Chronic Pain Clinic

The Chronic Pain Clinic is a specialized ambulatory service for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with chronic pain. Our team recognizes that chronic pain can affect patients and caregivers in many different ways. The team is made up of an experienced team of anesthesiologists, advanced practice nurses, a psychologist, psychiatrist and physiotherapists. We provide family-centred care and offer treatments and therapies based on the best evidence. 

All patients must be referred by a patient's family doctor, paediatrician or other physician.

Referrals 

• All patients require a referral to visit our clinic. Faxed referrals will not be accepted.
• If you are a health-care professional, log in to eCHN to submit your referral. From your eCHN account, you will be seamlessly connected to SickKids e-referral platform, EpicCare Link. 
• Learn more about our referral process. 
• If the referral is urgent or emergent, please call SickKids hospital locating at 416-813-1500 and ask to speak to the appropriate service.  On weekends and after 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, please contact the Fellow on call via SickKids locating at 416-813-1500.    
• For support with making a referral, please call 1-866-883-8289 or 416-813-8289. 

What to bring: 

• Information about any therapies currently used for managing pain. 
• Behavioral and personality characteristic forms. 

Directions: 

Entrances: If parking at SickKids, please exit the hospital form the Elizabeth Street Exit and walk south to Elm Street.  Walk south, turn right on Elm Street and our building is located at the end of that block on the south east corner of Elm St. and University Ave.

The length of the clinic appointment will depend on whether you are a new patient or coming for a follow-up appointment. The length may also vary depending on the complexity of your pain. An initial appointment is scheduled for two hours and a follow-up appointment is scheduled for 40 minutes. We try our best to remain on time so other children and families don’t have to wait too long. 

As part of clinical care, we will email questionnaires before the first appointment that are critical to complete. They inform our team about important factors regarding your pain. Both patient and caregiver responses on these questionnaires help our team assess and treat your pain and improve your overall function. 

At your initial clinic appointment, you will meet with our chronic pain team including: Anesthesiologist, Advance Practice Nurse, Psychologist, and Physiotherapist. SickKids is a teaching hospital so there may be other health-care professionals present during the appointment.  

Best practice in the management of paediatric chronic pain includes a “3 Ps" approach: pharmacological (medications), psychological (using your mind) and physical (using your body). The above noted health-care professionals will ask questions to guide the formulation of both a pain diagnosis and chronic pain management plan. The doctor and physiotherapist will perform a targeted physical examination during the assessment.  

After meeting with the team, you will be asked to wait briefly in the waiting area while the team reviews assessment findings and collaborates on a plan of care. You will then be invited back into the appointment room where the team will discuss with you their findings and suggestions for treatment. 

You will have lots of time to ask questions and give feedback on the pain management plan. At the end of the appointment, you will be given an After Visit Summary that includes next steps in care. 

Chronic pain is incredibly complex and often many factors contribute to its development and persistence. Our team recognizes that chronic pain can affect patients and caregivers in many different ways. 

More information:

Visit Anesthesia & Pain Medicine