According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, pain is defined as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage”.  

Pain is generally thought of as a protection mechanism. There are different types of pain with acute pain being the type we are more familiar with. Acute pain is temporary and unpleasant, possibly making us move and behave differently for a little while (such as a limp after an ankle sprain). Over time, acute pain resolves and we resume our regular routine once the injury heals.

Pain is changeable.

Chronic pain is pain that has lasted 3 months or longer. There are two types:

1. Chronic primary pain - refers to pain that exists despite complete tissue healing, or pain that has no identifiable cause

2. Chronic secondary pain - occurs in association with underlying diseases

Chronic pain is largely invisible and those affected unfortunately often feel disbelieved and stigmatized. But all pain is real. If someone reports that they are in pain, that experience should be respected.

Chronic pain can impact our physical abilities, how we interact with friends and family, the activities we choose to participate in, and our perception of sense of self. There are many things we do not know about chronic pain, such as why it occurs in one person but not another. But there are lots of things we do know:

• No two people feel pain the same way.

• Our experience of pain can be affected by how much we know about pain, our feelings, our culture, our role in society, and more.

• Pain does not always mean injury or danger.

• The way signals from the body are interpreted by the brain to generate a pain experience are complex. Many areas of the brain are involved in producing the pain experience.

• Kinesiophobia (fear of movement) is common among people living with chronic pain. 

• Pain can cause suffering.

The good news is pain is changeable! If it ramped up in response to a real or perceived threat, then it can ramp back down. The process of neuroplasticity is always happening. Our bodies are constantly adapting and able to change. As physiotherapists, we approach this in two main ways:

1. Movement - Movement is a key part of pain management.  Movement can result in decreased pain, improved mood, increased activity, better sleep, and much more. A main goal of physiotherapy is to increase ease of movement.

2. Education - Understanding your pain helps. People in pain with a better understanding of pain neuroscience show reduced levels of pain, improved function, decreased fear of movement, and much more.

Our physiotherapists take a biopsychosocial approach to pain management because you are not just your pain, you are a whole person.  They work together with you to develop a treatment strategy that feels safe and productive. If you can move more easily you will be able to increase participation in activities that that bring you joy or purpose. You will be believed. You will be supported. 

Nicole Coffey & Hayley Alexander treat people with chronic pain.

Looking for more information? Read our blog’s section on chronic pain!

What should I expect during my assessment?

You will be provided with a dedicated one on one session in which a detailed history, assessment, and treatment will be completed. Treatment will be determined based on your individual needs and may consist of manual therapy, exercise prescription and extensive education about your condition.

We accept ICBC and WorksafeBC claims. We also offer direct billing to most extended health insurance companies.

If this will be your first visit to our clinic, please complete the paperwork either online or arrive at our clinic 5-10 minutes early.