Someone comes along and says, 'Trust me, I'm a doctor, I'll take your pain away', you would believe them."

More than three million Australians are living with chronic pain, and it's become a breeding ground for exploitation.

In a major investigation, Four Corners brings together a team of international experts to look inside the multi-billion-dollar pain industry and expose the ugly side of medicine.

With access to data from thousands of patients, ABC Investigations reporter Adele Ferguson reveals how some medical professionals are able to drain our health system.

She also meets the patients who are in worse pain after having surgery, where lives are being put at risk.

Four Corners: Pain Factory will air at 8.30pm on Monday 8 April on ABC TV and ABC iview. See more at abc.net.au/news and on ABC News social media platforms.

A statement from Tom Morris to Four Corners can be read here.

Peter Birch talks with Kathy Hubble about solving the $73 bn chronic pain problem

Of course no surgeon is recommending invasive surgery in bad faith, but Ian Harris argues that the evidence for the success for many common operations, including knee arthroscopies, back fusion or cardiac stenting, become current accepted practice without full examination of the evidence. The placebo effect may be real, but is it worth the recovery time, expense and discomfort?

Redefining Chronic Pain Management: A Deep Dive with Kathy Hubble, Founder of Amelio Health and John Brewer, Buzzsprout.