Recently I was invited to participate at the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) World Congress on Pain.

Over six million Canadians live with chronic pain. For many, the pain is so severe that their lives may sink into depression and suicidal thoughts can become a regular occurrence. One of the struggles that those with chronic pain face is finding suitable doctors and treatment.

'VANCOUVER—For Kitsilano resident Leslie Park, managing her chronic back pain means finding a variety of ways to treat her symptoms — even if they might be unconventional.

She often jokingly refers to her local pharmacists, chiropractors and health supplement providers as her “doctors,” who she can go to when her physician isn’t available.

“My pain isn’t necessarily running on business hours,” Park said. “ My G.P. is qualified, but there is sometimes a one month wait for an appointment.”

'British Columbia doctors treating patients with chronic pain will be required to prescribe opioids without limiting dosage or refusing to see patients who are on the medication that has come to be associated with illicit overdose deaths.

In revising an existing standard of practice, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. provided more clarity to doctors about their obligation to treat patients through proper assessments and documented discussions about dosage, tapering and stopping the drugs if necessary, college registrar Heidi Oetter said.

Researchers from around British Columbia are coming together to expand pain research in the province. Today, Pain BC announced the launch of the BC Pain Research Network, which brings together researchers from across the province to connect and collaborate with the aim of improving the lives of the one-in-five British Columbians living with pain.

'Little has been written about the infrastructure in Canada’s health care system to support Canadians struggling with chronic pain. There’s a good reason for that, according to Maria Hudspith, executive director of Pain BC.

“There is no health care infrastructure for people with chronic pain,” she said.

'David Reid’s body has taken a few blows over its 68 years. In 1992, he was in a bad car accident that left him with a severe concussion. This affected his balance and led to a couple falls down stairs. Last July, Reid had a knee replacement. He has problems with the muscles in his neck and upper back. Degenerative discs in his spine often cause pain. “And I do drywall for a living,” Reid said on the phone from his home in Nanaimo. “That alone is a hard trade.

'Since the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) announced changes to the opioid prescribing standards on June 1, 2016, health care providers and people living with pain have raised concerns about how the new policy may have a damaging impact on the treatment of chronic pain in this province. 

'Early on an August morning in 1986, after a night without sleep, 16-year-old Keith Meldrum slid low on his seat and dozed off. He was alone, behind the wheel of a Plymouth Duster. The big, steel car missed a corner on the rural highway and rolled end over end. After the car came to a stop, Meldrum stumbled out and collapsed near the Duster’s rear bumper.

“I was essentially torn through almost in half internally,” said Meldrum.

'Perry Kendall is correct when he says that "we are going to have to think more broadly" about our response to the overdose epidemic (B.C. Health Officer Calls For Greater Focus On Opioid Crisis, Feb. 1).

'How the Canadian province of British Columbia is approaching the treatment of chronic pain might be worth watching.

“There has really been a lack of any appropriate response to chronic pain in our province and in our country,” said Maria Hudspith, executive director of Pain BC, the only non-profit society in Canada to bring together clinical experts and policy-makers to work on chronic pain management initiatives.

'Over to you, Addictions Minster: that is the response of Health Minister Adrian Dix to a call by an advocacy group for more provincial government help for people suffering from chronic pain.

It’s an unintended consequence of the overdose crisis: B.C. doctors prescribing fewer opioids to reduce addiction.

However, Pain BC says that’s leaving those in chronic, crippling pain without enough options.

'A significant number of people in the province are affected by chronic pain, according to Pain BC director Jennifer Hanson. One in five British Columbians suffer from the condition, which translates to roughly 4,000 Powell River residents.

According to the National Institute of Health, chronic pain is defined as any pain lasting more than 12 weeks. It can arise from an initial injury such as a back sprain, or there may be an ongoing cause, such as an illness that brings it on. However, in many cases there is no clear reason.

Pain BC Executive Director, Maria Hudspith, speaks on the Simi Sara show about how people living with chronic pain need options beyond prescription opioids, and it’s up to the British Columbia government to provide more services such as physiotherapy.

Listen to the show here.