Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain Syndrome
Effective Dates
June 14, 1994 - February 10, 1997
Policy Code
CS-06
General Information
Pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage and described in terms of such damage." Pain falls into a number of sub-categories including acute pain, recurrent acute pain, chronic pain, chronic pain syndrome, chronic pain disorder, psychogenic pain, fibromyalgia syndrome and somatoform pain disorder.
This policy deals with chronic pain and chronic pain syndrome. The American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment has identified 8 characteristics to be considered when making a diagnosis of chronic pain. The existence of 2 or more of these characteristics may indicate chronic pain syndrome.
Diagnostic Characteristics of Chronic Pain
1. Duration
2. Dramatization
3. Diagnostic Dilemma
4. Drugs
5. Dependence
6. Depression
7. Disuse
8. Dysfunction
All claims decisions are appealable to the Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board.
Policy References
Suspension, Reduction and Termination of Benefits
May 9, 1994 - June 30, 2008 | CL-30 | Policies prior to July 1, 2022In limited circumstances, the board is permitted to suspend, reduce, or terminate compensation that is payable to a worker or his/her dependants.
Any decision made pertaining to the suspension, reduction or termination of compensation may be app
Permanent Impairment
March 7, 1994 - June 30, 2008 | CL-46 | Policies prior to July 1, 2022Pre-Existing Conditions
March 31, 1994 - December 31, 2007 | CL-47 | Policies prior to July 1, 2022The Workers' Compensation Act states that a worker is eligible for compensation benefits if they have suffered a work-related disability that arises out of and in the course of employment. A worker may be entitled to receive loss of earnings benefits, m
Rehabilitation
December 8, 1993 - December 31, 2004 | CS-05 | Policies prior to July 1, 2022