PAIN MANAGEMENT

Pain Management in Southeast Calgary

Pain can affect movement, sleep, work, mood, and everyday activities. At Empathy Collaborative Health, our medical team provides patient-centred pain assessment and management for adults in southeast Calgary.

Care begins by understanding your symptoms, health history, medications, and how pain is affecting your life. Your physician can then discuss appropriate treatment, monitoring, testing, or referral options.

Pain management does not guarantee that pain will disappear completely. The goal is to understand possible causes, reduce the effect of pain where possible, and support function and quality of life.

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587-864-4152

Individualized Care

Care tailored to your symptoms, goals, health history, and daily function.

Evidence-Informed

Assessment and recommendations based on clinical findings and current guidance.

Collaborative Approach

Referral and coordinated care when another healthcare professional may help.

Focus on Function

Support for movement, sleep, work, and participation in everyday life.

ASSESSMENT AND CARE FOR ACUTE AND CHRONIC PAIN

Understanding Your Pain Comes First

Acute pain usually begins suddenly and may be related to an injury, illness, procedure, or another identifiable cause. Chronic or persistent pain generally continues or returns for longer than three months.

Both types of pain can have physical, emotional, social, and lifestyle effects. An assessment can help your physician understand the nature of your pain and determine reasonable next steps.

If your symptoms also affect mood, stress, sleep, or coping, our Mental Health services may be relevant as part of broader care.

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caring stethoscope exam in clinic
PAIN CONCERNS WE MAY ASSESS

Pain Can Affect More Than One Part of Life

Pain may have more than one contributing factor, and symptoms that appear similar can have different causes. An individual clinical assessment is important.

Back & Neck Pain

New, persistent, or recurring pain affecting the back or neck.

Muscle, Joint & Soft-Tissue Pain

Pain, stiffness, or discomfort involving muscles, joints, or soft tissues.

Pain After Injury

Ongoing or new symptoms after an injury or physical strain.

Repetitive Strain & Work-Related Concerns

Symptoms linked with repetitive movement, occupational demands, or activity.

Persistent Pain & Fibromyalgia

Assessment of long-standing pain concerns and symptoms that may be associated with fibromyalgia.

Pain Affecting Sleep or Daily Life

Pain that interferes with movement, work, rest, caregiving, or everyday activities.

OUR APPROACH TO PAIN MANAGEMENT

A Step-by-Step Approach to Your Care

1. Medical Assessment

Your physician reviews the location, pattern, duration, and severity of your pain, along with previous injuries, medications, sleep, mood, activity, and treatments already tried. A focused physical examination may be recommended.

2. Testing When Needed

Tests are not required for every pain concern. When clinically appropriate, your physician may recommend laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, or another assessment.

3. Personalized Treatment Plan

Care may include medication review, non-medication strategies, gradual movement planning, physiotherapy or rehabilitation, sleep and stress-management strategies, pacing, workplace modifications, or referral.

4. Ongoing Support

Pain management often requires follow-up and adjustment over time. Your next steps may include monitoring, treatment, testing, another visit, or referral.

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FIBROMYALGIA ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT

Individualized Care for Complex Symptoms

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition associated with widespread pain and may also involve fatigue, sleep problems, stiffness, mood changes, or difficulty concentrating.

There is no single test that confirms fibromyalgia. Assessment generally involves reviewing the pattern and duration of symptoms, completing a physical examination, and considering whether another condition could be contributing.

Management is individualized and may involve education, gradual physical activity, sleep support, medication, counselling, or other strategies. Symptoms and treatment responses can vary over time.

SUPPORTING FUNCTION AND DAILY LIFE

Improved Function. A Better Quality of Life.

Pain care is not based only on a numerical pain score. Your physician may also ask how pain affects your ability to sleep, move, work, care for yourself or others, participate socially, and manage stress or mood.

These details can help you and your physician establish realistic goals. Progress may involve improvements in movement, sleep, coping, or participation even when some pain remains.

Move with Greater Comfort

Return to Daily Activities

Support Better Sleep

Work Toward Long-Term Wellbeing

WHAT TO EXPECT AT A PAIN MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENT

Prepare for a More Focused Visit

Before Your Appointment

  • Write down where the pain occurs and when it began.
  • Note what makes the pain better or worse.
  • Bring a list of medications, supplements, and previous treatments.
  • Bring requested imaging reports or medical records.
  • Note how pain affects sleep, movement, work, and daily activities.

During Your Appointment

Your physician will review your symptoms and medical history. A focused examination may be recommended.

You can discuss your priorities, previous treatment experiences, medication concerns, and what you hope to improve.

After Your Appointment

Your next steps may include monitoring symptoms, trying a treatment, completing a test, returning for follow-up, or seeing another healthcare professional.

No particular response, result, or recovery timeline can be guaranteed.

In-Person & Virtual Pain Appointments

Some follow-up discussions may be suitable for phone or video care. New pain, injuries, changing symptoms, or concerns requiring a physical examination may need to be assessed in person.

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Not an Emergency Clinic

Empathy Collaborative Health does not provide emergency care. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

Questions or Appointment?

Call 587-864-4152 to ask about current availability, appointment requirements, and whether your pain concern is within the clinic’s scope of care.

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Request a Pain Management Appointment

Contact Empathy Collaborative Health to ask about current availability, appointment requirements, and whether your pain concern is within the clinic’s scope of care.

Unit 104/106, 11420 27th Street SE, Calgary, Alberta T2Z 3R6
587-864-4152   •   Empathycollaborativehealth@gmail.com

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Your Questions, Answered

Pain management is an individualized approach to assessing pain, understanding possible causes, and reducing its effect on function and daily life. Care may include education, medication, physical rehabilitation, lifestyle strategies, follow-up, or referral.
Acute pain usually starts suddenly and is often related to an injury, illness, or procedure. Chronic or persistent pain generally lasts or returns for longer than three months. Either type may require assessment depending on its severity, cause, and effect on daily life.
The clinic’s pain management services may be relevant for injuries, persistent pain, musculoskeletal concerns, fibromyalgia symptoms, and pain affecting sleep, movement, work, or daily activities. Contact the clinic to confirm whether your specific concern is within the services currently offered.
A physician may assess symptoms that could be associated with fibromyalgia and consider other possible causes. Diagnosis depends on a clinical evaluation, and testing may be used to investigate other conditions. Further assessment or referral may be recommended.
Medication may be considered when clinically appropriate, but no prescription or specific medicine is guaranteed. The physician will review your symptoms, health history, current medications, potential risks, and previous treatment response before making a prescribing decision.
Opioids are not automatically prescribed for pain. Decisions involving any medication must be based on clinical need, potential benefits and risks, prescribing standards, and appropriate monitoring. A physician may recommend non-opioid or non-medication approaches.
Imaging is not necessary for every pain concern. The physician will determine whether an X-ray, MRI, or another test is clinically appropriate based on your history and examination.
You can discuss referral options during your appointment. The physician will determine whether specialist care, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, or another service may be appropriate. Referral acceptance and wait times are outside the clinic’s control.
Some follow-up appointments may be suitable for virtual care. An in-person visit may be required when a physical examination, measurement, test, or procedure is needed.
Patient capacity can change. Call 587-864-4152 to ask about current availability, eligibility, and the appropriate appointment type.