PAIN

16/10/2026

Neck tension and headaches: Is there a connection?

Ever notice your shoulders creeping up towards your ears during a long day at your desk, followed by that familiar ache at the base of your skull or across your forehead?

Neck tension and headaches can sometimes be connected. Muscles, joints and nerves in the neck may contribute to head pain, although headaches can have several different causes.

A few things worth trying:
-Take regular movement breaks from your screen.
-Adjust your workstation to support a comfortable posture.
-Make time for gentle movement and relaxation throughout the day.

If your headaches keep returning, affect your daily activities or change in pattern, a healthcare professional can help assess the possible causes and appropriate management options.

⚠️ Sudden, severe headaches or headaches accompanied by new neurological symptoms require urgent medical assessment.

🔗 Read our blog to learn more about the link between neck tension and headaches:
https://thepaincollective.com/blogs/understanding-pain-and-its-effects/neck-tension-and-headaches

Learn why recurring neck tension triggers headaches, how cervicogenic headaches differ from migraine, and which treatments bring lasting relief.

15/10/2026

Patient Story | Pain Pals 🌻

When a child experiences persistent pain, being heard and understood can make all the difference.

The mother of a 9-year-old girl shared their family’s journey after her daughter experienced prolonged back pain and extensive medical investigations. Referred to Dr Rudolph Hiemstra and Lise, an Occupational Therapist at Pain Pals, she received a collaborative approach combining medication management, occupational therapy, play and imagination to help her understand and manage her pain.

Through personalised care and creative activities, including a memorable magic show, the team supported both the young girl and her family throughout their journey.

Today, she is thriving. 💛

Her story reminds us of the importance of taking children's pain seriously, recognising that pain is real even when its cause is difficult to establish, and providing compassionate, multidisciplinary care.

*Patient story shared with guardian's consent*

📞 087 551 2649
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 https://thepaincollective.com/

07/10/2026

| Tamsyn | Dr. Izelle Taljaard | Durbanville | 🔆

When Tamsyn first visited our Durbanville branch in 2021, she had lived with widespread chronic pain for years. Her symptoms significantly affected daily life, leaving her spending much of her time bedridden.

Under Dr. Izelle Taljaard’s care, her journey has included medical investigations, pain education, targeted rehabilitation, interventional procedures and lifestyle changes.

With support from her care team, Tamsyn has embraced dietary changes, walking and working with a biokineticist. She has recently lost 15 kg and reports a significant improvement in her quality of life and daily function.

Today, she is more active and able to participate in more of everyday life.

Tamsyn’s story highlights how medical care, rehabilitation, education and lifestyle changes can work together as part of an individualised approach to chronic pain management.

Thank you, Tamsyn, for sharing your journey with us!

*This post was shared with Tamsyn's consent*

📍 Our Clinics: Blouberg | Durbanville | Foreshore | Johannesburg | Gqeberha | Garden Route | Hermanus | Langebaan | Mbombela | Malmesbury | Paarl | Panorama | Robertson | Rylands | Simonstown | Somerset West | Umhlanga | Worcester

📞 Call: 087 550 0644 or 021 300 0770
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 https://bit.ly/443kG0T

Individual experiences and outcomes vary.

30/09/2026

PAIN Pretoria | We’re hiring! 🩺

Health Collective / PAIN Collective is looking for a Gauteng-based, versatile, detail-oriented individual to join our team as a combined Hostess & Theatre Technician on a 3-month contract, with potential for permanent employment at our new clinic in Pretoria.

The role includes:
• Theatre equipment, disposables and stock management
• Theatre data capturing
• Patient hospitality and patient flow
• Reception and administrative duties
• Document management and payments
• Opening/closing the clinic and housekeeping
• Liaising with patients, medical professionals and the public

Requirements:
• Strong computer and administrative skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Highly organised and able to multitask
• Professional appearance and formal attire when patient-facing
• Valid driver’s licence and own vehicle
• Willingness to travel regularly and for training in Cape Town
• English proficiency required
• Afrikaans advantageous
• Healthcare experience advantageous

📩 Apply by sending your CV to [email protected]

Please note: If you do not hear from us within two weeks, consider your application unsuccessful.

29/09/2026

Pain Collective is considering expanding its services to Bloemfontein, and we would like to better understand the need for chronic pain care in the community.

If you live in Bloemfontein or the surrounding area and experience persistent pain, we invite you to share your views in a short survey.

Would you make use of a multidisciplinary service focused on the assessment and management of chronic pain if it were available in Bloemfontein?

Your response will help us understand the needs of the community. Completing the survey does not constitute a medical consultation and places you under no obligation to make use of Pain Collective's services.

A nationally representative South African study reported chronic pain in 18.3% of participants aged 15 years and older.

Survey: https://forms.gle/Q3Y7ToFNSACPJrJS7

25/09/2026

💡Friday Function Tip #10: Measure What Matters ⚖
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When you're living with persistent pain, it's easy to let the pain scale become the main way you measure progress. But sometimes, the changes that matter most don't show up as a number.

Try paying attention to what you're able to do. Are you walking further? Spending more time with family and friends? Getting back to a hobby you had put on hold?

These are all meaningful signs of progress.

Pain levels can change from day to day, so looking at your function can give you a broader picture of how you're doing.

**Don't just measure how much it hurts. Measure how much life you're getting back.** 🌱

22/09/2026

Meet Dr Lwazi Mkize | PAIN Mbombela |
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Dr Lwazi Mkize is an HPCSA-registered specialist neurosurgeon based in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, with experience in the assessment and management of spinal and neurological conditions.

He has a particular interest in understanding the role of the nervous system in persistent pain and how this can inform patient care.

As part of The Pain Collective’s multidisciplinary team, Dr Mkize works alongside other healthcare professionals to assess and manage patients living with chronic pain. Together, the team develops individualised, evidence-based management plans that consider each patient’s needs and circumstances.

We’re proud to have Dr Mkize as part of The Pain Collective, supporting collaborative and patient-centred care.

21/09/2026

💡 Myth Monday #10

Myth: All Headaches Are the Same

Not all headaches are created equal. 🤕

Headaches can have different causes, patterns, and triggers—which means they may also require different approaches to management.

Migraine, tension-type headaches, and cervicogenic headaches are just a few examples, and understanding which type of headache you're experiencing can be an important part of finding the right approach. 🧠

So if your headaches keep coming back, don't assume they're “just headaches.”

Understanding the type of headache is the first step towards understanding the pain. 💙

18/09/2026

💡 Friday Function Tip #9: Protect Your Sleep 🌙

Ever notice that everything feels a little harder after a bad night's sleep? 😴

Sleep and pain can have a complicated relationship. When you're living with persistent pain, poor sleep can make pain feel more intense, while pain itself can make getting a good night's rest more difficult.

That's why protecting your sleep is an important part of looking after your overall wellbeing.

Try keeping a regular sleep routine, creating a calm environment, and giving yourself some time to wind down before bed. Small habits can make a difference over time.

You don't have to fix your sleep overnight. Start with one change that feels manageable—and build from there.

15/09/2026

Meet Dr. Joel Steingo | PAIN Johannesburg |
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Dr Joel Steingo is an HPCSA-registered medical practitioner with more than 20 years of experience in clinical medicine, public health, and healthcare leadership.

Before joining The Pain Collective, he led large multidisciplinary research and healthcare programmes across South Africa, developing a strong interest in managing complex health conditions through collaborative, evidence-based care.

Drawn to The Pain Collective's multidisciplinary approach, Dr Steingo believes that effective pain management extends beyond procedures alone. He is passionate about helping people living with persistent pain through personalised management plans that may include education, rehabilitation, lifestyle strategies, and interventional treatments where appropriate.

As part of The Pain Collective's multidisciplinary team, Dr Steingo works alongside other healthcare professionals with the shared goal of improving function, supporting long-term self-management, and helping patients regain the confidence to return to the activities that matter most.

Blouberg | Durbanville | Foreshore | Johannesburg | Gqeberha | Garden Route | Hermanus | Langebaan | Mbombela | Malmesbury | Paarl | Panorama | Robertson | Rylands | Simonstown | Somerset West | Umhlanga | Worcester |

📞 Call: 087 550 0644 or 021 300 0770
✉️ Email: [email protected]
🌐 Pain Collective Website: https://thepaincollective.com/