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It’s a question often left unsaid in the consultation room, but heavily implied: “Is this pain even real?”
Functional pain — pain without identifiable tissue damage or structural pathology — continues to challenge clinicians and frustrate patients. It sits in that uncomfortable space between physical and psychological, where test results offer no answers, yet the patient’s suffering is very real.

It’s a question often left unsaid in the consultation room, but heavily implied: “Is this pain even real?”
Functional pain — pain without identifiable tissue damage or structural pathology — continues to challenge clinicians and frustrate patients. It sits in that uncomfortable space between physical and psychological, where test results offer no answers, yet the patient’s suffering is very real.

Most patients—and many clinicians—expect acute pain to resolve within a matter of weeks. But what happens when it doesn’t? When a patient continues to report pain three months or more after an injury, surgery, or onset of symptoms, it’s time to change the clinical lens. Pain that lingers past the 12-week mark is no longer considered “acute”—it has transitioned into the chronic or persistent pain category and requires a different management approach.

Opioids have long played a role in the management of chronic pain — but as the evidence base has evolved, so too has our understanding of their limitations, risks, and role in long-term care.

What if your pain management plan was tailored to your DNA? While not yet part of everyday clinical care, genetic profiling is emerging as a game-changer in chronic pain management.

A patient-centred pain plan is more than a treatment checklist — it’s a roadmap to reclaiming function and quality of life. In this article, we explore how health professional networks can collaboratively set meaningful goals with patients, shift focus from “fixing pain” to “improving life,” and empower patients to take an active role in their recovery journey.