Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than six months. It often has no known cause, but can exist along with conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (RSD). It can also be the result of work- or vehicle-related accidents.
Statistics from the Canadian Pain Coalition indicate that 13 to 30% of Canadians suffer from chronic pain, which can impact all areas of a person's life, mind, body and spirit. It often challenges those who have it to continue to find pleasure and meaning in their lives.
Learning what you can do to manage your pain
It is common to feel like persistent pain is controlling your life; self-management strategies put you back in control. When we wait for pain to be cured, our life is put on hold. Learning about persistent pain and understanding your own experience of it, gives you the chance to influence it. Self-Management strategies empower you to prevent increases in pain, to modify pain, and to improve your day-to-day function and quality of life
Learn about the Pain Cycle and frequently asked questions:
This issue offers COVID-19 safety tips, an article about prescribed opioid use, an introduction to Dawn Thomas, our new VP for Indigenous Health & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the first in our series from Public Health on Climate Change and much more.
People living in Esquimalt and neighbouring communities will soon have better access to team-based everyday health care with planning for an urgent and primary care centre.
