Pain

The evidence is clear. Pain is very prevalent in society and the most effective treatment involves a multidisciplinary approach. This approach may include physiotherapy, massage therapy, working with a chiropractor, pain psychology and/or an orthopaedic surgeon assessment. These modalities are available in a unique setting, all under one roof, at Kingston Orthopaedic Pain Institute (KOPI).

The five major aspects of a Pain Management Program are:

Sleep

We all know that without sleep we do not cope as well with everything. Sleep is the cornerstone to health, and it is important as an adult to be able to sleep at least eight hours a night. When someone is living with chronic pain, sleep deprivation is very common for different reasons. Often people find it difficult to sleep or wake frequently as a result of the pain they are experiencing. Along with an assessment at KOPI, we can also offer pharmocotherapy options to help if this is a problem for you.

Psychology

There is a higher incidence of depression in the population of people who live with chronic pain.  When someone's life is interrupted with “unsuspecting chronic pain” it is like an invisible Mount Everest. Seemingly impossible to climb and impossible for others to see. You would not climb the mountain without a Sherpa, a mountain guide. As with the journey through the rough terrain of pain management, you shouldn't have to scale the invisible mountain without a guide. At KOPI we hope to be your guide, and, just like mountain climbing, we cannot guarantee that we will reach the summit, but we will try our absolute best. Our experienced psychologists are available as part of our treatment modalities. They are available as a source of education and a person that will listen. They will offer you feedback and help you to develop coping mechanisms.

Rehabilitation

Physiotherapy and exercise are important steps in the climb to wellness. Without regular physical activity and movement, de-conditioning and muscle atrophy can occur quickly. Along with the successful treatment physiotherapy can provide, it is also a reminder for us to continue moving our bodies as they are meant to be moved. Just as our distant ancestors, we are built to perform constant physical activity. Physiotherapy is a vital component in some of the treatments offered at KOPI. Stellate Ganglion Nerve Blocks and Lumbar Sympathetic Nerve Blocks have to be followed immediately by physiotherapy.  

Analgesics

Pain can be treated effectively through the use of pain medications when the medications are taken exactly as prescribed and in some instances, in conjunction with other medications. You may be prescribed a medication to go along with an opioid to combat side effects it may have. Everyone metabolizes medications differently, so you may or may not experience side effects. Our physicians will work together, with you as an important member of the team, on a medication treatment plan. We would then monitor you closely to see how the pain medications are working for you. We recommend keeping a daily diary of your pain scores, and the “when, why and how” your scores change. It may or may not coincide with interventional treatments; every persons' needs are different.

The World Health Organization (WHO) have developed steps to intervention in pain management. These are guidelines that most health care professionals often use to treat pain. The following is a link to the WHO treatment guidelines on chronic, non-malignant pain in adults:

http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/quality_safety/Scoping_WHOGuide_non-malignant_pain_adults.pdf

Interventions

At KOPI, we offer interventions that include the injection of medication into joints and other spaces, depending on the location of disease and the transmission of pain through a nerve, to a part of the body. The injections are like painting a fence. The first injection may put just a thin layer of paint on that barely covers the existing colour. The second injection, or coat of paint may start to really hide the colour or pain, and possibly the third could completely cover the existing colour or improve the pain. Just like pain, it may never be completely covered but we tried our best. This process is unpredictable and is never guaranteed.

Our pain interventions include: