- Session50 minutes
- Cost$185 flat rate
- WhereNanaimo & area
Where You Might Feel It
Headaches that keep returning alongside your other aches.
- Headaches that keep returning alongside your other aches.
- Pain that rises with stress or tension.
- Aches that spread across your shoulders and upper back.
- Pain that has outlasted the original injury.
- Flare-ups that settle, then return, over months or years.
- Stiff, sore legs that make walking or standing hard work.
Spots show common areas, not a diagnosis. Illustration adapted from Gustaf Wennman’s anatomical wall chart (c. 1920, public domain): cropped and recoloured.
At a Glance
Common patterns. Pain that has lasted longer than a few months, flares that come and go, and tight, guarded muscles. It often changes with stress and activity.
Why pain can stick around. Pain works like an alarm system. With long-lasting pain the alarm can become oversensitive and go off even when little tissue damage is left. That does not mean the pain is not real.
What progress can look like. Small steps: a bit more movement, shorter or fewer flares, more confidence. Progress is often gradual and uneven, and Kayla will be honest about what is realistic.
How Kayla Can Help
Not a fixed protocol. Kayla picks the mix that fits how you are on the day you come in.
Hands-on therapy
Gentle techniques and myofascial release for tight, guarded tissue.
→Acupuncture
Some people find it helps an overactive pain response settle.
→Breathing & nervous-system calming
Slow breathing and simple calming skills. They are part of the plan, not a side note.
Gentle movement & strength coaching
Builds confidence in moving without setting off a flare, one small step at a time.
Kayla's Whole-Person Approach
Long-lasting pain is rarely about one sore spot. Kayla looks at how your body, your nervous system and your everyday life fit together. This is called a biopsychosocial approach, and it is widely used in modern pain care.
Body
Tight, guarded tissue and how you move. Kayla uses gentle hands-on care and gradual movement matched to how you are that day.
Mind
A nervous system on high alert can turn pain up. Kayla explains how pain works in plain words and teaches calming tools like breathing.
Purpose & vitality
What matters most to you, like work, family, hobbies or getting out for a walk. Your goals decide what progress means and how the plan is paced.
Setting Expectations
Let's be honest: no treatment can promise to take chronic pain away. It is complex, and results vary a lot between people. What Kayla offers is a whole-person approach aimed at reducing how much pain affects your life, with a plan built around what matters to you. She will be honest about what is realistic, and she will tell you if you need other kinds of care.
BC physiotherapists must explain the benefits and risks of a treatment and get your consent before treating you, and you can stop at any time. See the standards.
Chronic Pain: Frequently Asked Questions
Can physiotherapy get rid of chronic pain?
No treatment can honestly promise that. Chronic pain is complex and results vary a lot between people. What physiotherapy can do for many people is reduce how much pain gets in the way of life, through movement, hands-on care and learning how pain works. Kayla will be honest about what is realistic.
Why does stress make my pain worse?
When your nervous system stays on high alert, muscles often hold more tension and pain signals can get turned up, which can make pain feel bigger and last longer. That does not mean the pain is in your head. It is real. Sessions work with your nervous system as well as your body, so calming it is part of the plan.
Is it okay to exercise when I am in pain?
For many people, gentle, gradual movement is a helpful part of managing long-lasting pain, even though it can feel scary. Kayla starts small and builds slowly so you can learn what your body can handle. She will not push you through pain you are not ready for.
Do I need a doctor's referral for chronic pain?
No. In BC you can book a physiotherapist directly. A few insurance plans ask for a referral, so it is worth a quick check with yours. Kayla works alongside your doctor and will tell you if she thinks you need other care.
How long before I notice changes?
It varies a lot. Long-standing pain took time to develop and usually changes gradually too. Kayla will help you set realistic goals and look for small wins along the way.
What happens at a chronic pain appointment?
Sessions are 50 minutes, and the first one takes time to hear your full story, not just today's pain. Kayla checks your body and how you move, explains what she finds, treats what fits that day with your consent, and builds a realistic plan with you.