attend for the first time, we begin with an assessment to rule out any ongoing pathology. We then take the time to talk through all your symptoms, how they affect you and what you have already tried in search of a solution. If you have lived with your pain for a long time, you may want to book a longer appointment of 120 minutes.
2. Understanding your pain
We then go through a step-by-step therapeutic process to gradually change the way your brain processes pain.
3. A step-by-step process
We then go through a step-by-step therapeutic process to gradually change the way your brain processes pain.
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If you are interested in having acupuncture as part of your chronic pain therapy, please talk to me.
4. Tools you can keep using
You will learn techniques to manage your pain and the way it affects you, so that you can get your life back on track. I draw on pain management, Pain Reprocessing Therapy and various physiotherapy approaches to suit your individual needs. As part of this process, I may also suggest Craniosacral Therapy to gently and safely reduce tension and help you reconnect with your body in a positive way.
What people say about my work
“Dr. Hubert van Griensven is an excellent pain management physiotherapist. He takes the time to listen, explains everything clearly, and uses a very thoughtful, hands-on approach to treatment. I felt genuinely supported and noticed real improvement after working with him. He’s professional, knowledgeable, and easy to trust. Highly recommended."
Dr Hubert van Griensven
RCST | MCSP | DipAc | PhD | MSc (Pain)
Craniosacral Therapist, Physiotherapist, Pain Specialist
​I have spent much of my career working with persistent pain, and I bring the same careful, person-centred attention to every session. You are welcome to ask me anything before you book.
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Qualified as a physiotherapist in 1988
Former clinical specialist with the pain management team at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Trust
PhD, and MSc in Pain
Registered Craniosacral Therapist
Craniosacral Therapy
Internal Integration with Craniosacral Therapy can help you access and integrate your internal resources and strengthen your mind-body connection. In the process, it works to identify and resolve tensions, as well as the effects of stress and past trauma. It is like having your body tuned and optimised. This includes deep relaxation, with resolution of tensions, internal blockages and patterns of disharmony.
Craniosacral Therapy is typically done with you lying on a couch, fully clothed, while I apply light touch to different parts of your head, back and other areas.