Referral Criteria

Adult patients

• With neuropathic pain in lower limbs and or lower back (only if had neurosurgery) of >6 months duration on average 6 out of 10 severity or greater (VRS)
• Back or lower limb symptoms only.
• Previously seen by pain clinic and failed to respond to routine multidisciplinary management despite full engagement.
• Signs and symptoms consistent with neuropathic pain with no surgical target or neurology management options
• Previous back surgery that has failed to improve symptoms despite surgically confirmed appropriate decompression

Exclusion criteria

• Patients must have previously been seen by pain management clinic
• Pacemaker in situ
• Coagulopathy
• Immunosuppression
• Spinal stenosis between L2- T7
• Chronic skin infection/ cellulitis
• Significant psychiatric disease e.g. psychosis, severe depression or anxiety, untreated PTSD, alcoholism or other drug dependences.
• Life expectancy less than 2 years

Referral Instructions

e-Referral Service Selection

• Specialty: Pain Management
• Clinic Type: Pain Management
• Service: DRSS-Western-Pain Management-Devon ICB-15N

Referral Form

DRSS Referral Form

Pathway Group

This guideline has been signed off by the Pain management team on behalf of NHS Devon.

Publication date: February 2017