Chronic Pain Symptoms & Treatment in Toronto

Hope for a Future Free from Chronic Pain

Chronic pain doesn’t just affect you physically. When you deal with pain that feels persistent and never-ending, your ability to see life optimistically is seriously impaired. Many people that suffer from chronic pain may also deal with depression and anxiety, feeling as if they have no hope for the future. At Physioactive, we are never satisfied when you resign yourself to a bleak future. We’re here to give you a fresh perspective and help you create a brighter future. Through education and a unique individualized “multi-modal approach” combining manual therapy, needling (IMS and/or acupuncture), exercise, and postural retraining, it is possible to retrain and heal the neurological tissue. Education is one of the most important aspects of your care – understanding what exactly is causing your pain and mapping out a detailed plan of recovery helps both the patient and the therapist measure, observe and feel the improvements.

What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain encompasses a wide variety of conditions and generally refers to pain that is present and persistent for more than six months. Chronic pain also comes in a variety of intensities, ranging from inconvenient to completely debilitating, or mild to excruciating. Because each pain level is different and each situation is unique, we recognize the value of providing you a face-to-face meeting with your physiotherapist to discuss your treatment plan. It is important to diagnose what type of pain you are suffering from. Three primary sources of pain include nociception, inflammation or neuropathic (nerve-related) pain. It is often a misdiagnosis of what type of pain you are suffering from that can lead to incorrect diagnostic procedures and treatment. MRI’s and other forms of imaging may not be able to diagnose causes of certain types of chronic pain such as neuropathic pain.

Common Symptoms of Chronic Pain

Although chronic pain can exist anywhere in the body, there are several common ailments that are regularly reported by patients who suffer from this persistent condition.

Chronic pain of neuropathic origin may typically be described as:

Abnormal sensations (referred to as dysesthesia) and pain produced by normally non-painful stimuli (referred to as allodynia)
Pain that is either continuous and/or episodic
Sensations of burning or coldness, “pins and needles”, numbness and/or itching
A line of pain or patchy (clumps of) pain.
Pain that changes sides or moves around

Other conditions that shouldn’t be chronic but often are, include:

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Headaches
Backaches
Sinus pain
Tendinitis or tendonosis (examples: Achilles tendinitis, tennis elbow and DeQuervain’s (thumb pain))

Sufferers of chronic pain often deal with stress, anger, depression, anxiety and fatigue as they are faced with a future with no end in sight. These “thought viruses” can contribute to the overall pain presentation. Your therapist at Physioactive can explain how this occurs. We recognize that a successful treatment plan involves addressing both the physical symptoms and the psychological issues because of the strong links between the mind, body and chronic pain. Our team consists of physiotherapists, osteopathic practitioners, massage therapists and exercise specialists with an advanced and well-rounded understanding of chronic pain and their roles within the overall team. Your therapy leader will coordinate your care between each specialty to seamlessly introduce each component of your therapy at the proper time. This multi-faceted team approach at Physioactive is analogous to building a house – each member of the team does their work at a different time. Putting up the drywall and doing the electrical seems awful silly to do before the foundation is laid and the walls are built.

Don’t Settle

We have a record of treating even the most complicated conditions with an attitude that doesn’t allow us the option of giving up. Regardless of how debilitating your pain is, or how long you have suffered from your condition, we are committed to trying every tool in our chest to get you feeling better and back to living your best life.

When you deal with chronic pain, it’s easy to lose sight of some of life’s enjoyments before the pain became your constant companion. Because the onset of chronic pain is often slow and steady, you may feel hopeless about the future and find it difficult to imagine a time that you were free from pain. At Physioactive, we provide you with the physical solutions along with the emotional and mental support you need to commit yourself to ridding your body of chronic pain.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Schedule an appointment today by calling 905-695-0371 or filling out our simple online request form. When you visit our clinic, you’ll find a group of professionals that are committed to helping you find solutions for better health and wellness and a future that is bright and exciting.

Please make sure to tell the office staff you are booking for the neuropathic pain program. This will fast track you to an assessment with our neuropathic pain “captain” in order to build a plan together.

Zach Apter

2024-06-05

I saw Pooria. He was great all 4 sessions and so were the rest of the staff. Got me back to normal in no time! Highly reccomend.

Leonora Buskin

2024-05-05

I highly recommend Chiropractor Zachary Starr. Highly professional and his treatment resolved my TMJ for the long-term. He also supported with supplying exercises to carry on the treatment at home in relation to treatment of TMJ and improvement of posture.

Bayla Perelman

2024-05-02

After many months of being in pain and countless of doctor’s appointments and tests, no one was able to understand my pain or help me. However, during my first appointment with Thomas he was able to locate and finally ease my pain! Thank you!

Li You

2024-04-22

After finishing treatment from Monica. I have felt that any symptoms of sourness and stiffness in me just disappeared by themselves. During the miracle treatment, I feel her kindness and passion for medical treatment methods. Beyond, those, her combined knowledge of acupuncture and massage is the fact that she is so focused on the results of the treatment that after one or two sessions, I have already gotten the best outcome that I have ever experienced. I would say that she has an angel's fingers. It is an incredible wonder. It is an ancient way that she understands and practices so well to heal your health from the physical body to the eternal soul. I highly recommend this rehabilitation center and Monica to someone who is looking for the best medical treatment from the most caring practitioner.

Inna Kakoian

2024-04-08

Highly recommend PhysioActive. Winnie (physiotherapist) helped me a lot following my knee injury (injured ACL & MCL). She is very knowledgeable and one of the areas she specializes in is nerve work all over the body. Words can’t describe how amazing Winnie is at what she does. Originally she did ultrasound massage to reduce inflamation and swelling in my knee. Then she started doing some work with her hands. At the end of each appointment she would put my legs into a magnetic wheel that works at a cellular level and actually helped reduce pain. She also assigned exercises to do at home which helped too. Later I also started seeing Mina (osteopath), and he’s also very talented, knowledgeable and gentle. My foot, even though it wasn’t injured, was having trouble adjusting after many months of inactivity and was achy, so I ordered orthotics to put inside my shoes, which made a huge difference, and this was done through their chiropodist Vincent (the pair of orthotics he ordered for me is perfect). The front desk staff is great too, especially Negin and Armine. If you’re newly injured and lost, please hang in there as it will get better, and this is one great clinic that can help.

Melanie Heilbronn

2024-03-20

Nicholas Biasini is the man with magic hands. Thanks so much for your exercises and hands on work. Really appreciate the speedy and effective resolution of my neck pain.

Melissa Custoreri

2024-03-14

I have been a client at Physioactive since 2010 and continue to have a wonderful experience. My bookings are always easy and efficient via telephone and in person, through Physioactive’s organized, knowledgeable and friendly staff members. Appointment booking emails and reminders are always provided, as well as follow-up check ins between longer visits. The clinic is clean and organized. Physiotherapists, Nick and Aparna, and Massage Therapist, Shirley, have been critical in my physical healing from injuries and and preparation and recovery postpartum. I constantly leave the clinic AMAZED by their knowledge, ultimate care, and physical relief. I would HIGHLY recommend Physioactive to all!

Sheena Weisman

2024-03-14

Amazing clinic, would highly recommend! After a very sudden onset of severe sciatica, Thomas and the physioactive team were increadible. No appointments were available for 5 days, but once Thomas realized the degree of discomfort I was in he made extra appointment time to see me that same day and the next few days. His assessment was thorough and treatment very quickly reduced my nerve pain. He explained in detail the physiology likely causing the problem, and his plan to tackle not only the acute pain but over time to eventually resolve the underlying musculoskeletal problems that were likely causing it. I am increadibly grateful to him and his team and would definitely recommend Physioactive.

Amanda Chan

2024-03-13

Since my left fibula fracture was cleared for physio, while I was in crutches I have been going to Physioactive since last November. I cannot say anymore good things about this place, each physiotherapist I had seen in the beginning were good at working together to ensure my file was consistently up to date. Fast forward March, I walk now as if I have never sustained a fracture. Highly recommend and lots of exercises that cater to each phase of healing!!