Pain Waves

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 Cour

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

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

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?1.  The more sleep I get, the healthier I'll be.2.  Waking up at night means that I'll be tired the next day.3.  Snoring is common and totally harmless.              4.  It's important to always keep track of how much I sleep.5.  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 Occu

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 s

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 Profes

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.