Honouring the Sacrifice and Resilience of Canada’s Veterans on Remembrance Day

After three decades of service in policing which finished with the RCMP , I found myself facing a new battle—chronic pain that grew over time. Managing this journey hasn’t been easy, but support from the DeGroote Pain Clinic and Veterans Affairs has made a difference, giving me tools and hope. To my fellow veterans: don’t wait to seek help. Chronic pain impacts everything in your life, and early intervention is crucial. Together, through research and shared stories, we can build a future with better options and understanding for veterans facing chronic pain.

Congratulations to our Board Member, The Honourable Myra Freeman who has been named the incoming Chair of the Progress Monitoring Committee.

Veterans Derek Speirs and Marieanne Nyhuis join Annette Hamm on Hamilton’s Morning Live to discuss their experience with chronic pain and the launch of the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans.

Veteran Derek Speirs speaks with radio host Dave Trafford about his experience with chronic pain, and what the Centre of Excellence means to him.

Over 40% of Canadian veterans experience chronic pain, but they often do not receive the proper care they deserve because the current healthcare system is not built to properly address the unique needs that veterans with chronic pain face, like mental illness and PTSD. Veterans also face many barriers to access care. Derek Speirs gives his perspective as a former Submariner in the Canadian Navy.

Next month, the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans launches at Hamilton’s McMaster University. Marie-Anne Nyhuis and Derek Speirs are two veterans who have benefited from research and treatment and they joined us this morning to tell us about what happened to them.

Opioids are frequently prescribed for acute musculoskeletal injuries and may result in long-term use and consequent harms.

This study presents evidence supporting the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary pain management program in addressing pain-related variables in Veterans and nonveterans and provides insight into how pain management is experienced differently by Veterans.