Pain

What is it?

Between 10 and 17 per cent of Canadians experience chronic pain from a range of causes, including strokes, spinal cord injuries, migraines, arthritis and other conditions and injuries. Pain can have an enormous impact on an individual's well-being, making it difficult to work or enjoy everyday activities.

Diagnosing and treating pain usually requires an in-depth assessment, including a physical exam and a variety of tests. Treatment for pain syndromes may include a combination of approaches, such as drug therapy, physical exercises, and psychological treatment. Other techniques, such as nerve blocks (injections that prevent nerves from sending pain messages) or neurosurgery may also be used.

UHN Resources

UHN Brochures and Pamphlets

• Blocks for Pain Management
• Breast Cancer Surgery and Pain
• Continuous Catheter & Local Anesthetic Administration at Home program
• Having Surgery Under Regional Anesthesia
• Managing Your Pain

  English	French	Chinese
  Italian	Portuguese	Spanish
  Vietnamese

• Managing Your Pain after Day Surgery

  English	French	Chinese
  Italian	Spanish	Vietnamese

• Managing Your Pain with PCA - IV or Epidural

  English	French	Chinese
  Portuguese	Vietnamese

• Oral Patient Controlled Analgesia
  

  English	Portuguese

• Pain Management Services at UHN
• Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA)

UHN Videos

The following videos are to help you during your stay and after you leave the hospital. Please read the following terms and conditions of use carefully before viewing the videos.

• Managing Your Pain - Part 1 (18MB)
• Managing Your Pain - Part 2 (17MB)

UHN Clinics or Centres

• Anesthesia
• Comprehensive Pain Program
• Department of Anesthesia (TWH)
• Pain Management
• Regional Anesthesia & Pain Management (RAPM)

Related Web Sites

• Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society
  Information on anesthesia and anesthesiologists for Canadians provided by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.  
  
• Pain Care
  This is a Canadian resource for pain management. You'll learn more about your medication's benefits, side effects, and dosage. Patients will require a DIN number from their current prescription to enter.
  
• North American Chronic Pain Association of Canada
  Links to general chronic pain information and pain sites.
  
• Ask NOAH about Pain
  An American Web site - know what pain is and how to take care of it.
  
• American Pain Foundation
  The Pain Information Center provides information in different kinds of pain.