Course Description

Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) affects around 1 in 5 Canadians and is the leading cause of disability globally. Opioid medications, surgery and many other ‘traditional’ medical interventions are ineffective and possibly harmful when used to treat CNCP. Inadequately treated acute pain can lead to an amplification of the pain system known as central sensitization. In addition to increased pain, central sensitization can affect most organ systems and can cause many non-pain symptoms such as fatigue, depression, irritable bowel and many more. Recognizing and treating central sensitization can lead to less unnecessary tests and referrals and improvement in patient’s symptoms.


Learning objectives:
  • You will learn how to recognize central sensitization.
  • You will understand how some traditional medical interventions can worsen central sensitization.
  • You will learn how to manage central sensitization using medical and non-medical interventions.
  • You will understand why inter-disiclinary pain clinics are the gold standard for treatment of this condition.

RISE BC Wellness Centre

Joel Kailia​, MD

Dr. Joel Kailia was born in Montreal, Quebec and grew up in Toronto. He received a Bachelor of Science from McGill University in physiology and psychology and a master’s degree from the University of Toronto in neuroscience and the study of pain. He trained in family medicine at UBC and shortly afterward moved to Nelson. Dr. Kailia started Community First Medical Clinic in 2008 with a mandate to help those who had been marginalized by our current healthcare system. He has also helped to start two other medical clinics — the Mend Clinic for students at L.V. Rogers High School and the 10th Street Clinic for Opiate Replacement in Castlegar. In 2013 Dr. Kailia opened the KPAC Clinic (Kootenay Pain and Addiction Clinic, now called RISE) without the help of the local health authority. This is a multidisciplinary clinic for patients in the Kootenay Boundary region with pain and/or addiction issues. When he’s not in the clinic Dr. Kailia can be found riding his bicycle, doing yoga, skiing and enjoying the great outdoors in the Kootenays.Dr. Kailia recently trained in interventional pain therapy and took the pain certificate program through the University of Edmonton. His philosophy is a holistic approach to pain and addiction assessment and management.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Why is My Pain Getting Worse? Central Sensitization Diagnosis and Management

    • Why is My Pain Getting Worse? Central Sensitization Diagnosis and Management

    • Why is My Pain Getting Worse? Central Sensitization Diagnosis and Management

    • Completion Survey