Chronic Pain

Some injuries are easily visible and diagnosable – like a broken arm or laceration –  while others may not be as evident. Just because one’s injuries may not be clear to the average person, that doesn’t mean that they don’t exist or that they aren’t legitimate. Many people suffer from an unseen condition known as chronic pain. Chronic pain can be caused by many things, and often occurs because of an accident or related trauma. Chronic pain cannot be diagnosed by traditional medical testing such as X-ray, CT scan or MRI, however, this doesn’t mean that the pain is any less severe for the sufferer than it would be for someone who has a “traditional” injury. According to results from a Canadian Community Health Survey, about 1 in 10 Canadians aged 12-44 have experienced some form of chronic pain.

Chronic pain caused by trauma, including motor vehicle accidents, can take on the form of arthritis pain, headaches, nerve damage and other conditions, and is best managed with a multi-disciplinary medical approach. It is defined as consistent pain lasting longer than 6 months, and can lead to mood disorders and emotional instability.