One in three Canadians suffers from chronic pain, which can lead to depression, relationship problems and workplace issues, suggests a new poll.

The SES Research survey found that 16 per cent of those surveyed report living in constant pain, and 20 per cent experience pain on a daily basis.

A family shovels snow. When study participants were asked to rate, between 0 and 10, the following statement: 'My family does not understand how pain affects my life,' 30 per cent scored between seven and 10.
(CBC)

The telephone poll of 2,000 Canadians was conducted for the Canadian Pain Society from Oct. 10 to 22. Respondents were asked whether they had chronic pain and how they rated the intensity of their pain.

Three hundred people who said they had moderate to severe chronic pain underwent additional in-depth interviews with SES interviewers.

"Pain is clearly having an enormous impact upon the lives of Canadians," said Nikita Nanos, president of SES Research, in a release. " A full third of individuals with moderate to severe pain said that they had lost their job as a result of it and half said that they had seen a reduction in income."

According to the poll, the income loss due to pain was estimated at $12,558 over a one-year time period.

Thirty-three per cent of Canadians surveyed said moderate or chronic pain makes them feel helpless.

It also revealed relationship and family issues associated with pain. When study participants were asked to give a score of between 0 and 10 to the following statement: "My family does not understand how pain affects my life," 30 per cent scored between seven and 10.

As for employment problems associated with chronic pain conditions, 33 per cent of respondents who suffer from moderate or severe chronic pain said they had lost their job as a result of their condition, while 25 per cent strongly agreed with the statement: "I fear my pain will cause me to lose my job."

SES Research did not provide a margin of error for the results.