Afia Akter can barely recall a time in her life without pain. Aches woke her at night and accompanied her by day, preventing her from working, carrying groceries, or simply enjoying everyday pleasures.
Yet one day recently, the 57-year-old was at the CLSC de Parc-Extension with a medicine ball in her hand and a smile on her face—hopeful that she was on a path to a healthier future.
“My whole body has been in pain,” Ms. Akter said during a pause in her therapy session. “But since I started coming here and doing exercises, I feel better. And I enjoy it.”
Ms. Akter is a patient at the Chronic Pain Clinic in Parc Extension, a new service staffed by a physiotherapist, a kinesiologist and a nurse clinician that’s believed to be the only CLSC-based chronic pain clinic in Montreal.
Operating under the Frontline Directorate, the clinic extends a helping hand to recent immigrants, low-wage earners and other vulnerable users who can’t easily access private physiotherapy and other services.
The team’s goal isn’t to “fix” people’s pain—it’s to offer ways to manage it.
“A lot of people suffer in silence,” says Boramey Pech, Program Manager for Chronic Illnesses at the Santé Québec West-Central Montreal Health and Social Services University Network. “We’re telling them: ‘Pain is not the end for you, we’ll show you how to live with it.’
“We give people hope.”
Boramey Pech, Program Manager for Chronic Illnesses
Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts more than three months—and for some, like Ms. Akter, it can endure for years. After immigrating from Bangladesh in 2008, she worked in a clothing factory, standing for seven hours feeding garments into a fusing machine. Joint and muscle pain forced her to quit, and she has been unable to work since.
Ms. Akter was referred by her family doctor to the pain clinic, where she was welcomed in a therapy room filled with a stationary bike, treadmill and a variety of weights and other gear. At a recent session, Mr. Khan guided Ms. Akter through practical exercises to try to rebuild her capacity for daily tasks. She practised gripping a bar to strengthen her hold on items like a chopping knife, and stood on a foam pad in front of a mirror to improve her balance for standing at a counter or going outdoors.
“We want to help people live their daily lives and do the things they enjoy and find meaningful,” Mr. Khan says.
Because of its debilitating nature, chronic pain can lead to depression, isolation and anxiety. The CLSC team encourages patients to take up good habits, whether it’s going for a walk or climbing stairs, which can have a significant impact on quality of life and emotional well-being.
“Some people can fall into a fear of movement,” Mr. Briand explains. The team tries to break down actions into simple movements to help overcome fear and gain confidence.
“I like to get people moving, because it brings enormous benefits. People can see the impact on their health, and that’s gratifying for us.”
Kinesiologist Philippe Briand
After assisting a patient on a stationary bike, Mr. Briand added: “We try to make it convivial so that people get pleasure from movement, and it can be transposed into their day-to-day lives.”
The new clinic, which launched in January, meets a growing need: About one in five Canadians lives with chronic pain. As a frontline service, it complements the more specialized care offered at the Constance-Lethbridge site of our West-Central Montreal network, which handles more complex pain cases. Together, these two sites strengthen care for people living with pain and align with the recommendations of Quebec’s chronic pain action plan.
The Parc Extension clinic can offer quicker and easier access to users, relieving pressure on emergency departments and other healthcare services, says Bernadette Thibaudeau, Coordinator for Chronic Illnesses at Santé Québec West-Central Montreal.
“It fills a gap,” Ms. Thibaudeau says.
“In many cases, people don’t need a hospital, they need a community-based service.”
Bernadette Thibaudeau, Coordinator for Chronic Illnesses
And they benefit from a team that’s passionate about their work, Ms. Pech says.
“They’re not miracle workers who are going to eliminate your pain. But they can sprinkle around a little hope,” she says. “People see there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
