Advancing Pain Care Through Community Support

Living with chronic pain can slowly take over a person’s life, limiting mobility, independence, and emotional well-being. Across B.C., many people wait years for surgery or specialized pain care, often watching their symptoms worsen while they wait. Improving access to pain treatment is an important step toward restoring quality of life for patients in the community.

Burnaby Hospital’s Interventional Pain Clinic addresses this need by offering faster access to specialized care. Most patients are seen within four to six weeks of referral, significantly reducing wait times. Led by anesthesiologists Dr. Gavin Gracias and Dr. Andrew Yu, the clinic focuses on understanding the root causes of pain and developing personalized treatment plans that go beyond symptom relief.

The clinic’s growth reflects years of progress. When Dr. Gracias joined Burnaby Hospital in 2008, chronic pain services were limited, with no dedicated space or support staff. With advocacy from patients and support from donors, the clinic has expanded and now serves more than 2,500 patients each year, helping meet the needs of a growing and aging population.

Donor funded technology has further strengthened care. Advanced ultrasound equipment allows clinicians to identify pain sources that were previously difficult to detect, including trapped nerves following surgery. These tools improve diagnostic accuracy and guide more effective treatment decisions.

By supporting the Interventional Pain Clinic, donors help ensure people living with chronic pain are seen, heard, and treated with respect. This investment improves comfort and function for individual patients while expanding Burnaby Hospital’s capacity to address complex, long-term health needs in the community.