Chronic Pain Management Resources in Calgary
For patients with chronic pain in Calgary, a multidisciplinary approach utilizing pain management services, physical therapy, psychological interventions, and appropriate pharmacotherapy is strongly recommended to improve quality of life and reduce pain-related disability. 1, 2
Available Pain Management Resources in Calgary
Pain Clinics and Specialized Services
- Calgary Pain Management Centre (Alberta Health Services)
- Chronic Pain Centre at South Health Campus
- Private pain clinics offering interventional procedures
- University of Calgary Pain Medicine program
Multidisciplinary Treatment Options
Medical Management
- Pharmacological options:
- First-line: Non-opioid analgesics (acetaminophen, NSAIDs) 1
- Second-line: Anticonvulsants (gabapentin, pregabalin) for neuropathic pain 2
- Antidepressants (tricyclic antidepressants, SNRIs) for pain modulation 1
- Topical agents for localized pain 1
- Opioids only after failure of other options with careful monitoring 1, 2
Physical and Rehabilitation Services
- Physical therapy clinics offering:
- Occupational therapy for functional improvement 2
- YMCA pain management programs
Psychological Services
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (strong evidence for effectiveness) 1, 2
- Biofeedback and relaxation training 1
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction programs 1
- Group therapy and counseling services 1
- Virtual pain management programs (increasingly available) 1
Interventional Procedures
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) 1
- Nerve blocks for refractory pain 1
- Dorsal column stimulation for specific conditions 1
- Acupuncture services 1, 2
Accessing Services in Calgary
Public System Resources
- Referral through family physician to Alberta Health Services pain clinics
- Note: Public system wait times can be approximately six months 3
- Alberta Healthy Living Program (group-based chronic disease management)
- Primary Care Networks offering chronic pain management support
Private Options
- Private pain clinics (significantly shorter wait times than public system) 3
- Private physiotherapy and psychology services
- Extended health benefits often cover some portion of these services
Community Resources
- Pain Society of Alberta support groups
- University of Calgary chronic pain self-management programs
- Online resources and telehealth options (increasingly available since COVID-19) 1
Special Considerations
Rural Access
- Telehealth services expanding access to rural areas 1, 4
- Mobile pain management services periodically available in surrounding communities
- Primary care physician support networks for rural pain management 4
Common Pitfalls in Pain Management
- Over-reliance on opioids for chronic non-cancer pain 1, 2
- Underutilization of non-pharmacological approaches 1
- Failure to address psychological aspects of chronic pain 1
- Lack of coordination between different healthcare providers 2
Practical Approach to Accessing Services
- Start with primary care physician assessment and referral
- While waiting for specialized pain services, begin with accessible options:
- Physical therapy for appropriate exercise prescription
- Psychological services for pain coping strategies
- Trial of first-line medications under physician supervision
- Consider both public and private options based on urgency and financial resources
- Engage with community support groups and self-management programs
The evidence strongly supports that patients who receive integrated multidisciplinary pain management achieve better outcomes than those receiving isolated interventions 2, 4. Calgary offers various resources across the spectrum of pain management modalities, though access may be limited by wait times in the public system 3.