Special Pain Therapy | Neurologist Heraklion
Interdisciplinary care of patients with chronic pain
Chronic pain is more than a lingering symptom. When pain persists beyond three months, it loses its warning function and becomes a disease in its own right — affecting sleep, mood, and the ability to function day-to-day.
Katerina Saroukou holds the German Additional Qualification in Special Pain Therapy (Zusatz-Weiterbildung Spezielle Schmerztherapie), awarded by the Ärztekammer Nordrhein. The qualification requires 12 months of clinical training at an accredited centre plus an 80-hour structured curriculum focused on the comprehensive management of chronic pain.
Treatment is interdisciplinary: it combines medication, non-pharmacological interventions, and coordination with physical therapists and psychologists. The goal is not only to reduce pain but to restore function and quality of life.
Pain Conditions Treated
When to Seek Help
- Pain lasting more than 3 months
- Pain affecting sleep and mood
- Burning, stabbing or electric-shock sensations
- Pain not responding to standard analgesics
- Reduced function and withdrawal from activities
Who Benefits
- Neuropathic pain (post-herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia)
- Chronic musculoskeletal pain and chronic lower back pain
- Post-stroke pain and central pain
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Pain after traumatic brain injury
- Patients on long-term opioids who need a treatment review
What to Expect
Duration: 60 minutes (initial visit), 30 minutes (follow-up).
Preparation: Keep a pain diary for 1–2 weeks before your visit. Bring a list of your current medications and any prior imaging or laboratory results.
After the exam: Individualised treatment plan, coordination with physical therapy or psychology if indicated, and a follow-up schedule to assess response.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered chronic pain?
Pain lasting more than three months is considered chronic. Unlike acute pain, it loses its warning function and acquires the autonomous status of a disease, affecting sleep, mood, and daily functioning.
How does Spezielle Schmerztherapie differ from standard pharmacological treatment?
Spezielle Schmerztherapie is interdisciplinary: rather than focusing solely on analgesics, it combines pharmacological treatment tailored to the type of pain (neuropathic, musculoskeletal, central) with non-pharmacological interventions and coordination with physiotherapy and psychological support.
Are opioids prescribed?
Opioids are used with caution and only when indicated, at lower doses and for a limited period. In patients already receiving long-term opioids, a review and gradual adjustment of treatment can be undertaken.
When can I expect results?
With pharmacological treatment for neuropathic pain, first results are usually seen within 2–4 weeks. Full response and dose titration may require up to 8–12 weeks. Interdisciplinary coordination is evaluated at every follow-up visit.
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