For people who have been living with pain for a long time — ACC-funded, team-based, and built around you.
Persistent pain — pain lasting three months or more — is not the same as acute pain. It is more complex, more individual, and requires a different kind of approach. At You First Physio, our persistent pain programme is ACC-funded for eligible patients and delivered as part of a coordinated interdisciplinary team. It is built around your goals, your life, and what matters to you.
This service is booked through reception. Please call your nearest clinic to find out whether it may be appropriate for your situation.
For many years, pain was understood primarily as a signal from damaged tissue — something hurt, so something was broken. We now understand that pain is considerably more complex than this.
As Katherine Pierce, one of our directors and a specialist in persistent pain, explains: ‘Pain is a lot more complex than that and affected by a lot more factors and variables — including cognitive, social, and environmental factors.’ Our understanding of pain has changed significantly over the past 25 years, and that has changed how effective care for persistent pain looks in practice.
Persistent pain can be influenced by sleep, stress, past experiences, beliefs about pain and the body, and the social environment, as well as physical factors. Treatment that only addresses the physical — without engaging with the whole person — often falls short. That is why this programme is interdisciplinary, and why our approach at You First Physio is one of genuine collaboration.
Katherine describes working with people in the persistent pain programme as being ‘more like a coach beside them on the journey’ — helping people understand what is happening in their body, identify a path forward, and build the skills and confidence to take it.
Cate Broderick, who also specialises in this area, talks about the importance of hope and autonomy. Many people who come to us with persistent pain have been through significant parts of the health system already. They may have had multiple treatments, multiple opinions, and may feel that they have run out of options. ‘When you start engaging with them, connecting, and you start asking about what they want and their story — just listening — then they start to realise with guidance that they’ve got choices,’ she says.
That is the spirit behind our persistent pain programme: not a fixed treatment applied to a passive patient, but a collaborative, sense-making process that puts you at the centre — in line with the You First Physio philosophy and with how the ACC pain management service is designed to operate.
The ACC persistent pain programme may be appropriate for people who:
If you have an accepted ACC claim and have been experiencing pain for three months or more that is not resolving as expected, you may be eligible for assessment under the ACC pain management service.
CRPS is a recognised and complex pain condition for which ACC funds specific assessment and management pathways.
For people whose pain has become complex — affecting daily activities, work, sleep, mood, or relationships — and where standard physiotherapy alone has not achieved the progress they had hoped for, an interdisciplinary approach may offer a more effective pathway.
The programme includes significant education about the nature of persistent pain, pacing, graded activity, and strategies for managing the impact of pain on daily life. This education component is central — knowledge and understanding are part of the treatment, not a prelude to it.
The ACC Pain Management Service is funded for eligible patients at no direct cost to you. It is delivered by an interdisciplinary team — which at minimum includes a physiotherapist, psychologist, and medical practitioner working together on a shared care plan. Depending on your needs, the team may also include a pharmacist, occupational therapist, or specialist pain physician.
The service operates at different levels depending on the complexity of your situation — from group-based education programmes through to community-level individualised programmes and, for the most complex cases, tertiary-level intensive programmes. Which level is appropriate for you is determined through an initial triage assessment.
Your care is guided by a formal care plan developed with you — including your goals, the people involved, and how progress will be measured. Goals are specific and functional: things that matter in your actual life.
ACC Pain Management Services
You may be eligible if you have:
Or if you have a diagnosis (or suspected diagnosis) of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
A referral is required. Your GP, a registered health professional currently providing ACC-funded services to you, or ACC itself can refer you into the programme. Speak with your GP if you think you may benefit from the ACC pain management service.
Highly skilled and compassionate physiotherapist
Thanks to Rosana's expertise and ongoing support, I have made significant progress and felt confident throughout my rehabilitation journey. I am extremely grateful for her care and would strongly recommend her services to anyone seeking a highly skilled and compassionate physiotherapist.
Karina Rebelo
Incredibly knowledgeable, warm and friendly – a top-tier physio
I have been seeing Claire J. for the past two years for persistent neck and back pain, and the results have been life-changing. Claire is incredibly knowledgeable, amazing at what she does, and brings a warm, friendly, and helpful approach to every session. If you are looking for a top-tier physio, Claire is the absolute best!
Zoe Garmonsway
Listened. Made a plan. Highly Recommended
Their management for back and neck pain is amazing. Nigel is helping my husband with his recovery for his return to work programme and he is very accommodating. The main thing is they all LISTENED and made a plan to help the patient improve their quality of life! I would highly recommend them for any pain that you may have – thank you team!
Alphine Joy Tronzon
If your injury was caused by an accident, ACC may cover part of your treatment cost. You'll pay a patient co-payment per appointment.
45 minutes
$57
(concession $52)
30 minutes
$49
(concession $44)
For injuries not caused by an accident, standard physiotherapy fees apply.
45 minutes
$112
(concession $107)
30 minutes
$87
(concession $82)
Questions about costs before you book? Call your nearest clinic, we're happy to help.
If you are eligible for the ACC Pain Management Service, ACC funds the programme. There is no direct surcharge to you for services delivered under this programme.
No. The programme is delivered by an interdisciplinary team — including a physiotherapist, psychologist, and medical practitioner at minimum. Your physiotherapist may coordinate your care across the team, but your treatment draws on the full range of expertise in the programme.
The duration depends on which level of service is appropriate for you, determined through your triage assessment. Community-level programmes are individualised, and timelines are shaped by your goals and progress.
It may be. The persistent pain programme takes a biopsychosocial approach — meaning the physical, psychological, and social dimensions of your pain are all considered and addressed as part of a coordinated plan. This is different from standard physiotherapy focused primarily on the physical presentation.
Yes. You are welcome to bring family, whānau, or a support person to any assessment or treatment session.
Book an initial appointment at your nearest clinic — online in minutes, or give us a call. Our 45-minute initial appointments are available across all five of our Christchurch clinics, and online booking is available at all locations.
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