Living with chronic pain — pain that persists for more than three months — affects every aspect of your life. Sleep, work, relationships, and mental health all suffer when pain becomes a constant companion. At Artemis Wellness Clinic in Richmond, we understand that chronic pain requires a different approach than acute injuries, and our multidisciplinary team is specifically designed to provide comprehensive, long-term pain management.
Understanding Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is fundamentally different from acute pain. While acute pain is your body’s alarm system signaling tissue damage, chronic pain involves changes in the nervous system itself. The pain signals become amplified, pain pathways become sensitized, and the brain begins to process pain differently.
This is why treatments that work for acute injuries may not fully resolve chronic pain. Effective chronic pain management requires addressing not just the original tissue injury, but the nervous system changes, the associated muscle guarding and tension, the deconditioning that comes from reduced activity, and the psychological factors including stress, anxiety, and disrupted sleep.
Common chronic pain conditions we treat include chronic low back pain, chronic neck pain and cervicogenic headaches, fibromyalgia, persistent pain after surgery, complex regional pain syndrome, chronic sciatica, and arthritis pain.
Our Multidisciplinary Approach
The strongest evidence for chronic pain management supports multidisciplinary treatment — combining multiple therapies that address different aspects of the pain experience. At Artemis, your treatment plan may include:
RMT Massage Therapy for Chronic Pain
Regular massage therapy may help break the pain-tension cycle. When you are in pain, your muscles guard and tighten. This tension creates more pain, which creates more tension. RMT aims to interrupt this cycle through progressive tissue work, trigger point release, and nervous system calming techniques. For chronic pain, consistency is key — regular weekly or biweekly sessions are usually recommended over sporadic treatment.
Acupuncture for Chronic Pain
Acupuncture has been widely studied for chronic pain. Research suggests it may work by stimulating the release of endorphins (your body’s natural painkillers), modulating pain signals in the spinal cord, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow to painful areas. Some patients find it helps them manage chronic pain; individual results vary.
Physiotherapy for Chronic Pain
Modern pain science tells us that movement is medicine for chronic pain. Our physiotherapist uses graded exercise programs that gradually increase activity without flaring your symptoms, teaching your nervous system that movement is safe. This approach, combined with manual therapy and education about pain science, is well supported by research for chronic pain.
Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain
Chiropractic adjustments can address joint restrictions that contribute to chronic pain patterns, particularly in the spine. Regular chiropractic care may help maintain spinal mechanics and reduce nerve irritation.
Insurance and Coverage
Many extended health plans include coverage for RMT, acupuncture, physiotherapy and chiropractic care, up to your plan’s limits. We can bill many insurers directly; you pay only the part your plan does not cover (co-pay, deductible or amounts above your plan maximum). If your pain started with a car accident, we bill ICBC directly for your pre-approved treatments; if part of a fee is not covered by ICBC (a user fee), we tell you before your treatment. If it started with a work injury, with an accepted claim we bill WorkSafeBC directly, and approved services are not charged to you (massage therapy needs a doctor’s referral).
We offer direct billing: https://artemiswellnessclinic.com/direct-billing-insurance-coverage-richmond/
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chronic pain treatable?
Chronic pain can often be managed. It may not disappear completely, but some patients find that consistent multidisciplinary treatment helps with pain levels, function and quality of life. Individual results vary.
How long does chronic pain treatment take?
Chronic pain management is typically a longer process than acute injury treatment. Some patients begin to notice improvement within 6 to 12 weeks of consistent treatment; individual results vary. Ongoing maintenance sessions can help sustain progress.
Can I reduce my pain medication with this approach?
Some patients find they rely less on pain medication with multidisciplinary treatment. Any medication changes should be discussed with your prescribing physician.
Book Your Chronic Pain Assessment
Take the first step toward managing your pain. Call 604-242-2233 or book online: https://artemis.janeapp.com/
