Pain Waves

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...

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 mon...

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 a...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 Pro...

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...

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 specialize...

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 u...

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 pla...

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 pharmaceutic...

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 exper...

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...

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 c...

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 bac...

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...

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.