top of page
  • What does the Transitional Pain Service (TPS) do?
    The TPS clinic helps patients deal with pain after surgery in the transition from hospital to home. We also work with patients who take high dose opioids and need help with medication management and opioid weaning. We offer a range of services to help patients manage their pain problems according to their unique needs. Our multidisciplinary team works with patients and their families to develop a pain management plan that takes advantage of one or more of the following services available at the clinic: medication management, interventional pain procedures, psychotherapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and patient education.
  • How are patients referred to the TPS clinic?
    Usually, patients are referred to the TPS clinic because of one or more of the following reasons: ​ - they are at a high risk for developing chronic pain problems after surgery - they report chronic pain problems after surgery - they need help with managing opioid pain medications Patients can be referred to the TPS by a member of their surgical team, by the Acute Pain Service physicians or nurse practitioners, or by a primary care physician.
  • What happens after referral?
    Once a patient is referred to the TPS clinic and discharged from the hospital after surgery, a member of the TPS will contact the patient to provide a clinic appointment. ​ For patients who live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), clinic appointments are held at the Toronto General Hospital on the 12th floor. Please visit the Contact Us page for directions to the TPS clinic. Telehealth services are also available for patients who are not able to come to the hospital for appointments.
  • What happens during visits to the TPS clinic?
    At the TPS clinic, patients will first meet with a physician who specializes in pain. The physician will review the patient's needs and create an individualized approach to pain management for each patient. ​ Based on the patient's needs, the physician may recommend the services of other TPS members, such as the clinical psychologists or the physiotherapist. ​ The TPS team will continue to book follow-up appointments for patients until TPS services are no longer needed, usually from 6 weeks to 6 months. ​ Once the patient's pain is stabilized, pain management will be referred back to the patient's primary care physician (e.g., family doctor) or a chronic pain physician.

To access text-only versions of the modules, please click below:

Learn about Chronic Post-Surgical Pain

Psychology and the Treatment of Chronic Post-Surgical Pain

Access an Innovative Digital Health Solution:

The 'Manage My Pain' platform used at the Transitional Pain Service is a digital health solution that helps patients gain control of their pain by keeping a pain record that they can easily share with their doctors.

 

The platform helps to improve communication between patients and clinicians and empowers patients in self-management of their pain symptoms.

bottom of page