Affects around 1 in 5 adults
Source: International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
Pain Specialist
Pain help
Pain is a signal. Chronic pain lasts beyond 3 to 6 months and can take sleep, work and thinking. People look for pain help, pain management and pain control when they cannot sleep, cannot think, or live with brain fog. Use the body map to find the area that hurts.
- Pain Specialist
- Personalised exercise plan
- Ongoing support
What pain is
Pain is a signal. Lasting pain can take over a life.
Short-term pain after an injury can protect you while something heals. When pain lasts for months, it can become a problem in its own right. That is often called chronic pain. It is not "all in your head", and it is not something you have to put up with.
Acute pain
Days or weeks. A warning that tissue is injured. It often eases as healing happens. Pain in the neck after a strain, or pain in the back after lifting, can start this way.
Chronic pain
Pain that lasts beyond 3 to 6 months, often after the expected healing time. The nervous system can stay on high alert even when scans look "normal". Sleep, work, mood and thinking can all suffer. That is when pain help and pain management matter.
Lasts beyond the usual 3 to 6 months
It can continue after the time an injury would usually heal, and it can stay even when a scan looks normal.
Can affect any part of the body
It may be in the back, neck, joints or limbs, or in more than one place.
Often affects sleep, mood and daily life
Poor sleep, low mood, and days when work or thinking are harder often travel with it.
What we do, and what we do not
Beacon Pain Clinic is a consultant-led pain clinic in Sandyford, Dublin. Pain management is a plan, not a single injection. Pain control means reducing the load pain puts on your day. It does not mean we can switch pain off.
The first consultation is €350
Paid once on the day.
A GP referral is required for insurance
For self-pay, a GP referral may not be required.
We are not an emergency department
For urgent symptoms, please contact your GP or attend your nearest Emergency Department. For non-emergency concerns, we may be able to offer a same-day clinic appointment, subject to doctor availability.
Repeat or refill prescriptions
For repeat or refill prescriptions, please contact your GP or the clinician who normally manages your medication. We are unable to provide routine prescription refills without an appropriate clinical review.
Tap the body map to see recommended pages for that area.
Expert care. Lasting relief. Conditions we treat
Pain conditions we treat
Choose a body area or tap the picture to explore related conditions and treatments.
Common pain areas
Click a body area to see related conditions Tap a body area to see related conditions
Choose a condition
What pain can take
How pain can affect you
Lasting pain is not only a sore spot. It can change sleep, work, thinking and how much you move. These are patterns we see often.
Persistent pain
Aching, burning, sharp or shooting pain that does not settle as expected, often in the back, neck, joints or limbs.
Sleep and fatigue
You cannot sleep, or you wake because it hurts. Tiredness the next day can make pain feel louder. See sleep and pain.
Mood and brain fog
Low mood, irritability, and days when you cannot think clearly often travel with lasting pain.
Reduced activity
Guarding the sore area can lead to stiffness. Moving less can then feed the pain cycle.
Work and sitting
Desk time, commuting and standing can all suffer. Pain help looks at function, not only the scan.
Linked conditions
Fibromyalgia, arthritis, nerve pain, CRPS and post-surgical pain are among the pages you can open from the body map. When pain lasts months it is often called chronic pain. That is what this page covers.
Causes
Acute pain vs chronic pain
Understanding the difference can help you decide when to seek specialist help. If your pain has lasted more than 3 months and is not improving, it may be time to see a pain specialist.
Comes on suddenly after injury or illness
Acute pain usually settles within days to weeks.
Serves as a warning signal
Often responds well to standard treatment.
Lasts beyond 3 to 6 months
Often persists after the injury has healed.
Affects sleep, mood and daily activities
Needs a specialist, tailored approach.
Can affect any body area
Ongoing beyond normal recovery.
With the right plan, many people improve
Meaningful improvement in pain and function over time.
What we can do
Pain management and pain control
A plan after a consultant assessment. What a pain clinic can do is listen, examine you, and build an individual plan. Medicines review, injections or other procedures where they fit, and advice on sleep and movement. It is not a cure.
Explore Treatments
Specialist consultation
History, examination, and scans if you brought them. Then an individual plan.
Interventional care
Targeted injections, nerve blocks and other day-case procedures where they fit, without major surgery.
A combined plan
Medication review, rehabilitation and coordinated specialist input when one treatment is not enough.
How it works
What to Expect
Getting started is straightforward.
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1
Request
Leave your details or call 01 293 7177. The clinic will explain the next step and arrange a time.
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2
Consultation
You see a named consultant for about 30 to 45 minutes. History, examination, and a plan. The consultation fee is €350, payable on the day of your appointment.
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3
Your Treatment Plan
We create an individual, tailored pain management plan based on your needs. Review appointments monitor progress. A GP referral is required for insurance. For self-pay, a GP referral may not be required.
Common questions
FAQs
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is pain that persists beyond 3 to 6 months, after the expected healing time has passed. It can affect sleep, thinking, work and daily life. Unlike acute pain, which is a normal response to injury, chronic pain can continue even after the original cause has healed.
Can chronic pain cause brain fog?
Yes, it can. Pain that lasts months often disturbs sleep. The next day people describe brain fog, slow thinking, or that they cannot think clearly. Pain management looks at that, not only the sore area.
How is chronic pain different from acute pain?
Acute pain is a normal response to injury and usually settles within days to weeks as the body heals. Chronic pain persists beyond 3 to 6 months, often after the original injury has healed. It needs a different plan, focused on long-term management and daily function, rather than simply treating an injury.
What treatments are available for chronic pain?
A consultant assessment comes first. A plan may include a medicines review, targeted injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency treatment, and rehabilitation where they fit. The right approach depends on your symptoms. It is not a cure.
Do I need a GP referral?
A GP referral is required for insurance. For self-pay, a GP referral may not be required. Please bring any relevant medical information, reports, scans or medication details to your appointment. Current waiting time is typically 1–2 weeks.
What happens at my first appointment?
Your first visit lasts about 30 to 45 minutes. The specialist will go through your medical history, carry out an examination, and discuss your symptoms. From there, we create a tailored pain management plan designed around your case. The consultation fee is €350, paid once on the day.
Is chronic pain treatment covered by insurance?
We accept major Irish health insurers including VHI, Laya Healthcare, Irish Life Health, Glo Health, POMAS, and St. Paul's Garda Medical Aid Society. Check with your insurer to confirm what is covered under your policy. The team can help before your appointment.
Book a consultation
Request a visit. The clinic will contact you to arrange a time.
