Many, many, many years ago, sitting on the carpet alongside the other fourth-graders of my class, I witnessed for the first time the debilitating effects of back pain. The reason why Ms. H had assembled us on the carpet has been lost over the years, but I perfectly remember the sudden pain that afflicted my teacher, twisted her face in agony and left her paralyzed, until paramedics arrived and transported her to the hospital. That was how severe her
back pain was!
Luckily, living in the age of medical advancement, there is help for those who are suffering from chronic back pain, some of it free, some of it worth the price tag. Here we discuss treatment options and recommended clinics in the
GTA (Greater Toronto Area), with service fees ranging from $ (affordable) to $$$ (expensive).
Let’s Visit a Doctor!
Relief for back pain can take various forms; depending on preference and effectiveness, you may seek a chiropractor, massage therapist or physiotherapist. One of the easiest ways to find these professionals is to search for them using the directory at
visitdoctor.ca. Simply enter your postal code to find a health professional near you. This database can connect you with more than 500 chiropractors in the GTA, and around 50 000 healthcare providers in Ontario!
Services in the $ Price Range
Chiropractic services are included in most health benefits and insurance offered through the workplace. You may qualify for publicly-funded physiotherapy if you are:
- 19 years old or younger
- 65 years old or older
- Receiving assistance from Ontario Disability Support Program or Family Works*
- Have spent the night in hospital due to an ailment that requires physiotherapy treatment
If you meet at least one of these criteria, visit your doctor and obtain a referral. Then, have a look at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care
webpage for a list of clinics near you.
If you’re on a budget and require a chiropractor, consider the Community Chiropractic Clinic offered by the
Sherbourne Health Centre in collaboration with the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. This clinic is run by final-year students under the supervision of professional chiropractors. Their services are especially suitable for newcomers and low-income families.
Click here to book an appointment today.
Spinal Implants: Saviour of Back Pain Sufferers
During this surgical process, a small implant is inserted around your spinal cord to block the pain signals that would otherwise reach the brain. Although it sounds like some sort of futuristic technology,
spinal implants have been around for a while, but have been severely underused, despite the
success rate. Speak to your doctor about this if you have debilitating, chronic back pain.
Spinal Decompression Therapy: Be Aware and Be Warned!
Type “
back pain relief in the GTA” into Google; the first link will be to a clinic that offers spinal decompression therapy, the third link will be to a
CBC article about why you should steer away from this treatment. Although negative side effects have not been reported, you may not get exactly what you paid for. Clinics using decompression therapy, such as
Low Back Clinic, boast an 86-89% success rate, but according to Dr. Hamilton Hall, who was interviewed by investigators from CBC, such numbers are not possible. Moral of the story: be cautious of relief services that offer you miracle cures.
*Family Works – also known as the Family Benefits Allowance (FBA); it was the predecessor of the Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Programs (ODSP). A small group of people still remain on FBA because they do not meet the qualifications for OW or ODSP. You’ll often see Family Works mentioned when the provincial government drafts legislation regarding coverage for health services.
