Pain Medicine
Chronic Pelvic Pain Consultation
Diagnosis and treatment of persistent pelvic pain
Anesthesiologist | Pain Medicine
Joana Carreteiro
Medical License: n.º 55742
Languages: Portuguese, English and Spanish
Insurance Agreements: Not in-network with any insurance providers.
Sobre
Specialist in Anesthesiology dedicated to Pain Medicine, with clinical activity in both public and private hospital settings. She currently coordinates the Pain Unit at Clínica CUF Almada and the Pain Clinic at Clínica CUF Barreiro, while also working at the Pain Clinic of Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira. She is dedicated to the treatment of complex chronic pain, with a special interest in women’s health at the different stages of life, chronic pelvic pain and cancer pain.
Her clinical practice is based on a multidisciplinary approach, in close collaboration with Gynecology, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy, Nutrition, Psychology, Breast Health and other specialties, allowing personalized treatment plans to be built for each patient. Whenever indicated, she complements medical treatment with minimally invasive ultrasound-guided interventional techniques, nerve blocks, infiltrations and other advanced Pain Medicine approaches, favoring solutions that reduce pain, improve function and restore quality of life.
She believes that pain treatment must go far beyond symptom control and values a relationship of closeness, empathy and trust, dedicating the time needed to understand each woman’s history, needs and goals. She advocates a person-centered approach, promoting health literacy and the patient’s active participation in treatment decisions. Whenever appropriate, she integrates Lifestyle Medicine strategies, encouraging healthy habits related to nutrition, physical exercise, sleep, stress management and emotional well-being as a fundamental complement to pain treatment and improved quality of life.
Chronic Pelvic and Gynecological Pain
Integrated assessment of women with persistent pelvic pain — including endometriosis, adenomyosis, vulvodynia, pudendal neuralgia and pain during intercourse. Coordination with Gynecology, Pelvic Physiotherapy and Sexology to identify the origin of the pain and personalize treatment.
Cancer, Breast and Post-surgical Pain
Care for women with pain associated with cancer and its treatments, mastalgia and persistent pain after gynecological surgery, cesarean section or breast surgery. Coordination with Breast Health and Oncology to restore function, prevent pain chronification and preserve quality of life.
Neuropathic Pain, Fibromyalgia and Generalized Pain
Diagnosis and treatment of the different forms of peripheral neuropathic pain (neuralgias, post-herpetic pain, neuropathies) and a comprehensive approach to fibromyalgia and other central sensitization syndromes, integrating pharmacological therapy, pain education and multidisciplinary strategies.
Interventional Pain Medicine and Ultrasound
Minimally invasive ultrasound-guided techniques that increase diagnostic and therapeutic precision, reduce the risk of complications and the need for systemic medication, and allow faster recovery.
- Coordinator of the Pain Unit, Clínica CUF Almada (since 2025)
- Coordinator of the Pain Clinic, Clínica CUF Barreiro (since 2025)
- Coordinator of the Pain Clinic, Clínica CUF Almada (2023–2025)
- Pain Clinic Physician, Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira (since 2022)
- Pain Clinic Physician, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, E.P.E. (2021–2022)
- Hospital Consultant in Anesthesiology, Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca (2020–2022)
- Anesthesiologist, Clínica CUF Almada (since 2020)
- More than 25 oral presentations at clinical meetings
- First author of 9 scientific posters presented at national and international congresses
- Co-author of 4 scientific posters presented at national and international congresses
- Development of several clinical practice protocols in Anesthesiology
- Co-author of a scientific book in Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Co-author of 5 scientific articles published in national and international journals
- Postgraduate Lecturer, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (2021–2023)
- Trainer in the 3rd Postgraduate Course in Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine
- Trainer at national congresses and workshops
- Coordinator of clinical internships in Anesthesiology
