Pain Waves

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

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.comKira 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-painhttps://www.liveplanbe.ca/pain-education/support-rela

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/10.1080/08870440412331337093https://www.painbc.ca/resources/links/effectsflotationrestmuscletensionpainhttps://www.painbc.ca/resources/links/effectsflotationreststressrelatedmusclepainhttps://www.painbc.ca/resources/links/effectsflotationreststressrelatedailmentshttps://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 liv

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. Wicholashttps://youtu.be/b3tRwd7U5nwhttps:/

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, f