Truro woman faces years-long wait for chronic pain care after spinal fractures
Cheryl Langille, a 72-year-old from Truro, Nova Scotia, is largely bedridden due to severe chronic pain from multiple spinal injuries. Referred to the QEII Health Sciences Centre in July, she faces an estimated two-year waitlist while her family criticizes the healthcare system's delays.
A 72-year-old woman from Truro, Nova Scotia, is enduring excruciating chronic pain while facing an estimated two-year wait for specialized treatment at a Halifax hospital.
Cheryl Langille has suffered from severe chronic pain caused by multiple spinal and nerve injuries over the past five years. In August 2022, a CT scan revealed a compression fracture, leading to spinal fusion surgery on seven vertebrae. Her condition deteriorated further in February 2025 when another fall caused a new fracture below the previously fused vertebrae, resulting in progressively worsening back pain.
By April, Langille’s pain had become excruciating following an ambulance ride from Truro to Halifax that may have jostled her and worsened the fracture. She is now wheelchair-bound and spends most of the day lying in bed. Her mobility has significantly decreased, making daily activities and leaving the house nearly impossible without extreme pain. To manage the discomfort, her morphine dose has been increased to 20 milligrams per day, which provides only marginal relief.
In July, the Colchester East Hants Health Centre in Truro referred Langille to the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax to access complex procedures such as nerve ablation. However, Langille’s daughter, Hayley, reports they have been told the waitlist for the QEII chronic pain clinic is approximately two years long.
Nova Scotia Health spokesperson Jennifer Lewandowski stated that wait times vary based on patient needs and urgency. Palliative cancer patients are prioritized within one to two weeks, and certain conditions are fast-tracked within approximately two months.
On September 24, while at QEII for unrelated gallbladder surgery, Langille attempted to expedite her pain care but did not receive a response from the pain clinic regarding urgent referrals.
Hayley describes the situation as her mother's life "passing by in pain" and criticizes the healthcare system for failing to provide timely relief. The family says they experience emotional distress and frustration, describing the system as damaging. Langille feels isolated and dependent on her family—and her dog, Cally—for basic care and companionship.