Living with Pain

Learn more about chronic pain

We are here to help you learn more about living with chronic pain.

Chronic pain, or persistent pain, is pain that lasts longer than expected, or feels worse than what is expected based on the underlying injury or disease. Treatment of chronic pain is like treatment of any other chronic disease – you need advice or care from knowledgeable healthcare providers and you need to build skills in self-management.

Help for Pain management

Learn more about managing your pain.

Lived experiences

You are not alone. One in five people in Saskatchewan live with chronic pain.

Everyone who lives with pain goes through a unique journey with the healthcare system, their family, friends, and within themselves. When faced with disbelief or stigma, people who live with chronic pain and their families can feel like they are alone or that no one understands what they’re going through. These stories show the challenges faced, journeys taken, and how people living with pain are fighting back and making pain management better in Saskatchewan.

Andrew Hartman is a Saskatoon resident who is currently a doctoral student at the University of Saskatchewan. Andrew has had a history of chronic pain throughout their life; currently, Andrew has been navigating how to live well with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Ankylosing spondylitis is a global inflammatory disease similar to arthritis that causes pain. Over time, AS can cause bones in the spine (vertebrae) to fuse, and can spread to other joints to cause damage in additional areas of the body. Initially, Andrew sought the help of surgeons, acupuncturists, podiatrists, counselors, physical and massage therapists, and a nurse practitioner to manage their pain. At times, they were completely debilitated and unable to function. In addition to simply pushing through and trying to ignore the pain – coupled with lots of time resting – Andrew tried various therapies to get their condition under control – but, rarely, did anything help. Andrew indicates that, overall, seeking treatment for their chronic pain has been exhausting, isolating, scary, and traumatic experience for them. However, grieving the loss of their abled life – and accepting a new, beautiful path that their life could still be – was a turning point in healing […]

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