Learn more about chronic pain

We are here to help you learn more about living with chronic pain.

Chronic pain, or persistent pain, is pain that lasts longer than expected, or feels worse than what is expected based on the underlying injury or disease. Treatment of chronic pain is like treatment of any other chronic disease – you need advice or care from knowledgeable healthcare providers and you need to build skills in self-management.

Help for Pain management

Learn more about managing your pain.

Multidisciplinary Pain Treatment Clinics Frameworks to provide a robust Self-Management Skills Frameworks to provide a robust Physical Activity Supports Frameworks to provide a robust Medications Frameworks to provide a robust Wellbeing and Mental Health Supports Frameworks to provide a robust Support Groups Frameworks to provide a robust More Non-Drug Ways to Manage Pain Frameworks to provide a robust Partners in Pain Webinar and Podcast Frameworks to provide a robust

Self-management skills

A better understanding of pain and building self-management skills will help you gain control over your pain, which is essential to long-term pain management.
Check out the following resources for information on self-management skills:
LiveWell with Chronic Pain: (306) 655-LIVE (306-655-5483) or (877) LIVE-898 (1-877-548-3898)
Online Therapy User Pain Course
PainBC, Live Plan Be
Arthritis Foundation (Breaking the Pain Chain)
Agency for Clinical Innovation Pain Management Network
Pain BC Toolbox
The Pain Toolkit
4P’s of Pain Self-Management Worksheet – General
4P’s of Pain Self-Management Worksheet – Exercise
4P’s Infographic Poster

Physical activity

Research shows that regular movement is the most effective long-term treatment for pain. But exercise isn’t easy when you live with pain and it takes time to build up your tolerance. If you struggle to start or stick with being regularly active, get advice from a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or exercise instructor.
Check out the following resources for information on physical activity:
Forever in Motion
Community Leisure Centres listed at Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association
Chronic pain and exercise fact sheet
4 P’s Pain Management Planning Worksheet

Medications

Get advice from a physician, nurse practitioner, or pharmacist about the medications you’re taking for pain or other health conditions if you aren’t getting the benefits you want or have unpleasant side effects.
Check out the following resources for information on medications:
Medication Assessment Centre and MAC Inter-professional Opioid Pain Service
medSask
RxFiles

Multidisciplinary pain treatment clinics

Assessment and treatment from a multidisciplinary team can help people who struggle with their pain and other associated conditions of depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders.
Check out the following resources for information on multidisciplinary treatment plans:
Interdisciplinary Pediatric Complex Pain Clinic, Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital
This clinic provides care for children and teens age 6-16 years who experience chronic or complex pain from across the province. Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner for more information on how to be referred. A referral from a pediatrician on subspecialist is required to access this clinic. The clinic team includes a pediatrician, nurse, psychologist, and physical therapist.
          For more information visit the Moms & Kids Health Saskatchewan website. 
USask Chronic Pain Clinic [formerly the Medication Assessment Centre Inter-professional Opioid Pain Service (MAC iOPS)]
The USask Chronic Pain Clinic (formerly MAC iOPS) provides tailored, patient-centered care for people living with chronic pain in Saskatchewan. Our team has training and experience in chronic pain care and includes pharmacists, a physician, social workers, and a physical therapist. Referrals are accepted from any healthcare provider and patients can contact the clinic directly. Our team will work with the referring health professionals to provide support for patients.
Visit our website
Refer a Patient
Refer yourself
Patient resources for chronic pain, opioid use, sleep problems and chronic disease management
Regina Chronic Pain Clinic 
The Regina Chronic Pain Clinic is a multi-disciplinary team for people living with chronic pain. Our team has physicians, nurse practitioners, a registered psychiatric nurse, a pharmacist, licensed practical nurses, exercise therapy, and other health providers. We work with your family doctor or referring provider. We provide treatment and support that may include interventional pain medicine, pain medication prescribing or changes, mental health support, exercise therapy, and traditional Indigenous medicine. Once a safe care plan is in place, care is transferred to your primary care providers. We do not provide acute care for mental health or medical emergencies.
          Regina Chronic Pain Clinic address:1056 Albert Street, Regina Saskatchewan S4R 2P8
          Email: Chronicpain.Regina@saskhealthauthority.ca | Phone: 306-766-6370 | Fax: 306–766–7045
Referral Form: Referrals accepted from physicians and nurse practitioners
          For more information: see the Opioid Stewardship Program website
          Contact the clinic manager: Sabrina Peberdy, MHA, BSW, RSW Clinical Integration Manager – Regina Urban Saskatchewan                                                             Health Authority | Office: 306-766-7261 | Cell: 306-533-1400 

Wellbeing and mental health supports

Practice relaxation exercises, get advice or treatment from a psychologist, social worker, or online course to reduce the negative impact of pain on your life, and improve your well-being.
Check out the following resources for information on wellbeing and mental health supports:
Body Scan and Relaxation Audiofile – Sarah Garden, Yoga Therapist
Full Body Scan Audiofile – Sarah Garden, Yoga Therapist
Imagined Alternate Nostril Breathing Audiofile – Sarah Garden, Yoga Therapist
Online Therapy User Pain Course
Saskatoon Concurrent Disorders Program – Sturdy Stone; Mental Health & Addictions Centralized Intake: (306) 655-7777
Clinical Health Psychology (former Saskatoon Health Region) 
Referral form accessible for those with SHA infonet access
Public access website 

Support groups

Connect with other people living with pain.
Check out the following resources for information on support groups:
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome – Ross McCreery: ross@painfullyoptomisitic.com
Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain – Laura Millions: saskendowarriors@gmail.com
Facebook Group: Click here
Fibromyalgia Support Group – Email: fibrofighters@yahoo.com; Phone: (306)-222-4130

Thinking Outside the Medicine Cabinet

Explore these resources on non-drug ways to manage pain

When adults live with chronic pain, it is recommended that they first try non-drug pain management methods and/or non-opioid pain medications. Research shows that non-drug treatments for chronic pain management can reduce pain and improve function.CADTH, in collaboration with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, developed resources for people living with chronic pain that summarizes this research. 

Check Out These Resources:
         Non-Drug Ways to Manage Your Chronic Pain: Physical Methods
Non-Drug Ways to Manage Your Chronic Pain: Psychological Methods
Non-Drug Ways to Manage Your Chronic Pain: Preventive Methods

Partners in Pain

Connect with other people living with pain.
Check out the following webinar and podcast:
Partners in Pain Webinar Registration  https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/PiP-SK
Partners in Pain Videos on 4P’s Health YouTube  Partners in Pain Webinar Videos
Your Partners in Pain Podcast   Transistor: Link to Podcasts

Understanding Pain

Explore these resources to improve your understanding of pain.

Lived experiences

You are not alone. One in five people in Saskatchewan live with chronic pain.

Everyone who lives with pain goes through a unique journey with the healthcare system, their family, friends, and within themselves. When faced with disbelief or stigma, people who live with chronic pain and their families can feel like they are alone or that no one understands what they’re going through. These stories show the challenges faced, journeys taken, and how people living with pain are fighting back and making pain management better in Saskatchewan.
Andrew Hartman is a Saskatoon resident who is currently a doctoral student at the University of Saskatchewan. Andrew has had a history of chronic pain throughout their life; currently, Andrew has been navigating how to live well with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Ankylosing spondylitis is a global inflammatory disease similar to arthritis that causes pain. Over time, AS can cause bones in the spine (vertebrae) to fuse, and can spread to other joints to cause damage in additional areas of the body. Initially, Andrew sought the help of surgeons, acupuncturists, podiatrists, counselors, physical and massage therapists, and a nurse practitioner to manage their pain. At times, they were completely debilitated and unable to function. In addition to simply pushing through and trying to ignore the pain – coupled with lots of time resting – Andrew tried various therapies to get their condition under control – but, rarely, did anything help. Andrew indicates that, overall, seeking treatment for their chronic pain has been exhausting, isolating, scary, and traumatic experience for them. However, grieving the loss of their abled life – and accepting a new, beautiful path that their life could still be – was a turning point in healing […]
Read the full story
Andrew Hartman
Saskatoon, SK
Want to read about others living with pain in Saskatchewan?
See all Lived Experiences stories