This page offers resources to help you better understand and manage your pain. Whether you’ve been directed to a particular link by your healthcare provider, or are just looking to see what’s available, you’ll find helpful information within the categories below.
Understanding Pain
Links to websites, videos, and books offering information and new perspectives on what pain is and how to better understand it.
- Explain Pain – an under five minute video summarizing the most current information about what pain is, how to think about it, and how to manage it
- Recovery Strategies Pain Guidebook – user friendly and easy to understand, this book is a free downloadable PDF
- The Pain Toolkit – a rabbit hole of online resources to understand and manage chronic pain. There is information on a variety of approaches and perspectives
Managing Pain
Links to programs on how to better manage pain. Some are free, and others may have a cost. These are divided into either self-referral, or those that require a referral from your doctor or nurse practitioner.
Self-Referral
- Waterloo Wellington Chronic Pain Toolkit – local guide and resource on chronic pain for self-directed learning with phone support
- Waterloo Wellington Chronic Disease Workshop – workshop that helps people with any chronic or ongoing health conditions, including pain, to better manage their symptoms
- Central West Chronic Pain Self Management Workshop – six week workshop that helps people who are experiencing a wide range of chronic pain conditions
- Pain University – self directed program of modules designed to help you understand and manage your pain
- Choose Health – Chronic Pain Program – virtual six week program to help people living with chronic pain learn skills that can help them better manage their chronic pain symptoms as well as their daily lives
- Progress Over Pain – six week online program that focuses on self-management for people living with chronic pain
- Take Control Take Charge – six week workshop to learn and practice the tools that can help you live a better quality of life, while dealing with chronic pain
Physician Referral Required
- Toronto Academic Medicine Pain Institute – an interdisciplinary approach with your family doctor or nurse practitioner suggesting and directing strategies forward
- Provincial Chronic Pain Clinics – a variety of regional pain clinics requiring referral and direction by your family doctor or nurse practitioner