Patient FAQ

Pain is usually called chronic when it lasts more than 3 months. It is common: about 1 in 5 people in Canada live with it.

It is a hospital service for people whose pain has lasted a long time. One example is the Chronic Pain Clinic at Saint John Regional Hospital. The clinicians look at your pain and help make a plan to manage it. A plan often mixes several things: learning about pain, staying active, rebuilding strength and movement, learning ways to cope, taking medicines and, for some people, having a procedure.

Patients are seen through the hospital’s Chronic Pain Clinic (Pain Management Services) after a referral from their family doctor, nurse practitioner or other specialist. Talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner first.

Physicians: how to refer a patient →

• Your Medicare card
• A list of your medicines and supplements
• Any recent test results or reports you have
• Notes about your pain: where it is, when it started, what makes it better or worse
• Your questions, written down
• A support person, if you wish

Your first visit is directly with the doctor and lasts about 40 minutes to 1 hour. The doctor will talk with you about your pain, your health history and how pain affects your daily life. You can share your goals and ask questions. Each person’s plan is different.

You can help the person prepare: write down questions together, help keep a list of medicines, and note how pain affects daily life. If the person wishes, you may come to the appointment with them. The clinic can talk with a family member or caregiver about the person’s care only with the patient’s express consent. This site cannot answer personal medical questions.

No. He practises only at Saint John Regional Hospital, and patients are seen through the hospital’s services.

No. This site and its social media accounts share general education only and cannot answer personal medical questions. Please contact your own care team. In an emergency, call 911.