Frequently Asked Questions:
Paris, 2008, Photographer: Dr. R. Safakish
Q: What kind of pain can be seen in this clinic
A:This is a Chronic Pain Clinic. Based on the definition, any pain lasting more than 6 months or acute post surgical pain that lasted more than expected after surgery, would be consider as Chronic Pain. Regarding the patients that could be seen in our clinic, there are a few exceptions:
Please understand that we do not provide a "first come- first serve" service. There are some evidence that treating some of pain syndromes, like shingles, Persistent Post-surgical pain syndrome or CRPS, sooner that later, may have some effect on the future of Chronic pain. Therefore these consults would be seen as soon as possible.
At the present time, the focus of our pain clinic is on offering interventions to treat pain. we do have a multidisciplinary pain clinic, and based on the need for treatment modalities like acupuncture or physiotherapy, the service can be provided in Allevio pain management. One needs to know that the above-mentioned modalities are not covered by OHIP.
For many resistant neuropathic pain syndromes and for Fibromyalgia, we offer Lidocaine infusion.
A:This is a Chronic Pain Clinic. Based on the definition, any pain lasting more than 6 months or acute post surgical pain that lasted more than expected after surgery, would be consider as Chronic Pain. Regarding the patients that could be seen in our clinic, there are a few exceptions:
- Shingles, particularly in a patient over 70 years of age, is best seen as soon as possible. There is some evidence that suggests an Epidural injection of corticosteroid, not only reduces the pain, but also could decrease the chance for Post-Herpetic Neuralgia syndrome. Post-Herpetic Neuralgia syndrome is a very severe and long lasting pain that unfortunately, is resistance to many of our treatments.
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) or sympathetic dystrophy. The nature and outcome and the amount of disability can be changed if the patient can be seen in the 1st six months after the injury.
Please understand that we do not provide a "first come- first serve" service. There are some evidence that treating some of pain syndromes, like shingles, Persistent Post-surgical pain syndrome or CRPS, sooner that later, may have some effect on the future of Chronic pain. Therefore these consults would be seen as soon as possible.
At the present time, the focus of our pain clinic is on offering interventions to treat pain. we do have a multidisciplinary pain clinic, and based on the need for treatment modalities like acupuncture or physiotherapy, the service can be provided in Allevio pain management. One needs to know that the above-mentioned modalities are not covered by OHIP.
For many resistant neuropathic pain syndromes and for Fibromyalgia, we offer Lidocaine infusion.