Zentrum für Schmerzmedizin Nottwil
Zentrum für Schmerzmedizin Nottwil

CENTRE FOR PAIN MEDICINE NOTTWIL

Diagnosis and therapy of all types of pain

Pain is a fundamental human experience and part of our day-to-day life. We make a distinction between acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is a warning signal for imminent physical damage or a sign of acute disease. Chronic pain has lost this function and represents an independent and frequently extremely complex disease.

The Centre for Pain Medicine stands for the highest level of care for the diagnosis and treatment of all types of pain in accordance with international criteria.

Acute pain

We basically make a distinction between acute pain and chronic pain. We are all aware of acute pain, for example when we cut ourselves or get too close to a source of heat. This means that acute pain has a protective function and, by definition, recedes within a manageable period of time with appropriate treatment.

Chronic pain

Chronic pain, on the other hand, has lost this function and become an independent disease. There is not a one-size-fits-all answer to why acute pain becomes chronic pain, but it is clear that, in addition to physical factors, emotional/psychological and social factors also play a part. This is why we speak of the biopsychosocial model of chronic pain.

Treatment of chronic pain

As a consequence, the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain must be customised and cover all affected levels. In many cases, purely somatic (physical) treatment (e.g. with medicine or injections) is not productive and is frustrating in the long term.

Interdisciplinary team

To do justice to this fact, the team of specialists from various disciplines at the Centre for Pain Medicine is there to ensure comprehensive treatment that is customised to the patient and to the specific situation. The patient is the main focus of our work at all times. Active cooperation and the willingness to want to change something about one's own situation are essential preconditions for an increase in quality of life in the medium and long term.

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Understanding pain

Pain is a complex sensation that is similar to a feeling. Pain is always subjective, cannot be measured, cannot be proven and cannot be refuted. Since the 1970s there has been an official definition by the International Association for the Study of Pain that does justice to acute and chronic pain as well as to the biopsychosocial model of disease.

Management of the Centre for Pain Medicine

Specialist medical qualification

Specialist in Anaesthesiology
 

Professional background

from 03/ 2022
Medical Director, Centre for Pain Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil

2018- 2022
Senior Consultant, Head of Specialist Area of Interventional Pain Medicine, Centre for Pain Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil

2010- 2018
Specialty Registrar in Anaesthesiology and Pain Therapy, Centre for Pain Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil

2007-2010
Specialist in Anaesthesiology and Pain Therapy, Centre for Pain Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil

2006- 2007
Specialist in Anaesthesiology, Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Mainz, Germany

2003- 2006
Junior Doctor in Anaesthesiology, Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Mainz, Germany

2002- 2003
Junior Doctor in Anaesthesiology, Department of Anaesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, Municipal Clinic, Darmstadt, Germany

2000-2002
Junior Doctor in Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Germany

2000
Junior Doctor in Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany

1999-2000
Junior Doctor, Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Tübingen

Training and further education

2020
Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) “Leadership Dual”, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Art

2015
“Special Pain Management” Certificate, Austrian Medical Chamber

2014
Certificate “SGSS Pain Specialist of the Swiss Society for the Study of Pain”, now Swiss Pain Society (SPS)

2013
Master of Science (MSc), “Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine”, Medical University of Vienna, Austria

2012
Additional FMH qualification in: “Interventional pain therapy SSIPM” of the Swiss Society for Interventional Pain Medicine

2009
Additional qualification: “Special Pain Therapy”, Regional Medical Association, Rheinhessen, Mainz, Germany

2000
Conferment of title of doctor, University of Rostock, Germany

1998
State examination in human medicine, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany

1995-1998
Degree in human medicine, University of Rostock, Germany

1991-1995
Degree in human medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

Membership in professional associations

2012
Swiss Society for Interventional Pain Medicine (SSIPM)

2007
Swiss Society for the Study of Pain (SGSS), since 2019: Swiss Pain Society

Treatments we offer

At SPC, pain specialists from a very wide range of fields work together in one team. We look at your pain with all its facets and effects on you in your environment, and work together with you to find a treatment programme tailored to you.

  • Intervention am Zentrum für Schmerzmedizin

    Interventional pain management

    Selective numbing or treatment of pain

    Find out more
  • Konservative Schmerztherapie

    Conservative pain therapy

    All therapeutic measures with the exception of interventional or surgical procedures

    Find out more
  • Schmerzphysiotherapie Zentrum fuer Schmerzmedizin

    Pain physiotherapy

    Achieving improved quality of life through positive experiences with movement

    Find out more
  • Akupunktur im Zentrum für Schmerzmedizin

    Pain therapy based on complementary medicine

    Various therapy procedures such as acupuncture, medical hypnosis and neural therapy

    Find out more
  • Kopfschmerzsprechstunde im Zentrum für Schmerzmedizin

    Head and facial pain clinic

    Interdisciplinary headache therapy

    Find out more
  • Neurologische Messung im Zentrum für Schmerzmedizin

    Neurological diagnosis and therapy

    Diagnosis and therapy of neural pain

    Find out more
  • Schmerzpsychiatrie im Zentrum für Schmerzmedizin

    Pain psychiatry

    Psychiatric diagnosis and therapy

    Find out more
  • Schmerzpsychotherapie Zentrum für Schmerzmedizin

    Pain psychotherapy

    Identifying psychological diseases and symptoms

    Find out more

Registration and contact

Centre for Pain Medicine

Guido A. Zäch Strasse 1, CH-6207 Nottwilzsm@paraplegie.chT. +41 41 939 49 00F. +41 41 939 49 30

Information registration/online registration

Training and congresses

Since 1999, the Centre for Pain Medicine Nottwil has organised regular international, national and regional congresses, workshops as well as training and continuing education events.

Research activities

Our interdisciplinary team plus national and international cooperative partnerships allow us to carry out scientific research activities. Have a look at some our research projects.

Grundlagenforschung im Zentrum für Schmerzmedizin

Forschungsaktivitäten Zentrum für Schmerzmedizin

Find out more

Centre for Pain Medicine team

The experts at the Centre for Pain Medicine are specialised in the diagnosis and therapy of all types of pain. Meet the interdisciplinary team. 

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