Chronic Pain is a condition affecting roughly 20% of Canadians. It involves a complex set of physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and environmental factors. It is generally defined as pain that persists beyond the usual course of acute illness or healing time of an injury (usually beyond 3 to 6 months) or that reoccurs over months and years. Often people with chronic pain can also experience sadness, increased worrying, stress, a feeling of loss of control, and stigma from dealing with their pain.
Veterans, especially those with service-related injuries, can face a host of unique health challenges. A major challenge for Veterans is chronic pain. Recent Government of Canada research found that Veterans are twice as likely to suffer from chronic pain compared to others in the Canadian population. Additionally, female Veterans suffer from chronic pain as a higher rate compared to their male counterparts. The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans (CPCoE) was founded as a research centre in 2020 to improve the understanding of Veteran-specific chronic pain and how best to manage it.
The CPCoE works as a research centre to improve the understanding of Veteran-specific chronic pain and how best to manage it. Research projects and aims are prioritized with the assistance of Veterans. The findings and recommendations of the ensuing evidence-based research are mobilized to help Veterans and their families manage their pain and reconnect with life.
At the core of all CPCoE activities is the principle of Veteran engagement. Consultation and engagement with Veterans, which includes an Advisory Council for Veterans to advise on research priorities, began prior to establishing the organization and continues as a lasting priority. This ongoing engagement helps the CPCoE to develop a deeper and more thorough understanding of the day-to-day challenges Veterans, and their families, face because of their experience with chronic pain. That understanding is used to shape research to ensure that it will have a genuine and practical positive impact on the well-being of Veterans in pain.
Improved well-being of service members, Veterans, and their families, living with chronic pain.
