About 500,000 Canadians in chronic pain

An estimated 500,000 Canadians endure chronic pain, researchers say.In an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Drs. Noni MacDonald, Ken Flegel, Paul Hebert and Matthew Stanbrook argue for a broad strategy to help increase pain management expertise, including education, technology and supported self-care and lay coaching."Experts agree that much can be done now with newer analgesics, non-pharmacologic techniques such as nerve blocks and physical therapies, as well as spiritual and supportive care," the physicians say in a statement. "Availability of quality care for pain is the major problem. Health professionals have not mounted a response commensurate with the magnitude of the problem."Specialized expertise in management of chronic pain is clustered in clinics for chronic pain and palliative care often found only in large urban hospitals. However, these services in many areas, especially rural and remote locations, are often sparse, limited in scope or non-existent, the editorial says.