Airing Pain

This edition of Airing Pain focuses on the treatment of pain, the importance of catering treatment to a person’s individual genetic makeup, and why addressing the psychological dimensions of pain is crucial in treating it effectively.  The process of finding a medication or treatment that works for a person often involves a lot of trial and error, which can be a frustrating process for someone to go through. This process can be side-stepped through the use of personalised medicine, where information about a person’s genetic makeup is used to tailor and optimise their treatment so it is as effective as possible. Although medication is oftentimes a vital part of treating pain, incorporating psychological treatment alongside medication can be hugely beneficial when it comes to making pain management better for those living with acute or chronic pain. Changing how someone thinks about pain can enhance their response to the physical components of the treatment they receive. Our contributors for this edition

Coming 10 April: This edition of Airing Pain focuses on the treatment of pain, the importance of catering treatment to a person’s individual genetic makeup, and why addressing the psychological dimensions of pain is crucial in treating it effectively.   Our contributors for this edition discuss the ways in which the treatment of pain can be made more effective for people by incorporating personalised medicine or psychological treatments into a person’s care plan.  This edition will be funded by the Guy Fawkes Charitable Trust and was created with support from the British Pain Society. Contributors:  Professor Tony Dickenson, Professor of Neuropharmacology at University College London  Dr. Beth Darnall, PhD, Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Director, Stanford Pain Relief Innovations Lab. Professor Irene Tracey, Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford and a Professor of Anaesthetic Neuroscience in the Nuffield Department of Clinica

Pain Concern would like to remind listeners that the topic of chronic pain can be uncomfortable for those with lived experience of chronic pain. Please read the description for information about this edition's content.  In a 2020 US study, it was found that ‘Implicit bias remains a contributor to healthcare disparities.’ This can be based on gender, ethnicity, disability or locality, and has the potential to affect somebody no matter their background.    In Airing Pain 142, we begin with specific references to disparities in Musculoskeletal (MSK) treatment, and how we can learn from other healthcare fields to increase patient satisfaction; we then focus on how both internal and external stigma can lead to discrimination in treatment; before ending with a discussion about why ethnic minorities are being inadvertently discriminated against in the pain management setting.   If you enjoyed this episode of Airing Pain, why not subscribe?  You can also leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey Read Transcri

This edition of Airing Pain sheds light on the unique challenges of living with cancer as a child or young adult, and the later impacts of the cancer treatment they underwent during the critical formative years. Airing Pain speaks to experts on the longitudinal impacts of cancer for these age groups; across medical, physical, and psychosocial.   Pain and fatigue are commonly reported as the most significant negative impact on quality of life when living with cancer. Until quite recently there has been little research in the area of living with cancer and experiencing medical treatments for cancer as a child or young adult during the critical formative years, and even less so on the long-term impacts these treatments can have throughout later adulthood.   Our contributors discuss a variety of determinants that impact long-term effects such as type of treatment, type of cancer, their personal resilience, and their family and social support networks. We also hear of the opportunities in improving cancer care

This edition of Airing Pain is on the topic of early childhood experiences.   (Content warning: includes abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction)  The World Health Organisation states that ‘adverse childhood experiences (ACE) can have lifelong consequences on a person’s health, and well-being, and can lead to a person developing persistent pain in later life’. A lot of this research is conducted in adults, and of course with changes in attitudes and beliefs surrounding raising children over the years, would they consider events in their childhood to be adverse?  Listen to learn more about this complex discussion. Find out how this kind of trauma in formative years impacts neurobiologically on the stress response, and causes changes on a structural and functional level in the brain that can predispose young people not only to pain but depression, cardiovascular disease, behaviours with increased health risks, and can have impact on mortality.   Contributors:  Dr Katie Birnie, Clinical Psychologist at the

This edition of Airing Pain was recorded at the Living Well with Persistent Pain in Wales conference during Pain Awareness Month in September 2023. The topic of the conference was the launch of the revised Persistent Pain guidance first published in 2019.  The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we live and access services. How are healthcare professionals who treat patients with persistent pain capitalising on this improved digital literacy by using a digital-first approach to improve the patient experience at their clinics? With the aim of this year's conference being to see the person and not the symptoms, how can the patient's voice be heard and kept central to ensure this is done? And finally, how can the Third Sector and the NHS work more cohesively to work towards this goal? Listen or read the transcript to find out more.  Contributors  Bethany Davies Health care support worker, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Gethin Harries, Physiotherapist, Powys Health Board (Powys Living Well Service).  Elun

Is self-compassion a trait or a state of being? This edition is inspired by findings that suggest stronger self-compassion is associated with reduced impact of chronic pain. Self-compassion, in this sense, is the ability to respond to pain and difficulties with kindness and openness rather than criticism. In this episode we ask our artistic contributors, and ourselves, how to step towards achieving self-compassion and the importance of movement in looking after our bodies.  This edition of Airing Pain was made possible by the invaluable contributions of our participating artists who showcased their works at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and those in the academic field. We learn the motives behind using dance as a way of supporting those in pain, but also expressing and communicating pain to audiences. Contributors: Dr Sarah Hopfinger, Artist and Researcher (Edinburgh Fringe: “Pain and I”) Victoria Abbott-Fleming MBE, Founder of the Burning Nights CRPS Dr Emma Meehan, Associate Professor, Centre for Dance

This edition of Airing Pain was prompted by the 2022 NICE Guidelines which followed a Public Health England report (2019) looking at medicines associated with dependence and withdrawal. Read transcript This new legislation follows increased concerns in high levels of prescribing. This edition discusses the challenges and opportunities of de-prescribing; and poses a shift in focus towards supported self-management and de-medicalising the management of pain for some patients. By this we mean the exploration of alternative therapies and supported self-care customised to individual needs, which come hand-in-hand with any de-prescribing of medicines. We discuss the incredibly important role of the advanced pharmacist practitioner in adjusting the prescriptions of medicine, and the long-term regular use of pharmacists for these purposes. Contributors: Dr Emma Davies, Advanced Pharmacist Practitioner specialising in Pain Management Dr Keith Mitchell, Consultant in Pain Medicine at the Royal Cornwall Hospital D

What’s around the corner? This edition of Airing Pain platforms four internationally recognised clinicians from the British Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting    Recently healthcare technology and innovation has seen a rapid acceleration, particularly following disruption caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. In this edition we look around the corner and examine the most current technological advances for pain therapy, especially those that can be used with or even in replacement of conventional medical treatments.  The Airing Pain team attended the British Pain Society ASM in 2022, to listen and interview top thought-leaders on pain technology advancements and the projects they are working on. Hear them introduce their specialist areas of: new scientific evidence for fibromyalgia; neuropathic pain in the form of phantom limb and post-surgery back pain; and cutting-edge developments in neuromodulation techniques, specifically non-invasive Virtual Reality and Gaming for treating neurological distortions.   C

This edition of Airing Pain examines how Covid-19 has impacted on the relationship between patient and healthcare professional. In the two or so years of living with Covid-19, the face-to-face relationship between doctors and patients was one of the first casualties. With restrictions relaxed, have we returned to the status quo, or has what was developed at breakneck speed led to new working practices?  In 2019, just months before Covid-19 became part of our lives, a workshop, ‘Experts by Experience – Working Together in Pain Management Programmes’ explored an innovative approach to pain management in which patients became integral members within the clinical pain team. Has this relationship survived social isolation and lockdowns?  Contributors include Consultant in Pain Medicine with the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Cathy Price and Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Nick Ambler of the North Bristol NHS Trust, and people living with chronic pain. Read transcript Issues co

What is mental defeat and does it have an impact on the experiences of those living with pain?     In this edition of Airing Pain, Paul Evans interviews the team at the Warwick Study of Mental Defeat in Chronic Pain (WITHIN Project) and research participants, as well as taking part in the study as a participant himself.  The study, which runs until May 2023, is investigating how mental defeat can influence pain sensation, sleep patterns, social activity, physical activity and the general health of individuals who have chronic pain. Mental defeat is defined as the perceived loss of autonomy in the face of uncontrollable, traumatic events. In the context of chronic pain this can be explained as a loss of identity and self in relation to repeated episodes of pain. Paul talks to the team about their experimental, lab-based study and the sleep-tracking survey, then undergoes the lab experiment himself. He discusses how he found it, the possible outcomes of the research and also interviews other participants

How the symptoms of long COVID are being managed using group consultations and the many things long COVID has in common with other long-term conditions. Now that COVID has become a part of our day-to-day lives, so too has long COVID. So, with so much money now being directed towards researching treatments for long COVID, how might this impact the way we treat all manner of chronic conditions? In this episode of Airing Pain, Paul Evans interviews the team at the Berkshire Pain Clinic, who run a specific long COVID service, on treating people with the condition. Notably, there are many similarities between the symptoms of long COVID and the symptoms of other long-term conditions, such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. Issues like managing pain, fatigue, sleep and pacing are not only common in those with long COVID, but those with chronic illness in general. This raises the possibility that the money being spent now on long COVID may have a far wider reaching benefit in the long term. The team at

How do you identify illness in young children and coping as a family. This Airing Pain was recorded at the Scottish Network for Arthritis in Children SNAC’s 2022 Family Weekend at Crieff Hydro, which brings together families recently affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis and some of the country’s leading paediatric rheumatology experts.  Issues covered in this programme include: juvenile idiopathic arthritis, autoimmune disease, coping as a family, rheumatology, paediatrics, support networks, identifying illness in young children, movement and exercise Time Stamps: minutes: seconds 00:00 - introduction to SNAC's family weekend by Sharon Douglas 04:03 - introduction to juvenile idiopathic arthritis by Julie Duncan 07:13 - how does juvenile idiopathic arthritis present? 09:00 - what is SNAC and personal stories from a parent. 12:56 - parent of a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis shares how they first spotted it. 14:42 - Vanessa Raimondo discusses medication options for juvenil

What causes different types of face pain and what treatment is available? In this episode of Airing Pain we cover facial pain in its many forms, what treatments are available and how to cope better with your pain. Funded by The Hospital Saturday Fund. In collaboration with UCLH Royal National ENT & Eastman Dental Hospitals. The way our face feels and how we move it is a massive part of our identity. Feeling pain in the face, or not being able to use your face the way you want to, is not only a physical burden on the person suffering, but a heavy psychological load to cope with as well. Issues covered in this programme include: facial pain, unnecessary dental treatments, tooth ache, face and identity, management techniques, trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathic pain, carbamazepine, neurosurgery, pain management programmes, psychology and pain, temporomandibular disorder, burning mouth syndrome, persistent idiopathic facial pain, central sensitisation syndrome, physiotherapy, acceptance & commi

Scotland’s Pain Management Programmes (PMPs) and what support is available after graduating. This edition of Airing Pain has been funded by a grant from the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland Self Management Fund  administered on behalf of the Scottish Government. What do you know about Pain Management Programmes (PMPs)? Do you know how they function? About the positive outcomes they have? Do you know if there are any PMPs near you? In this episode of Airing Pain we learn about PMPs and the communities and support networks that are being formed as a result. In collaboration with Health Unlocked and Alliance Health and Social Care Scotland, Pain Concern have created a small number of online forums designed for people who have graduated a PMP to stay connected and continue to support one another once the programme has ended. These forums are open only to PMP graduates. Not only can graduates communicate with one another on our Health Unlocked forums, they can also communicate with the healthc

Determining what Shingles really is and why vaccine uptake is so low? This edition of Airing Pain has been funded by a grant from The RS Macdonald Charitable Trust and The Stafford Trust What exactly is Shingles? We often hear it thrown into conversation alongside a virus many of us have already had: Chickenpox. So how are the two linked? Why is one more associated with young people and the other with older people? The answer is they are both infections caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The vast majority of us had the Chickenpox virus when we were children, with many parents even intentionally exposing their children to the virus. Shingles, on the other hand, occurs after someone has already had Chickenpox when the virus (which remains in the body) is reactivated. One of the main worries people have about having Shingles is the potential to develop Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN). This is defined as persistent pain 3 months after the initial rash developed. Unfortunately PHN is a chronic condit

Looking into one of the most globally prevalent types of pain, back pain, and exploring different cultural attitudes towards pain. This edition of Airing Pain was created in association with the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and has been funded by the Plum Trust. Back pain is one of the most common types of pain that people report. It can arise due to any number of causative factors and can occur in any part of the back. Lower back pain and Sciatica are particularly common and affect approximately 577 million people globally. In this episode of Airing Pain we have collaborated with the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) who are dedicating their global year 2021 to back pain. 2021 Global Year About Back Pain - IASP (iasp-pain.org) We also dedicate a portion of the episode to useful pain management advice that will benefit anybody living with pain, including those with back pain. Time Stamps 2:00 – Pain Patient Advocate Mary Wing from GAPPA speaks: what is G

This edition of Airing Pain has been funded by educational grants from The R. S. Macdonald Charitable Trust and The Stafford Trust. Do you, someone you care for or perhaps your patients, suffer from persistent burning or gnawing pain? Many don’t know that often, neuropathic pain presents as a burning sensation. Persistent pain can impact all areas of our lives. It can stop us from sleeping, working and pursuing the hobbies we enjoy. Unfortunately, sometimes the healthcare professionals we see about our pain are unaware of the multitude of pain management techniques we can adopt to try and minimise the impact pain has on our lives. Different types of pain are widely misunderstood and many of us don't know much about the conditions that can cause them. What do you think of when you think of Parkinson's Disease? Many would say a tremor or shaking limbs, but persistent pain can be one of the most debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. The fastest growing neurological condition in the world is poorly u

This edition has been funded by the Women’s Fund for Scotland. The Coronavirus pandemic has been long and isolating for everyone, but particularly for those who experience abuse. The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have seen an increase in the level and severity of domestic abuse.  In this episode of Airing Pain, our host Paul Evans discusses the isolating effects of Covid-19, trauma and how this can contribute to the development of debilitating chronic illnesses such as Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  An article by author and domestic abuse survivor Kath Twigg will accompany this extended episode of Airing Pain. You can read all the related articles from related to this programme in this issue of Pain Press, our free online supplement. Contributors:  Kath Twigg, Senior Lecturer in social work, trainer, mentor, writer, and domestic abuse survivor Dr Lene Forrester, Clinical Psychologist at Albyn Hospital, Aberdeen Dr Joht Singh Chandan, Academic Clinical Lecturer at the Murray Lear

This edition has been supported with a grant from Kyowa Kirin donated for this purpose. While opioids are seen as an effective treatment method for acute pain, there is an increasing debate on the efficacy of opioids when treating chronic pain conditions. One of the most common side effects of long-term opioid usage is constipation. Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome are more common in people who are living with chronic pain conditions, so better understanding of the connection between opioids and constipation is key for medical professionals currently working with chronic pain patients. Following on from Airing Pain 123, this edition sees Paul Evans speaks to Dr Maria Eugenicos, who is a gastroenterologist at the University of Edinburgh. Dr Eugenicos starts by outlining the different conditions that are treated at her gastro-intestinal clinic and how these conditions can present. Dr Eugenicos then discusses the prevalence of opioid-induced constipation in clinical patients and how shifting treat