Pain Waves: Recent Episodes
Pain Waves by Pain BC
The Pain Waves podcast by Pain BC is where you can hear leading chronic pain experts and people living with pain discuss the latest pain management research, tools, stories, and trends.
Pain BC is a registered health charity that has been leading efforts to improve the lives of people in pain through empowerment, care, education and innovation. Learn more at painbc.ca.
DISCLAIMER: The content provided on the show is for informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or care, nor is it intended to be a substitute therefore. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider properly licensed to practice medicine or general health care in your area. Go to https://www.painbc.ca/privacy-agreement-terns-conditions for more.
**Chronic pain is a challenging condition to live with on its own – unfortunately, many people living with pain also face mental health challenges. On this episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Tristen Wybou, Pain BC’s Coaching for Health lead, who has lived and professional experience facing chronic pain and mental health concerns.
He shares with us the correlation between pain and mental health as well as steps those who are living with both can take to better understand their conditions.
Listener discretion is advised.**
Not long ago, researchers would only involve people with lived experience in their work as research participants. Nowadays, patient engagement has become an essential part of the research process, but many researchers are unfamiliar with how to incorporate the patient perspective.
On this episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Dawn Richards, the Director of Patient and Public Engagement at Clinical Trials Ontario, and Linda Hunter, a semi-retired nurse and health care executive. Both live with chronic pain and are involved in patient engagement in research. With a panel of patient partners and the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, they have developed a course breaking down how to do patient engagement in research.
You can learn more about the course here: cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/27297.html#a2
Living with chronic pain can be an overwhelming experience. While no two bodies are the same, self-management is an invaluable tool many people living with pain find empowering and effective at improving their quality of life. Pain Canada’s new program, LivePlanBe+, is a free, virtual and self-paced tool aimed at people living with pain who are interested in developing their self-management skills.
On this episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by David Hyldig and Ari Spence, two people who contributed their lived and professional experiences to the creation of LivePlanBe+.
LivePlanBe+ is now available in both English and French. To learn more, visit: liveplanbeplus.ca.
Our understanding of opioids has changed dramatically in the past decade. The pendulum swing of policy guidelines and best practice has left many health care providers unsure how to best support patients with chronic pain. Pain Canada’s new program, Effective Prescribing of Opioids for Chronic Pain (EPOCH), aims to bridge that gap.
This month on the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Kathleen Doukas, a family physician, lecturer and a faculty member for this program.
To learn more about EPOCH, visit: painbc.ca/health-professionals/education/epoch
What does the future of pain care look like in Canada? This National Pain Awareness Week, we’re joined by Natasha Trehan of Take a Pain Check, a podcast, non-profit organization and virtual community for youth and young adults living with rheumatic diseases. She tells us about the inspiration for Take a Pain Check, her work with Pain Canada, and the importance of raising awareness of chronic pain during weeks like NPAW.
To learn more about Take a Pain Check, visit: takeapaincheck.com
Eight million people in Canada live with pain, an experience that can be isolating. One of the goals of the brand new Putting the Pieces Together conference – designed by people living with pain, for people living with pain – is to create new connections and community. This month on the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Jenny Lorca, a somatic therapist, Pain BC volunteer, and a member of the steering committee for Putting the Pieces together.
To learn more about Putting the Pieces Together, running from November 7-10, 2022, visit: paincanada.ca/events/putting-the-pieces-together
As many as twenty percent of British Columbians live with pain from a condition known as IBS – irritable bowel syndrome. While heavily stigmatized, raising awareness of IBS and similar conditions can help increase funding for more research and future treatments. This month on the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Gail Attara, the president of the GI society, who talks to us about what IBS is, resources for living with it and supporting loved ones.
We hope no one’s sensitive to poop talk.
Providing appropriate care for chronic pain, mental health and substance use can be challenging to health care providers. That’s where programs like the BC Adaptive Mentorship Network come in, pairing experienced health care Mentors with Mentees in order to build their capacity to better support British Columbians with complex health concerns. On this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Sean Ebert and Brenda Poulton, the co-directors of this new initiative.
On January 1st of 2022, the World Health Organization unveiled their new classification standards for diseases. For the first time ever, they have recognized chronic pain as a condition. In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Maria Hudspith, the co-chair of the Canadian Pain Task Force, and Rolf Detlef-Treede, who lead the work on the WHO recognition of chronic pain. They explain what the ICD-11 is and how it could improve care for those living with chronic pain.
From cold weather to social stress, winter and the holidays often present challenges for people living with pain. Are there tips and tricks to make it easier?
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Danielle Harrison, a registered social worker and the Pain Support Line lead at Pain BC. She talks to us about how to stay connected to loved ones, set boundaries with friends and family, and gives advice on how to avoid seasonal depression.
Research into chronic pain is, relatively speaking, quite young – there’s a lot science still doesn’t understand. Could there be a connection between where you are on the globe, circadian rhythms, and pain?
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Nader Ghasemlou, the principle investigator for the upcoming national Circa Pain study, as well as Hailey Gowdy, the graduate student leading this work. They talk to us about what we already know about pain and circadian rhythms, what they still hope to learn, and how people with lived experience can improve researchers’ understanding of pain.
An important part of pain research is patient partnership, where researchers work with people with lived experience to understand their perspectives. While patient partners are invaluable to research projects, some feel tokenized -- like their voices are included but largely ignored. How can we change this?
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Dawn Richards, a researcher, patient partner, and patient engagement expert. She talks to us about a recent blog post she co-authored on the topic of Tokenism in Patient Engagement and offers advice on how to overcome it.
Read the blog post here: https://bit.ly/315muJ6
Studies have shown that men in the Western world are less likely to seek help for medical conditions, leading to poorer health and higher mortality rates. When it comes to men who live with pain, how does masculinity impact getting the help they need?
In this month’s episode of the Painwaves Podcast, we’re joined by the new host, Leah Smith, and Dwayne Patmore, a patient advocate, veteran and man who lives with chronic pain. He shares his personal experiences and talks about the impact of masculinity on pain, the social challenges men often experience accessing healthcare, and his hope for the future of the Canadian Healthcare system.
Children can form memories of pain from as early as birth and, once formed, these memories can play a powerful role in shaping future pain and health care experiences.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Melanie Noel, an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary. She talks to us about her latest research on children’s memories of pain and how she is teaching parents to talk to their kids differently about pain in order to foster more positive memories. She also shares what’s next for her research on children’s pain and how her recent appointment as the first-ever Killam Memorial Emerging Leader Chair will enable her to take her research and work to new heights.
Learn more about Melanie's recent appointment and work here: https://news.ucalgary.ca/news/ucalgary-clinical-psychologist-melanie-noel-emerges-leader-field-pediatric-pain
The Canadian Pain Task Force (CPTF) is an external advisory body that has been helping the Government of Canada better understand and address the needs of people living with chronic pain since its inception in March of 2019. The final report from the Task Force, An Action Plan for Pain in Canada, was released to the public on May 5, 2021. The plan lays out recommendations for targeted actions necessary to improve outcomes for the nearly eight million Canadians living with chronic pain and to reduce pain’s impact on families, communities, and society.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined once again by Task Force members Maria Hudspith and Linda Wilhelm. They provide an overview on the report and its six priority goals, talk about what comes next for advancing change on pain in Canada, and outline ways people can help make sure pain is a priority in their communities.
Maria and Linda first joined us in November 2020 to share the findings from the Task Force’s second report. Listen to that episode here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/painwaves/canadian-pain-task-force-latest-on-best-practices
You can also learn more about the Task Force in an earlier episode here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/painwaves/canadian-pain-task-force-pain-talk
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Read An Action Plan for Pain in Canada: https://tinyurl.com/3ms5nr4s
- Learn more about and participate in the #PrioritizePain campaign: https://www.paincanada.ca/
Musculoskeletal injuries – from car accidents, workplace injuries, sports injuries, and more – are a leading cause of chronic pain, with an estimated 15-50% of people reporting experiencing pain 12 months following a musculoskeletal injury.
On this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by two guests to learn more about the SYMBIOME Project. Dave Walton, Lead Researcher and Director of the Pain and Quality of Life Integrative Research Lab, tells us about the project, how it aims to predict and explain recovery from musculoskeletal trauma, as well as next steps in the project and what his hopes are for how the results of this research can inform positive change to the Canadian health care system. Curtis May, a person living with pain, shares his experiences with participating in this project and provides insight into why it’s important to include people with lived experience in research.
Notes:
- Musculoskeletal pain refers to pain originating in the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons and/or joints.
- The SYMBIOME Project stands for the Systematic Merging of Biology, Mental Heath, and Environment.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- The Pain and Quality of Life Integrative Research Lab (PIRL): https://www.pirlresearch.com
- The SYMBIOME Project: https://www.pirlresearch.com/symbiome
It’s well known that practicing yoga can provide many benefits to both the body and mind, but did you know research suggests that yoga therapy can be an especially helpful tool for managing pain?
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by two guests to learn more about the benefits of yoga therapy for managing chronic pain. Neil Pearson, Physiotherapist, Yoga Therapist and UBC Clinical Assistant Professor, talks about the recent paper he co-authored summarizing the current research on the value of yoga therapy in a comprehensive integrative pain management plan, and explores areas of research that still need to be investigated further. Gail Goodjohn, a person living with pain, also joins us to share how yoga therapy has personally helped her manage pain and its many impacts on daily life.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Yoga therapy and pain - How yoga therapy serves in comprehensive integrative pain management, and how it can do more: https://paincareu.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/IJYT2020_Pearson_yoga_therapy_pain.pdf
- Learn more about Neil's work: http://paincareu.com/
Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are thirteen subtypes of rare connective tissue disorders characterized by numerous debilitating symptoms, including chronic pain. Sadly, current gaps in dedicated health care and research for EDS leave many Canadians living with these chronic illnesses undiagnosed or undertreated.
On this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by three guests to learn more about these chronic illnesses. Dr. Nimish Mittal tells us about what Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are, the current gaps in health care and research, and what changes need to be made in the Canadian health care system to better support people living with EDS. We’re also joined by Kathleen Eubanks from EDS Canada, who shares her firsthand experience of living with the illness, and Sandy Smeenk from the ILC Foundation, who shares her professional and personal experiences as a mother to a child with EDS.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- EDS Society: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/
- EDS Canada: https://ehlers-danlossyndromecanada.org/
- The ILC Foundation: https://www.theilcfoundation.org/
- GoodHope EDS Clinic: https://www.uhn.ca/MCC/Clinics/Ehlers-Danlos_Syndrome_Clinic
Canadian Armed Forces members devote their lives to serving their country, often at great costs to their personal health and well-being. Research from Veteran Affairs Canada indicates veterans are twice as likely to experience chronic pain when compared to the general population.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Tom Hoppe, a patient advocate and veteran who lives with chronic pain. He shares his personal experiences and talks about the impacts of military culture on pain, the challenges veterans often experience with accessing health care following military service, and his hopes for how organizations like the recently established Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans (CPCOE) will improve the lives of the 41% of veterans who live with pain.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Research on chronic pain among Canadian veterans: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-vac/research/research-directorate/info-briefs/chronic-pain
- Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans (CPCOE): https://www.veteranschronicpain.ca
Research shows that Black people are disproportionately impacted by pain and less likely to receive appropriate care when compared to white people.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by researcher Dr. Kimberley Kaseweter and pain advocate Desmond Williams to learn about how racism and discrimination affect Black Canadians when accessing health care for pain management. Kimberley shares findings from her research and Desmond shares his personal experiences with accessing care for pain in BC as a person of colour.
Desmond is 33 and has been living with pain as a result of arthritis since he was an adolescent. He’s of mixed African, European and First Nations ancestry but says that regardless of how he identifies, people see him as a Black man.
Kimberley is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan Campus. She conducts psychological pain research at the Bill Nelems Pain and Research Centre in Kelowna.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Kimberley's research on "Racial differences in pain treatment and empathy in a Canadian sample": https://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/prm/2012/803474.pdf
- Desmond's website on accessing Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®): https://www.vibestre.ca/
- A sample of Desmond's comedy: https://youtu.be/qY1nKlvue6E
The Canadian Pain Task Force is an external advisory body that has been helping the Government of Canada better understand and address the needs of people living with chronic pain since its inception in March of 2019. The Task Force recently delivered its second report - Working together to better understand, prevent and manage pain: What we heard - to Health Canada following extensive consultations from July 2019 through August 2020 with people who live with, or have an interest in, chronic pain.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Pain BC’s Executive Director Maria Hudspith, who co-chairs the Task Force, and Linda Wilhelm, a Task Force member who lives with pain and is the President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, to learn more about the Task Force’s latest work. They provide an insightful discussion about what they heard from Canadians during the Task Force’s consultations, the expected impact of their latest report to government, and what the next steps are in the Task Force’s three-year mandate.
- Access the Canadian Pain Task Force's second report: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/public-engagement/external-advisory-bodies/canadian-pain-task-force/report-2020.html
- Learn more about the Canadian Pain Task Force: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/public-engagement/external-advisory-bodies/canadian-pain-task-force.html
While the link between chronic pain and the BC overdose crisis may not be widely understood, unmanaged pain can be a significant driver of substance use. In fact, nearly half of those who have died of overdose in BC had sought help to manage pain in the year prior to their death.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Alexis Crabtree from the BC Centre for Disease Control – known as the BCCDC – and Kim Williams, a person with pain who is in recovery from substance use, to learn more about the connections between pain, substance use, and overdose deaths in BC.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Toward the Heart (take home naloxone kits and other overdose prevention resources): https://towardtheheart.com/
- Lifeguard application: https://lifeguarddh.com/
- BC Centre on Substance Use information on opioid addiction treatment: https://www.bccsu.ca/poatsp/resources/
- Dr. Alexis Crabtree's research on Toxicology and prescribed medication histories among people experiencing fatal illicit drug overdose in British Columbia, Canada: https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/34/E967
- Vancouver Coastal Health's Downtown Eastside Chronic Pain Service: http://www.vch.ca/about-us/news/news-releases/downtown-eastside-clinics-provide-drug-free-options-for-chronic-pain-management
Many people living with pain find peer support programs help them to feel heard and understood, and reduce their feelings of isolation and helplessness that often accompany pain.
In this month's episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we discuss how our free Pain Support and Wellness Groups are providing people in pain with opportunities to meet regularly online and build a community of support while learning about pain management and sharing coping strategies. We're joined by a number of different guests - Dorota Hedzelek, Pain BC's Director of Support Services, as well as two volunteer facilitators, Dwayne and Juhree, and two group participants, Jenny and Mike - who offer their unique perspectives on the program and how it benefits people in pain.
To learn more about accessing a Pain Support and Wellness Group, visit https://www.painbc.ca/supportgroups
Orofacial pain – pain that occurs in the mouth, jaw, face, or head – impacts approximately 22-26% of the population but is not always well understood due to the complex structures and functions involved in the region.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by dental experts PJ Murphy and Alberto Babiloni to learn about what orofacial pain is, influencing factors and underlying health conditions that can make orofacial pain worse, and common treatment and management options that are available to help.
People who live with chronic pain commonly report experiencing issues with sleep and, conversely, poor sleep can make it more difficult to manage pain.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by two experts, Dr. Josh Rash and Dr. Gilles Lavigne, to learn about how pain and sleep impact each other, sleep disorders that are common among people in pain, and what common treatment and management options exist for people with chronic pain who experience disturbances in sleep.
Resources from today's episode:
- Consensus sleep diary: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/olli/class-materials/sleep_diary.pdf
Workbooks:
- “The insomnia workbook” by Silberman and Morin: https://tinyurl.com/y95mqwr7
- “Quiet your mind and get to sleep” by Carney and Manber: https://tinyurl.com/yc6a7ezt
- “Sink into sleep” by Davidson: https://tinyurl.com/y7g7z5rg
- Free guided app on cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia: https://www.myvaapps.com/cbti/
The current public health emergency has created a challenging situation for most people, but it is especially difficult for people who already live with complex health conditions like chronic pain.
On this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we listen to the lived experiences of five people with chronic pain from across Canada as they share how COVID-19 is impacting their ability to manage pain, well-being and other aspects of daily life.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Pain BC's support groups: https://www.painbc.ca/supportgroups
- Pain BC's COVID resources for people in pain: https://www.painbc.ca/blog/responding-needs-people-pain-during-covid-19
- Additional COVID resources for people in pain: https://www.painbc.ca/covid
Arthritis resources:
- Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance: http://arthritispatient.ca/
- Arthritis Society: https://arthritis.ca/
- Creaky Joints resource website: https://creakyjoints.org/
- Chronic Eileen blog: https://www.chroniceileen.com/
Other pain resources:
- People in Pain Network (PiPN): https://www.pipain.com/
- Canadian Pain Task Force: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/public-engagement/external-advisory-bodies/canadian-pain-task-force.html
- Chronic Pain Network: https://cpn.mcmaster.ca/
- ChildKind Pain Management initiative: https://childkindinternational.org/
- Yoga with Adriene: https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene
Guest social media accounts:
- Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance: https://twitter.com/CAPA_Arthritis
- Eileen: https://twitter.com/chroniceileen
- Emeralda: https://twitter.com/EmeraldaBurke
- Virginia: https://twitter.com/Virginia_McI
When dealing with an unfamiliar or stressful situation like the current coronavirus pandemic, it's not uncommon to think of the worst possible outcomes, which is sometimes referred to as "catastrophizing". While catastrophizing can lead to increased feelings of stress and anxiety for people who already live with complex health conditions, it can also be a useful tool when well-managed.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Bronnie Lennox Thompson, a world-renowned pain educator and researcher based out of New Zealand. She talks to us about what catastrophizing is, how it relates to pain and the current coronavirus pandemic, and shares tips on how people in pain can manage catastrophic thoughts and take care of themselves during this public health emergency.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Pain BC's supports for people in pain: https://painbc.ca/find-help
- Bronnie's HealthSkills blog: https://healthskills.wordpress.com/
- Bronnie's article on catastrophizing and how it relates to pain and COVID: https://healthskills.wordpress.com/2020/03/16/coronavirus-covid19-catastrophising-and-caution/
Canada is known as a world leader in children’s pain research, yet it often takes a long time for emerging evidence to make its way into standard clinical practice.
On this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Katie Birnie, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at the University of Calgary and a clinical psychologist at Alberta Children’s Hospital. She talks to us about the important work that is underway to advance how children’s pain is understood and managed across Canada through two major research and knowledge translation initiatives – the Partnering for Pain project and the Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP) network.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Partnering for Pain project: http://partneringforpain.com/
- Solutions for Kids in Pain network: https://www.kidsinpain.ca/
- Pediatric Pain Letter (co-written by Dr. Katie Birnie and people with lived experiences): http://ppl.childpain.org/issues/v20n3_2018/v20n3_birnie.shtml
- Opportunity to participate as a lived experience partner with SKIP: http://shorturl.at/kCKN1
Follow the conversation on social media:
PartneringForPain #PartenairesPourLaDouleur #ItDoesntHaveToHurt
In this special episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we share a recent episode from the Pain Talk podcast. Hosted by Dr. Maureen Allen, a palliative and emergency care physician in Nova Scotia, Pain Talk brings together experts who study and support individuals living with persistent pain.
In this two-part episode, Dr. Allen speaks to Canadian Pain Task Force co-chairs, Maria Hudspith and Dr. Fiona Campbell, to learn more about what the Task Force is doing to identify and address the barriers that prevent Canadians with persistent pain from receiving the care and treatment they need. Maria and Fiona also highlight specific insights that were uncovered in the Task Force’s first of three reports, which was delivered to Health Canada in June of 2019.
More information about the Canadian Pain Task Force can be found here: https://www.painbc.ca/blog/2019-canadian-pain-task-force-update
More information about Pain Talk:
https://paintalk.ca/
When chronic pain is complicated by factors such as poverty, poor mental health, substance use or trauma, it can further limit a person’s ability to access health care.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by William Bateman to learn about Vancouver Coastal Health’s new pilot program. The Downtown Eastside Chronic Pain Service is a first-of-its-kind program that provides non-pharmacological pain management support to people living with pain in Vancouver who experience marginalization.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Pain BC's Making Sense of Pain program: https://www.painbc.ca/making-sense-of-pain/program-sites
- Pain BC's Gentle Movement and Relaxation Course: https://painbc.ca/health-professionals/education/gentle-movement-and-relaxation-course
- More about Vancouver Coastal Health's DTES Chronic Pain Service: http://www.vch.ca/about-us/news/news-releases/downtown-eastside-clinics-provide-drug-free-options-for-chronic-pain-management
With chronic pain impacting the lives of 1 in 5 Canadians, National Pain Awareness Week provides a critical opportunity to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and advocate for change in the way pain is understood and managed for millions of Canadians.
People living with pain play a vital role in raising the profile of chronic pain, so on this month’s episode of the Pain Waves Podcast, we’re joined by patient advocates Jason and Jennifer. They speak about their experiences with pain, its many impacts on their lives and how they’re using their stories to advocate for others who also live with pain.
To follow the conversation on National Pain Awareness Week, search for the #LivingWithPain and #NPAW2019 hashtags on Twitter and Facebook.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Jason's podcast: https://www.discomfort.fm/
- Jennifer's blog post: https://www.painbc.ca/blog/undiagnosed-pain-one-womans-journey-hope
While it’s becoming known that 1 in 5 British Columbians lives with chronic pain, it may come as more of a surprise that persistent pain is also common in children.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Sue Bennett and Dr. Erin Moon, who are both registered psychologists at BC Children’s Hospital. They talk to us about pediatric pain, how pain can affect growth and development in children, and the impacts of childhood pain on parents. They also share insights and resources that can help children and their parents manage pediatric pain and its impacts.
Resources:
- Webinar on "Return to Functioning in Children and Teens with chronic pain": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w88e_kfO_cY
- Ten Tips for Parents of Children Teens with Chronic Pain: https://www.wwdpi.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/BCCH1683_ChronicPainTipSheet_2014.pdf
- Pain BC's Pain Support Line: https://www.painbc.ca/supportline
- MyCarePath website for children with pain and their parents: https://www.mycarepath.ca
- People in Pain Network (PiPN): https://www.pipain.com/
- Book - Conquering Your Child's Chronic Pain: A Pediatrician's Guide for Reclaiming a Normal Childhood: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060570172
- Commentary - Learning to let go: My experience with Chronic Pain Stockholm Syndrome: http://childpain.org/ppl/issues/v16n3_2014/v16n3_bennett.pdf
People living with pain often experience many barriers to care, including long waitlists and long travel distances to see a health care provider with specialized training in pain. These barriers can be overcome through improving the availability of high-quality pain education for health care providers, particularly in rural and remote areas.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Drs. Naj Mian and Rodica Janz, who speak to us about Pain BC’s new education program. The BC ECHO for Chronic Pain is a free and virtual learning community working to reduce barriers to pain care by empowering health care providers of all disciplines with knowledge and resources to provide treatment and care for people with pain in their local communities.
Learn more about the BC ECHO for Chronic Pain: http://painbc.ca/echo
Watch an introduction video on Project ECHO: https://youtu.be/VAMaHP-tEwk
Learn more about Dr. Najam Mian: https://www.cprihealth.ca/about/our-team/
Learn more about Dr. Rodica Janz: https://solis.janeapp.com/locations/solis-integrative-health-centre/book#/staff_member/1/bio
Living with chronic pain can be overwhelming and isolating, but sharing your story with others has the power to influence a new understanding of pain and how to manage it, and can help with providing a voice for other people living with pain.
On this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Joletta Belton, a person with lived experience who has been advocating for people in pain since 2010. She shares her personal experiences and draws upon how she’s been able to redefine her story in a way that’s helped her manage pain, find meaning in life again, and increase awareness and understanding of pain among others.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Joletta's blog: https://www.mycuppajo.com/
- Joletta's recent Pain BC webinar on pain science and story: https://painbc.ca/health-professionals/webinars/making-sense-pain-through-science-and-story
- Endless Possibilites Initiative: http://www.epicolorado.org/
- Retrain Pain Foundation: https://www.retrainpain.org/
Literature references:
- Howard Brody's "My story is broken; can you help me fix it? Medical ethics and the joint construction of narrative": https://muse.jhu.edu/article/376891
- Bessel van der Kolk's "The Body Keeps the Score": https://www.psychotherapy.net/article/body-keeps-score-van-der-kolk
- Arthur Frank’s "The Wounded Storyteller": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/106486.The_Wounded_Storyteller
Living with chronic pain can be overwhelming, but it can help to have someone to talk to who understands what it's like and can support you in taking control back of your life.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we discuss how our free Coaching for Health program is helping people with pain learn self-management skills, regain function and improve their well-being. We’re joined by Dorota Hedzelek, Pain BC’s Director of Support Services, who provides a detailed discussion on what the Coaching for Health program is, its benefits and how it can be accessed. We’re also joined by Ada Glustein, a coaching volunteer, and Chantelle Levesque, a coaching client, both of whom have lived experience with pain. They share their unique perspectives on the program and highlight some of the outcomes they’ve witnessed as a result of their participation.
To learn more about or to apply to the Coaching for Health program, visit https://painbc.ca/coaching
To learn more about volunteering for the Coaching for Health program, visit https://painbc.ca/get-involved/volunteer/coaching-health-volunteer
ICBC recently announced major changes to their accident benefits coverage as of April 1, 2019. Since car accidents can be a significant driver for developing chronic pain, it’s important to know how these changes will impact care and recovery in the event of an accident.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Vito Albanese, the Senior Director of Claims Strategy and Programs at ICBC, who walks us through the major changes that have taken place for claims, why these changes have been made and how they will impact anyone who develops chronic pain as the result of a motor vehicle accident.
For more information, visit www.icbc.com/change
Join us next month as we discuss our Coaching for Health program in detail, a free telephone coaching program designed to help people living with pain gain self-management skills, regain function and improve their wellbeing.
On today’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Neil Pearson, a renowned physiotherapist, clinical assistant professor and yoga therapist, to talk about how understanding pain in a different way can help improve our process for self-care and managing pain when it persists. We also introduce our collaborative Gentle Movement and Relaxation Course, a free online course that will equip health care providers in BC with knowledge and resources to lead their own movement and relaxation programs for people with persistent pain.
Join us again next month, when we’ll be joined by ICBC to talk about the major changes that are taking place for ICBC claims starting April 1, 2019, and how these changes will impact people with persistent pain.
Gentle Movement and Relaxation Course for providers: https://painbc.ca/gentlemovement
Free resources for people with pain:
Empowering Self-Management of Pain (webinars):
Part 1: https://www.liveplanbe.ca/pain-education/pain-basics/empowering-self-management-of-pain-part-1-explaining-pain
Part 2: https://www.liveplanbe.ca/pain-education/pain-basics/empowering-self-management-of-pain-part-2
Part 3: https://www.liveplanbe.ca/pain-education/pain-basics/empowering-self-management-of-pain-part-3-pain-self-management-techniques-practice-planning
How to Keep Moving Through Persistent Pain (podcast):
https://www.liveplanbe.ca/pain-education/paced-activities/how-to-keep-moving-through-persistent-pain
Life is Now Pain Care: https://lifeisnow.ca/courses/first-five-steps-free/
Sex and intimacy can both be impacted by chronic pain, but they aren't topics that are always easily discussed with health care providers.
In this month’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by physiotherapist Sarah Haag, who specializes in pelvic pain and women’s and men’s health. She provides us with a discussion on how chronic pain can impact sex and intimacy, the role of specialized physiotherapists in helping patients with pain who wish to reengage in sex, and practical tips for both people with pain and their partners to explore or maintain the two in their relationship.
If you'd like to connect with Sarah to find a local physiotherapist who specializes in pelvic pain, women's health, or men's health, visit her Twitter page: https://twitter.com/sarahhaagpt
A new year can often be seen as a source for inspiration, whether it be a change in personal habits, setting new goals or refocusing our attention on certain aspects of our lives.
On today’s episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we’re joined by Connie Davis from the Centre for Collaboration Motivation and Innovation to talk about brief action planning (BAP), a self-management support technique that uses a structured step-by-step process to help people set realistic goals and make concrete action plans for their health and wellbeing. If you’re living with pain and would like to set goals for managing your pain, this episode will provide good foundational knowledge, tips and free resources to help you get started.
Resources highlighted in this episode:
LivePlanBe resources
- Online self-assessment and BAP: https://www.liveplanbe.ca/manage-my-pain
CCMI resources
- BAP general page: https://centrecmi.ca/brief-action-planning/
- Printable BAP guide: https://centrecmi.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/BAP_guide_2016-08-08.pdf
- Printable BAP flow chart: https://centrecmi.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/BAP_flow_Chart_2016-08-08.pdf
- BRAIN worksheet for informed decision making: https://centrecmi.ca/2017/08/15/using-the-brain-worksheet-for-informed-decision-making/
Self-Management BC website
- http://www.selfmanagementbc.ca/
Music can be therapeutic in many situations, but recent research suggests it may be especially beneficial for people living with chronic pain.
In this episode of the Pain Waves podcast, sound designers and researchers Mark Nazemi and Maryam Mobini talk to us about the benefits of sound therapy and how it can play a role in pain management. They also discuss developing their app, to:Resonate, a platform through which they will create and share music grounded in neuroscience to help people manage their pain.
To find out more about to:Resonate and to donate: https://toresonate.com/
To access the free to:Resonate composition on InsightTimer: http://insig.ht/gm_34740
With recreational cannabis now legalized in Canada, it’s likely that more people in pain will consider it for pain relief. In this episode, Clinical Pharmacist Terri Betts and her daughter Nikki, who lives with chronic pain, share their story about navigating the health care system after Nikki decided to pursue medical cannabis to manage her pain. She had previously tried a variety of pharmaceutical medications, including opioids, without much success. Throughout our discussion, the two touch on the bodies of evidence available along with other key resources that helped them throughout their decision-making process.
Please note that as with any other treatment method, we advise anyone wishing to pursue medical cannabis for pain to first consult with a licensed health care professional.
Helpful resources:
- The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, January 2017. https://nationalacademies.org/CannabisHealthEffects
- Canadian Pharmacists Association references on medical cannabis - https://www.pharmacists.ca/advocacy/medical-cannabis
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Allan GM et al. Simplified guideline for prescribing medical cannabinoids in primary care. Canadian Family Physicians, 2018 Feb; 64:111-20.
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How Medical Cannabis Works: https://www.liveplanbe.ca/pain-education/medications/how-medical-cannabis-works
- Medical Cannabis: Monitoring Your Treatment: https://www.liveplanbe.ca/pain-education/medications/medical-cannabis-monitoring-your-treatment
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Medical Cannabis: Dosing, Strains and Choosing a Licensed Producer: https://www.liveplanbe.ca/pain-education/medications/medical-cannabis-dosing-strains-choosing-a-licensed-producer
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Health Canada page on cannabis for medical purposes under the Cannabis Act: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/medical-use-cannabis.html
- Health Canada page on getting cannabis from a licensed producer: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/getting-cannabis-from-licensed-producer.html
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is characterized by many debilitating symptoms which include chronic pain. ME affects more than 560,000 Canadians, yet it remains a widely misunderstood and stigmatized illness.
In the following episode, we attempt to break down some of these barriers by speaking with 4 people in pain who discuss their varied lived experiences with ME. We are also joined by Elizabeth Sanchez of the ME|FM Society of BC, who provides an overview of ME while discussing research priorities and other actions required to better support the needs of the many British Columbians affected by this illness.
To learn more about the ME|FM Society of BC: https://www.mefm.bc.ca/
Facebook support group for ME: https://www.facebook.com/groups/314293301959189/
Harmful self-criticism impacts the lives of many people in pain, which in turn can affect their ability to enjoy life's positive moments and to reach out in times of need.
Sarah Jarvis, Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), first began exploring self-compassion as a much needed practice in her personal life. In this episode, she discusses how mindfulness and self-compassion can help people in pain increase their overall wellbeing by decreasing any underlying anxiety, stress, suffering and harmful self-criticisms that may be associated with their pain.
To find out more about Sarah's work, visit: http://www.compassionwithin.com/
To find out more about mindful self-compassion, visit https://centerformsc.org/
Chronic pain can make it more difficult to accomplish daily tasks, ranging anywhere from getting dressed to maintaining a full-time job. As an Occupational Therapist (OT) who personally experiences chronic pain, Katerina Dikeakos understands this firsthand.
In this episode, Katerina provides insight on how the field of occupational therapy differs from other common therapies and explains how OTs can help people in pain manage better in their daily lives.
To find out more about Katerina's work, visit https://www.vancouverot.ca/
To find out more about the field of occupational therapy, visit http://www.caot.ca/
Physiotherapy and acupuncture are commonly recommended for those living with chronic pain, however these therapies can often be costly and are not accessible to all.
Naomi Biggin-Pound (physiotherapist, women's health physiotherapist, acupuncturist, and rehabilitation pilates instructor) has helped to bridge this gap through her FREE self-guided exercise programs for people living with chronic back, knee and pelvic pain. These video series are based on a combination of pain science, physiotherapy, as well as practices of mindfulness, spirituality and empathy.
In this episode, Naomi talks about the value of movement in managing pain and how to incorporate practices of mindfulness and empathy to increase function.
To access her free programs, please visit www.selftreatmentandexercise.com.
Neuropathic pain can be debilitating for many individuals living with a spinal cord injury.
In this episode, we talk with two guests about how exercise can temporarily reduce the neuropathic pain associated with such injuries, as well as how it can be used as part of a larger self-management strategy. PhD student Kendra Todd provides insight on her current research on this topic, and her colleague Robert Shaw shares his unique perspective from living with a spinal cord injury as the result of a diving accident in 2011.
Martin Willemse is a lawyer whose practice focuses on denied long-term disability claims and critical illness denials. He often represents clients with chronic pain or other invisible illnesses. In this episode of Pain Waves, he shares his in-depth knowledge of insurance policies and provides important insights into how to improve your chances of making a successful claim.
The holidays can be an especially difficult time for people living with chronic pain. During this virtual fireside chat, our guests highlight key issues that can come up during the holidays and share their first-hand experiences with navigating the challenges and the joys of this season.
Chronic pain hurts everyone, including the family caregivers who provide support to people in pain. Pain Waves talks to Wendy Johnstone from Family Caregivers of British Columbia about how caregivers can find the support and resources they need to take care of themselves.
Find out more at http://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/
Mihael Mamychshvili is a Registered Master Shiatsu Therapist and owner of Angel Hands Integrative clinic. He discusses the health benefits of working with various complementary therapies for people living with pain.
Living with the pain of osteoarthritis can be overwhelming. Susan Johnston is a Nurse Educator for OASIS (OsteoArthritis Service Integration System) a Vancouver Coastal Health program aimed at helping people with osteoarthritis to self-manage their pain. She has also lived with chronic pain for 20 years.
In this episode, she talks to Pain BC about managing pain with conventional and integrative/holistic therapies, including meditation and cannabis.
Chronic pain and illness can be isolating and challenging. We chat to counsellor and coach Kira Lynne about the benefits of counselling to help tackle your emotions, improve your mental health, and live better with chronic pain - putting yourself first. Kira Lynne is a Life Coach, Registered Professional Counsellor, Holistic Nutritionist, Reiki Master, and the author of "Aches, Pains, and Love: A Guide to Dating and Relationships for Those with Chronic Pain & Illness." In this episode, Kira shares her own journey with chronic pain, tips for finding a good fit in a counsellor, the benefits of counselling, and more! Get in touch with Kira or learn more about her book and where to buy it on www.kiralynne.com
Kira has contributed several articles to Live Plan Be, our free self-management tool, on intimacy, communication, and chronic pain:
https://www.liveplanbe.ca/pain-education/support-relationships/four-keys-to-satisfying-sex-when-you-live-with-chronic-pain
https://www.liveplanbe.ca/pain-education/support-relationships/four-communication-tools-for-close-relationships
https://www.liveplanbe.ca/pain-education/support-relationships/two-ways-to-lift-emotional-barriers-to-intimacy
Curious about Flotation Therapy and how it can help with chronic pain? We chat to Float House (floathouse.ca) co-founder Mike Zaremba about how Flotation Therapy/Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) works, the research around benefits for chronic pain management, common misconceptions around flotation, meditation, and more!
Links to further research articles:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08870440412331337093
https://www.painbc.ca/resources/links/effectsflotationrestmuscletensionpain
https://www.painbc.ca/resources/links/effectsflotationreststressrelatedmusclepain
https://www.painbc.ca/resources/links/effectsflotationreststressrelatedailments
https://www.painbc.ca/resources/links/whatmakesdifferenceflotationtherapy
Learn more about the upcoming Provincial Pain Summit as we chat to Pain BC's Executive Director, Maria Hudspith. Find out about the Summit goals, structure, and focus - as well as how you can be a part of the discussion and action planning to change how pain is understood and treated in BC. Go to painbc.ca/summit for more information.
Join Pain BC's 2nd annual #livingwithpain experiment to raise awareness about chronic pain during National Pain Awareness Week. Learn more about the experiment and how to participate in this episode of Pain Waves and go to painbc.ca/livingwithpain for more information.
In this inspiring episode of Pain Waves, we chat to Paul Henczel, BBA, author of Miracle in a Mill: Crushed Alive about how a horrific workplace injury changed his life and how he has learned to cope despite living with chronic pain. We also discuss four key strategies Paul has used to overcome challenges and live better.
Paul is the author of Miracle in a Mill, the Co-Creator of Story Academy (www.storyacademy.ca), and a motivational speaker from near Vancouver, BC. Paul miraculously survived certain death to achieve what most would say was impossible. Now he shares with others the strategies he has gained from fighting through the challenges of his situation, and reaching for better outcomes than expected. This episode will inspire and empower others with overcoming adversity, accomplishing the impossible, while also encouraging those recovering from physical trauma, brain injury, PTSD, and other serious injuries.
In this episode, we talk about a handout that Paul has created to cover four strategies to living better despite pain; find that handout here: www.painbc.ca/resources/links/crushing-your-cants-strategies-overcoming-adversity-and-achieving-impossible. Paul's book is available on Amazon, and it's the first book we've chosen for Pain BC's new Live Plan Be Book Club (www.painbc.ca/news/live-plan-be-virtual-book-club-launch). Paul will also be participating in this book club discussion. Learn more about his book at miracleinamill.com.
Pain BC’s free Connect for Health program advocates for people in pain and their families, connecting you with services and support that go beyond your doctor’s office. In this episode of Pain Waves Radio, we chat to Sarah Dobson, operational lead of Connect for Health, and Julianne Brown, a Connect for Health volunteer. Learn about the different services offered (e.g. help with income security, housing, and child care), hear some of our success stories, and find out how you can make use of the services offered.
Contact Connect for Health toll-free at 1-844-430-0818 or complete a self-referral form online. You can also check out our website for more details: http://painbc.ca/chronic-pain/connect-for-health.
Connect for Health is offered in partnership by Pain BC and the Basics for Health Society.
Have you been looking for a way to better manage your pain? Pain BC's free online self-management tool, Live Plan Be, offers you a concrete way to track and assess your pain and its impacts, set goals, learn more about pain science, and connect with others in a secure forum. Learn more about how it works in this episode of Pain Waves Radio, where we chat to our Director of Education and Engagement, Jen Hanson. Find out how Live Plan Be came about, more about its different features, and how you can best use it to help you manage your pain. If you want to check out the tool or sign up for your free account, go to www.liveplanbe.ca.
**Please note that we are no longer accepting call-ins to Pain Waves Radio.
Dr. Leslie Wicholas is a psychiatrist who developed complex regional pain syndrome following a sports-related injury in 2014. She underwent several conventional treatments with little improvement before embarking on her own research into the underlying pathophysiology of her pain disorder and novel treatment approaches. By implementing what she learned, she is now in full remission. Leslie is an advocate for early multidisciplinary treatment of pain disorders to achieve remission. Her approach includes a wide array of interventions to address the underlying causes of chronic illness and pro mote healing.
Personally, Dr. Wicholas is an avid cyclist and amateur athlete. She is interested in nutrition, cooking and integrative medicine. She is currently pursuing further training through the Institute of Functional Medicine in the United States. She values mindfulness-based meditation and taking time for oneself to promote health and healing.
RESOURCES recommended by Dr. Wicholas
https://youtu.be/b3tRwd7U5nw
https://youtu.be/s3LKhOZ8mAM
Book: CRPS Survival GuideReflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association
Chronic pain and PTSD frequently co-occur and they can interact in such a way that negatively impacts the course of treatment for either condition. However, integrated treatment programs are available that effectively address both conditions.
What is PTSD? PTSD is a mental health conditions that can develop in response to a traumatic event. Traumatic events are defined as experiences which involve death or the threat of death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Even witnessing a traumatic event happening to others, or learning that a close relative or close friend was exposed to trauma can result in PTSD.
It is important to know that experiencing emotional distress immediately after trauma is common and normal and happens to many people. Perhaps they cannot stop thinking about the trauma, experience tension and anxiety, and may be hesitant to approach trauma reminders in the first couple of weeks. For most individuals, these symptoms naturally decrease over time and then they go on with their lives. However, for some people, a traumatic event can cause severe and persistent emotional distress that will not recover naturally and result in PTSD.
For people who are experiencing chronic pain after a potentially traumatic event, it is not uncommon to develop symptoms of PTSD in this context as well. For example, scientific studies found high rates of concurrent PTSD and chronic pain among burn victims, motor vehicle accident survivors, veterans, and survivors of sexual and physical assault. And of course, people who suffer from chronic pain can develop PTSD following a traumatic event that is unrelated to their pain (and vice versa).
There are several ideas as to how chronic pain and PTSD develop and how they are related to each other. There is an agreement that prolonged avoidance is associated with the development and maintenance of symptoms for both conditions.
Becky Curtis founded Take Courage Coaching with a vision to share what she was learning - how to manage her pain so it wasn't the centre of her universe. In time, she gathered a group of professionals in counselling, coaching, and communications who are equally passionate about making life less about pain and more about living. Through the courage of those who know how to enjoy life in spite of their pain, others are finding their way back from the brink of despair. Her dream is to make pain management available to everyone who has chronic pain.
"Today, I still has the same pain, but it doesn't have me," says Becky. She lives in beautiful Montana, and shares life with her husband and family. "Every day is filled with sharing the secrets I have learned about pain management."
In this episode, Becky shares her message of hope. "I want listeners to know that they can borrow my hope and courage until they have their own. Life doesn’t have to be all about pain."
Learn more about Becky Curtis and her company Take Courage Coaching at takecouragecoaching.com.
In this episode of Pain Waves Radio, co-hosted with Dr. Michael Negraeff, we talk to Phillipe Lucas about medical cannabis in Canada and how it can be used to treat chronic pain. We discuss the research that shows how cannabis can work as a safer adjunct to or substitute for pharmaceutical opiates and cover some of the common myths and misconceptions around medical cannabis. We also discuss the societal benefits, possible risks, and specific strains being used to treat chronic pain.
About Our Guest: Philippe Lucas is Vice President of Patient Advocacy at Tilray, a PhD student in the University of Victoria’s Social Dimensions of Health program, and a Graduate Researcher with the Center for Addictions Research of British Columbia. Philippe served as a Victoria City Councillor and Capital Region Director from 2008-2011, and over the years he has received a number of accolades and awards for his research. His scientific research projects and publications include studies on the therapeutic use of cannabis, with a focus on its use in the treatment of trauma and addiction. His publications are available at: www.philippelucas.com.
Please note we're no longer accepting call-ins to Pain Waves Radio.
Children and adults with intellectual or developmental disability may not be able to always tell you that they are experiencing pain, but it’s our responsibility to understand there are many reasons that people with ID/DD are experiencing pain. In this episode of Pain Waves Radio by Pain BC, Dr. Beverley Temple discusses how we can improve the quality of life of those with ID/DD by addressing the issue of chronic pain.
Dr. Temple is an Associate Professor with the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Nursing and a Researcher with the St. Amant Research Centre. Her research focuses on support of people with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and Autism and their families.
This episode is generously co-sponsored by the Kootenay Community Council. The Kootenay Community Council, and other Community Councils around the province, work with Community Living BC (CLBC) to ensure accountability to communities, to inform CLBC of local trends and innovation, and to act in an advisory role at the local and regional levels. Community Living BC is the Crown Corporation that provides funding to support adults who are living with developmental disabilities in BC.
You can access the Non-Communicating Adult Pain Checklist mentioned in the episode on Pain BC's website. Find more resources to support you on the St,Amant website and the Surrey Place Centre website.
Please note we are no longer taking calls to Pain Waves Radio by Pain BC.
Severe chronic pain, financial hardships, and intense emotional suffering are just some of the consequences of workplace injuries. In this month's episode, co-hosted by Pain BC founding member Dr.Michael Negraeff, we discuss the serious impact of workplace injuries and the challenges faced by those trying to return to work while experiencing persistent pain and dealing with the Worksafe BC claims process. Our guest, Dr. Cecil Hershler, has been practicing medicine since 1985 and has a special focus on chronic pain and pain management. He recently co-authored a study titled Work injuries, chronic pain and the harmful effects of WorkSafeBC/WCB compensation denial.
Parents are key knowledge users of evidence about children’s pain, and more and more are turning to social media for information about child health. Join us as we chat to Dr. Christine Chambers about pediatric pain, the impact of social media on parents with children in pain, and the “It Doesn’t Have to Hurt” social media initiative.
It Doesn't Have to Hurt is a unique science-media partnership between health researchers (lead by Dr. Chambers) and an award-winning online publisher targeted primarily to Canadian mothers, Erica Ehm’s Yummy Mummy Club (YMC).
Dr. Chambers is a clinical psychologist and Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology & Neuroscience at Dalhousie University in Halifax and her research lab is based in the Centre for Pediatric Pain Research at the IWK Health Centre.
We'll discuss over the counter painkillers such as Tylenol (the generic name being Acetaminophen) and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (or NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen (the brand name being Advil), as well as various nutraceuticals (foods containing health-giving additives and medicinal benefits) with our guest Shabita Teja. We'll also look at the role your pharmacist can take in helping you manage chronic pain.
As there can be a combination of underlying issues that trigger chronic pain and inflammation, a thorough naturopathic evaluation can be an excellent option to help identify the main root causes and establish a successful treatment plan.
Dr. May Caprio and Linda Cundiff unlock some of the mysteries and myths around sleep. How can we get better sleep, even if we're living with chronic pain?
True or False?
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The more sleep I get, the healthier I'll be.
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Waking up at night means that I'll be tired the next day.
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Snoring is common and totally harmless.
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It's important to always keep track of how much I sleep.
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Pain increases the amount of time in Stage 1 light sleep.
Dr. May Caprio is a registrant of the College of Psychologists of British Columbia providing psychological services for the Pain Program at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria as a member of the interdisciplinary team. She has practiced in the area of pain management, neuropsychology and brain injury. She has been a consultant in private industry, providing psychological assessments, individual psychotherapy and marriage counselling, and has given presentations on sleep, memory enhancement, stress management, and optimal performance.
Linda Cundiff is an Occupational therapist and co-leader in the sleep and pain program working with the RJH Pain Program. She has been an occupational therapist since 1982. It is a privilege to work in a field that is practical, holistic and client focused. Linda has worked with Royal Jubilee Pain Program since its inception 8 years ago and has developed and integrated many programs that clients request, and sleep is definitely one of those. Linda is currently working on the PainBC pain champion program for occupational therapists in the province.
Elizabeth M. Christy lives in Northern Virginia with her husband James, son Jimmy (5), and daughter Lucy (newborn). She is the best-selling author of the children’s book "Why Does Mommy Hurt? Helping Children Cope with having a Caregiver with Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, or Autoimmune Disease," and blogs on parentswithpain.com and potomacfallsmama.blogspot.ca. Additionally, she works as a Systems Integrator for TASC. In addition to basic survival, Elizabeth enjoys writing, sewing (especially in straight lines!), and reading good memoirs.
“Why Does Mommy Hurt?” is a great resource to talk to children about chronic pain and illness. In this episode, we discuss the guilt and shame many parents suffering from chronic pain feel about their parenting. The fact is that parents with chronic pain or illness can be just as awesome as “normal” parents when it comes to raising kids, and if you love your kids, that’s all that matters. We may not be able to walk a mile to the playground, cook a 7-course organic meal from scratch, or volunteer on a field trip to the amusement park, but that’s not what really matters. If you love your kids, you will find your own way, and your kids will know it. Also, many parents in this situation feel very alone, especially when first diagnosed. There are millions of families out there in the same situation, you are not alone, and you have support out there waiting for you!
Is there a link between nutrition and pain?
Dr. Caroline Coombs, ND is a licenced naturopathic physician and health educator. She currently teaches weekly sessions on Nutrition for pain management at the ChangePain clinic in Vancouver. She also runs private practices in Vancouver and Port Moody and is the resident Naturopathic physician for the LULORA collective, an online health and wellness company.
Caroline’s interest in pain and nutrition began as a child when she saw her father recover from chronic pain using nutrition. She is passionate about sharing evidence-based nutritional advice to those in chronic pain that will help them decrease inflammation, heal more efficiently and prevent all types of chronic illness. http://www.changepain.ca/dr-caroline-coombs-nd/
In this episode, we chat to Gemma Isaac, an accredited (MTA) music therapist and certified in Neurologic Music Therapy. As the music therapist at the Burns, Plastic and Trauma Unit (BPTU) at VGH, Gemma facilitates music therapy programs for patients, their families, and healthcare staff alike. http://gemmamusictherapy.com/
How does music therapy work?
Music therapy is facilitated through a variety of interventions including patient song choices, music making, song writing, improvisation, and guided relaxation. Other times, the music therapist works alongside other healthcare disciplines such as nurses, physiotherapist, or occupational therapist, using music during physical rehabilitation to inspire movement and promote encouragement by accompanying movement through musical cues, which also helps peoople become distracted from the pain. Visit www.mtabc.com or www.musicheals.ca for more info.
Chronic foot pain can impair your mobility, affect your ability to exercise, and may indicate other medical issues. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Roy Mathews, a podiatrist practicing in Vancouver and New Westminster. With his extensive background in Kinesiology, as well as in amateur and professional sports, Dr. Mathews focuses a large portion of his Podiatric practice on relieving the persistent foot pain of his patients. Dr. Mathews shares his wealth of experience and expertise widely, lecturing regularly to businesses and running clubs across the city, as well as to the Vancouver Sun Run clinics. Tune in to this episode if you have any questions or comments on any of the following foot ailments:
- Chronic Lateral Foot Pain
- Club Foot
- Corns, Warts, or Bunions
- Damage to Tendons
- Diabetic Foot Pain
- Fallen Arches
- Flat Feet
- Foot Fracture
- Gout
- Hammertoe
-Heel Spurs
- Intoeing
- Ligament Sprains
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Stress Fractures
- Turf Toe
Do you paint, dance, sing, sculpt, do pottery, etc to help manage your pain? Join us as we explore the pain management benefits of the Arts for easing chronic pain. Our guest is Nicki Kahnamoui, Executive Director of Arts Health Network. Nicki is a certified project manager, with over 15 years of experience managing health care and health research projects, ranging from new program and system implementations in hospitals to most recently, curating and organizing an arts and science exhibit in a genetics lab. She feels very strongly about the power of arts, in all its forms, and is passionate about empowering individuals to tap into their creativity to enhance their health and quality of life. She is fascinated by how the design and interrelationships of space, technology, and work practices impact our lived experiences and well being. Nicki is also a mixed media artist.
This episode is generously sponsored by the personal injury lawyers at Watson Goepel.
Pain BC recently received a $1 million grant from the Ministry of Health to continue our work in reducing the burden of pain in BC. We are embarking on the next phase of our Strategic Plan and need your input and ideas:
What are the gaps in the BC Health Care system as they relate to chronic pain?Where are the areas of greatest need?How can you get involved in changing pain in BC?
Our guest is Maria Hudspith, Executive Director of Pain BC, who will explain the background to Pain BC's work, what we've accomplished since 2008, and our tentative plans going forward.
This episode is generously sponsored by the personal injury lawyers at Watson Goepel.
Dr. Alison Bested is a Haematological Pathologist. Her training covered a wide variety of areas including Immunology, Immunohaematology, Genetics, Anatomic Pathology, Internal Medicine, Clinical and Laboratory Haematology. Dr. Bested has been privileged to treat patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities for the past 20 years. An internationally acclaimed expert on complex chronic diseases, she joined BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre as the inaugural medical director of the Complex Chronic Diseases Program in October of last year.
This episode of Pain Waves Radio is generously sponsored by the personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Watson Goepel.
Neil Pearson PT, physiotherapist, yoga teacher, and internationally renowned pain expert joins us to discuss the latest developments and research into yoga as a tool to better manage chronic pain. We discuss how pain changes the body, mind and spirit, and how a yoga practice can address each of these areas.
This episode of Pain Waves Radio is generously sponsored by the personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Watson Goepel.
A growing body of research suggests that massage or manual therapy can be an important part of effective pain management. This research data, and the experience of physicians, massage therapists and patients, is encouraging people in pain to consider incorporating massage therapy into their pain management programs. To help us better understand this research and the growing role of manual therapy in in the management of pain, we chat to registered massage therapist, Michael Reoch. Michael Reoch is an active Registered Massage Therapist in BC, and owner of Well+Able Integrative Health. Michael sits on the Massage Therapists' Association of BC (MTABC) board, and is Chair of the MTABC Communications Committee. As a Board Director and Committee Chair, Michael promotes the ideals and the brand of the Association, and disseminates information through communications to current and prospective members, the media, the health care industry and the general public. Michael is also the Chair of the MTABC-sponsored Professional Practice Group for Pain Management: a group of RMTs who have a special interest in studying pain as pathology, and using that knowledge to best treat patients whose primary complaint is pain.
This episode of Pain Waves Radio is generously sponsored by the personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Watson Goepel.
In this episode of Pain Waves, we discuss the latest research, as well as pain management tools and techniques in the treatment of Arthritis (including Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis). Dr. Shuckett is a Rheumatologist and a Clinical Associate Professor of UBC Department of Medicine. She has practiced in Vancouver for the past nearly 25 years. She sees an array of Rheumatologic conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. She has lectured to other physicians on the topic of arthritis and has some published articles on this topic. She is very involved in teaching through the medical school at UBC.
In this episode we speak to three experienced and seasoned people living with various types of ongoing pain. We discuss how to best handle the variety of stresses of the holidays as a person living with pain.
Medical cannabis is a topic often accompanied by a great deal of controversy, misinformation and misconceptions. To help us better understand the regulatory, policy and legal landscape, we chat to Philippe Lucas.
Phillipe has a Masters degree in Studies in Policy and Practice from the University of Victoria and is a PhD student in the University of Victoria’s Social Dimensions of Health program. He is also a Research Affiliate with the Center for Addictions Research of British Columbia and a founding Board member of the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies Canada and the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition.
Migraines are a complex chronic neurological condition affecting approximately 15% of the global population at some point in life. To help us better understand this serious health concern and take a look at the latest research and treatment options, we speak to Dr. Gordon Robinson. Dr Robinson is a clinical professor in the Division of Neurology at UBC, and won the Clinical Skills Award in 2007. Dr Robinson is also the Director of Undergraduate Education, Division of Neurology, as well as the Medical Director, Rehabilitation, Arthritis, Spine and Neurosciences, Vancouver Acute.
Mental health and chronic pain are fundamentally connected. People living with mental illness are at higher risk of experiencing a wide range of chronic physical conditions. Conversely, people living with chronic pain experience depression and anxiety at twice the rate of the general population. The interplay of these mental and physical conditions can greatly diminish quality of life, prolong illness and worsen health outcomes.
To help us better understand the relationship between mental health and chronic pain, we speak to Dr Wesley Buch. Dr Buch a registered psychologist who practices in the area of health and rehabilitation psychology.
People with cancer may deal with persistent, often severe, pain. Although doctors agree that controlling cancer pain is a high priority, pain isn't always well understood or effectively treated. To help us better understand cancer pain how best to manage it, we chat to Dr. Pippa Hawley. Dr Hawley is an internist and a Palliative Medicine Specialist at the BC Cancer Agency.
Low back pain is among the most common chronic pain conditions in Canada. Four out of five adults will experience at least one episode of back pain at some time in their lives. The cause of back pain, however, is not always apparent; in fact, in approximately 85% to 90% of individuals with back pain, no specific cause can be identified. To help us better understand this common condition and learn how to manage low back pain, we speak with Dr Owen Williamson.
Dr Williamson is an orthopaedic spine surgeon and specialist pain medicine physician. He is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. In 2007, Dr Williamson became the first orthopaedic surgeon in Australia to become a Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in 2007. He is on the Education and Training Committee and an examiner for the Faculty of Pain Medicine and is involved in the development of pain education programs in both Australia and Canada.
In this episode of Pain Waves, we discuss the diagnosis, pain management, and latest developments relating to fibromylagia. Our guest is Dr. Rhonda Shuckett. Dr. Shuckett is a Rheumatologist and a Clinical Associate Professor of UBC Department of Medicine. She has practiced in Vancouver for the past nearly 25 years. She sees an array of Rheumatologic conditions including fibromyalgia. She has lectured to other physicians on the topic of fibromyalgia and has some published articles on this topic. She is very involved in teaching through the medical school at UBC.
In this episode of Pain Waves, we discuss the management of pediatric chronic pain. To help us better understand this issue, we're joined by pediatric pain specialist, Dr Gillian Lauder.
Dr Lauder is a Pediatric Anaesthesiologist with over 20 years of clinical experience. She has an extensive expertise in the assessment and management of acute and chronic pain in children. She currently works in Vancouver at BC Childrens’ Hospital. Her subspecialty interest in pediatric anesthesia and pain management is regional or interventional pain techniques. Dr Lauder is also a former Board Member of Pain BC.
Have any of the following questions crossed your mind regarding pain medications?
- Are my medications not working if they don't take away the pain completely?
- What's the point bringing up my concerns about pain medications with pharmacists if they can't make changes to my medications?
- I'm dependent on my pain medications to function. Does that make me an addict?
If these or any other questions are of interest to YOU, then this episode of Pain Waves is for you. Pharmacists Dr Thuy Nguyen and Dr Marylene Kyriazis answer these questions and more about pain medications.
Did you know that research is currently being done into ways in which new technologies - ranging from virtual reality and robotics to social media - may be used as a technological form of analgesia and pain management. In this episode of Pain Waves, we talk to Diane Gromala about these new technologies.
Diane is a Canada Research Chair and a Professor in the Simon Fraser University School of Interactive Arts and Technology. Her research works at the intersection of computer science, media art and design, and has focused on "the cultural, visceral, and embodied implications of digital technologies, particularly in the realm of chronic pain". Dr. Gromala's work is currently in use in over 20 hospitals and clinics.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - CRPS (formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy - RSD) is a form of severe chronic pain usually affecting the arm or leg, typically developing after an injury, surgery, stroke or heart attack. Our guest on this episode of the Pain Waves podcast is Dr. Brenda Lau, a Vancouver, BC-based anesthesiologist, focusing on post-surgical pain syndromes, neuropathic and axial spine pain.
Dr Lau briefly outline the symptoms, possible causes, and treatment options for CRPS and talks to listeners about their questions.
Do you live with chronic pain? Have you had experience as a chronic pain patient in the British Columbia health care system? SHARE YOUR PATIENT EXPERIENCE WITH US!
Educating health care practitioners is a big piece of Pain BC’s work. We hold annual educational conferences and are working with the British Columbia Medical Association on better educating family physicians and specialists on the latest pain management treatment, techniques, and care.
To improve the patient experience of people living with pain, we want to hear from you! In this episode, Maria Hudspith, Executive Director of Pain BC, speaks about our current and upcoming educational initiatives and what we’re trying to achieve. Then we're joined by people living with pain who have a story to share about their experience with health care practitioners, answering some of these questions: In what ways has your health care team been effective, helpful, caring and compassionate? In what ways could they improve your patient experience ? If you were designing pain management education, where would YOU focus your efforts?
Who better to inform Pain BC's efforts than people with first hand experience of dealing with practitioners? Thank you for helping us improve pain management education in BC!
In the third episode of the Pain Waves podcast, we're joined by Dr. Christina Williams (OBGYN), Co-Medical Director at the BC Centre for Reproductive Health. We discuss women's pelvic pain and endometriosis.
In this episode of Pain Waves, Neil Pearson PT, physiotherapist, yoga teacher, and internationally renowned pain expert joins us to discuss how to keep moving through chronic pain. Neil discusses the barriers to increasing your activity and how to overcome them, explores some practical exercises that you can try at home, and presents tools like breathing, relaxation, body awareness, and quieting the mind
In this, our pilot episode, our guest is Dr. Michael Negraeff, anesthesiologist, pain specialist at Vancouver General Hospital, and former Chair of the Board of Pain BC.
In this first episode of the podcast, Dr Negraeff briefly introduces Pain BC, describes its mission, outlines its accomplishments to date, and sest out Pain BC's goals for the coming year. Dr Negraeff then takes listener calls related to chronic pain.