F.A.Q.
How Do I Get Referred?
A referral from a licensed physician is required. If it is not possible for you to get a referral, please call us and speak with the office manager.
If your physician is unfamiliar with our clinic you can direct them to this website. We have provided a downloadable letter of introduction that you can print and give to your physician. It contains all the contact information for our clinic and a brief overview of the services we provide.
Clinic Guidelines
For the health and safety of all our patients and visitors we ask that you adhere to the following clinic guidelines.
Do: Fast before your appointment if you are asked to do so.
If you are advised to fast before your appointment, you must do so. If there is a medical reason (i.e. diabetes) why you cannot fast, let the physician know.
If you are supposed to fast before your appointment and did not, please inform the nurse and physician. This is for your protection and the protection of the staff. Eating before certain procedures can cause medical complications that can be dangerous to patients and staff.
Do: Turn off all cell phones and wireless devices.
All cell phones and wireless devices must be turned off while in the clinic. Please do not set your phone to vibrate or silent; it must be turned off. The signals from wireless devices can cause medical equipment to malfunction.
Do: Leave your valuables at home.
Please do not bring valuables to the clinic or leave valuable items unattended. We are not responsible for any personal property at the clinic. Our staff is dedicated to providing patient care and cannot be responsible for any property belonging to patients.
Do: Quiet Please
Many of our patients suffer from chronic headaches that are triggered by sound. Please do not bring music or other noise-making devices to the clinic.
Do: Call us in the event a patient cannot attend their appointment.
If you are going to be late or need to cancel your appointment, do call us and let us know. If you do not show up to an appointment and do not give notice of cancellation in advance, the physician reserves the right to charge a fee.
Do: Leave Children and Pets at Home
Children under 11 years of age are not allowed in the clinic at any time (including waiting areas). Youths between the ages of 12 and 16 are permitted in the waiting room only if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (other than the patient) at all times.
With the exception of professionally trained service dogs, no animals are permitted on the premises.
Do Not: Wear perfume, cologne, body spray, or other scented items to the clinic.
Due to sensitivities in many of our patients, exposure to perfume, cologne or other scented items can trigger severe headaches and respiratory problems. Therefore, our clinic is a scent-free environment. This applies to all patients, visitors, physicians, and staff. We ask that you do not wear any scented items to the clinic.
Services Covered Under OHIP
For patients residing in Ontario who are referred to the Silver Pain Centre by an Ontario physician, the majority of our services will be offered at no cost to the patient and are covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Certain medications and services are not covered by benefits as per the Canada Health Act and Ontario Medical Association guidelines. Residents outside of Ontario can call our office to discuss medical plans and coverage options.
How does diet affect back pain?
“People who consume a diet high in inflammatory foods may be at a significantly higher risk for low back pain (LBP), according to a recent study.
The study data were presented in poster form at the virtual Association of Academic Physiatrists annual meeting, Physiatry ‘21.
According to Valerio Tonelli Enrico, PT, MSCE, a research assistant and doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh, inflammation is increasingly being studied as a possible cause of chronic pain conditions. In a quintile analysis, individuals in the fifth Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) quintile [high consumption of inflammatory products] were found to have 42.4% higher risk of developing LBP compared with those in the lowest quintile.
“Our study puts a spotlight on diet in the clinical approach for chronic low back pain, calling physicians for a more thorough screening on food consumption, and opening up the potential for fruitful multidisciplinary cooperation that are pivotal to addressing complex pain syndromes,” said Tonelli Enrico in the statement. “It also opens the door for physicians to have an open dialogue with their patients about the important role of diet and health, which is a crucial step not only toward [chronic pain] recovery, but also toward prevention.” (Pain News, April 2021)