One in five Canadians lives with chronic pain — pain that lasts longer than three months — a long-term condition that can affect sleep, movement, mental health and daily life. Unlike acute pain, which acts as the body’s warning system after an injury, chronic pain can persist long after tissues have healed.
Over time, it can change how the nervous system and brain process pain, making even everyday activities harder to manage.
Chronic pain is often invisible and can affect anyone. It’s different from acute pain. Acute pain signals injury, such as a broken bone, and helps protect you from further harm. It usually improves as the body heals, and the cause is often clear.
Chronic pain is a complex condition shaped by the nervous system, daily habits, past experiences and environmental factors. It is a long-term condition that can be harder to diagnose and manage.
Rest and medication are often not enough but understanding how chronic pain works is the first step towards managing it.
“Chronic pain is determined by more than just physical factors. Sleep quality, stress levels, nutrition, and everyday functioning all play a role in how pain is experienced. Chronic pain can often be managed more effectively by developing new self-management skills such as mindfulness, reframing thoughts and changing behaviors, or learning skills for activity tolerance. Because chronic pain is different for each person, treatment should be tailored to the individual” says Stephanie Reimer, Extended Health Team Lead.
Pain is designed to protect you. It works like an alarm system to warn you of injury.
With chronic pain, that alarm system can stay on even when there is no danger so you may feel pain without ongoing harm.
“Chronic pain is not always a sign of damage. It can reflect a problem in the pain system, like an alarm that is malfunctioning. It is often a sign that the nervous system has become more sensitive,” says Reimer.
Science shows that pain has two parts:
How our brains interpret these signals is influenced by things like stress, nutrition, activity, emotions, thoughts, beliefs, sleep, relationships and overall health.
This can explain why chronic pain can be higher or lower depending on the day. The brain is always weighing the evidence of danger or safety.
Imagine two people both have the same low back injury. One person slept well, ate regularly, feels supported at home and is managing stress. The other person is exhausted, anxious about work, not moving much and worried the pain means serious damage.
Even though the injury is similar, the second person may feel much more pain.
Think back to the example of pain being like an alarm. If the system becomes too sensitive, even a small bump can set it off. Stress, poor sleep, anxiety and inactivity can make the body’s alarm system more reactive.
Managing chronic pain involves both physical and emotional wellness.
Regular movement helps your body release natural pain-relieving chemicals, improves mood and sleep and makes daily tasks easier. Staying active can reduce stiffness and support conditions like arthritis and low back pain.
Nutrition and hydration also play a role in supporting energy and joint health.
Strategies like mindfulness, relaxation and building social support can help calm the nervous system and reduce pain over time, making it easier to return to daily activities.
“Chronic pain can improve when we care for both the body and the mind, as they are connected, as opposed to just treating symptoms.” says Reimer.
Calgary Foothills PCN’s Extended Health Team provides team-based support for people living with chronic pain and other long-term health concerns. This referral-based service is available through your family doctor or nurse practitioner.
Find out more about the team — which includes professionals such as dietitians, social workers and mental health consultants who work alongside your primary care provider.
Need a family doctor or nurse practitioner? Visit albertafindaprovider.ca to find one accepting patients near you.