Personalized Pain Care Transforms Parkinson’s Treatment

New UniSA research underscores the urgent need for tailored, multidisciplinary pain management for Australians living with Parkinson’s disease.

The Overlooked Pain Burden in Parkinson’s Disease

Every 27 minutes, an Australian is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease—a progressive neurological condition known for tremors, stiffness, and balance issues. However, beyond its visible motor symptoms lies an under-recognized and deeply distressing challenge: persistent pain.

According to recent research from the University of South Australia (UniSA), more than 65,000 Australians with Parkinson’s experience chronic pain that disrupts their mobility, sleep, and mental well-being. Yet, many struggle to find consistent, effective pain support, often turning to trial-and-error methods due to the absence of tailored clinical guidance.

Lead researcher Anthony Mezzini, a UniSA PhD candidate, emphasizes that pain is not merely an accompanying symptom but one of the most debilitating non-motor manifestations of the disease. 

“People with Parkinson’s told us they rely on trial and error because they lack access to specialist pain support or personalized advice,” Mezzini explains.

Learn more about emerging approaches in neurological pain care at the American Neurology Summit 2025

Gaps in Personalized Pain Care and the Role of Empathy in Clinical Practice

The UniSA study, based on two national investigations into patient pain experiences, identified five crucial elements shaping effective pain care: empathy and understanding, attentive listening, clear explanations, Parkinson’s specific expertise, and individualized treatment planning.

Despite these findings, participants reported that these care qualities were inconsistently applied across Australia’s healthcare system. Access to Parkinson’s trained nurses, physiotherapists, and allied health professionals remains uneven, especially in rural and regional areas. General practitioners and neurologists were often seen as supportive yet limited by time constraints and a lack of specialized pain training.

For healthcare providers, the study highlights an urgent gap in neurology pain education and multidisciplinary coordination. Pain management in Parkinson’s requires collaboration across disciplines, integrating neurologists, nurses, pain specialists, occupational therapists, and psychologists to develop comprehensive, individualized care pathways.

Building a Framework for Multidisciplinary and Compassionate Care

Dr. Sue Sharrad, a Parkinson’s nurse and UniSA researcher, stresses that embedding empathy-driven, individualized care into everyday clinical practice could substantially improve the quality of life for patients.

“Pain is not just a symptom, it’s a major determinant of wellbeing. Expanding access to Parkinson’s specialist nurses and allied professionals can truly change lives,” she says.

The research underscores the power of multidisciplinary teamwork, ensuring that clinicians across specialties recognize and address pain as an integral aspect of neurological health. This collaborative model promotes early detection, ongoing evaluation, and adaptive treatment strategies tailored to each patient’s evolving needs.

For nurses and allied health practitioners, the message is clear: empathetic listening and patient-specific interventions can transform outcomes. For policymakers, it reinforces the need to expand access to Parkinson’s services and clinical training across Australia.

Towards a More Personalized Future in Pain Management

This research forms part of UniSA’s broader mission to enhance neurological wellbeing and bridge care inequities. The multidisciplinary team, including Anthony Mezzini, Prof. Saravana Kumar, Dr. Joanne Harmon, Dr. Sue Sharrad, and Prof. Marion Eckert, is driving change through evidence-based advocacy for compassionate, coordinated pain care.

For healthcare professionals, these insights provide both a challenge and an opportunity to reimagine pain management not as a routine protocol but as a personalized partnership built on empathy, expertise, and continuity of care.

Source:

University of South Australia