Pain BC. Changing Pain. Changing Minds.
January 2018 Update
From Our Executive Director, Maria Hudspith 
 
2017 was a big year for Pain BC. We accomplished a lot! Some of the highlights include: 
  • Building the foundation for a provincial pain action plan through the Provincial Pain Summit and the subsequent launch of 11 Beyond the Summit Working Groups, with more than 120 participants representing patients, health care providers and organizational partners
  • Expanding our supports for people in pain, including the development of our new Coaching for Health program
  • Improving pain assessment and treatment by providing training to more than 1000 health care providers
  • Enhancing local community-based programs for people in pain, including the expansion of our MOVEment program to new rural and remote communities
  • Taking action to address the impacts of opioid prescribing policies on care for people in pain
All of this work has been dependent on a collective impact approach, the cornerstone of Pain BC's work. What does collective impact mean? It's a framework for tackling entrenched and complex social problems, and brings together non-profit organizations, government, businesses and citizens to make significant and lasting change. It goes beyond working in partnership by identifying a shared agenda, measuring the same things to ensure that a difference is being made, working on activities that reinforce and amplify each other, and keeping the lines of communication constantly open.
 
What are we trying to accomplish through collective impact? At the highest level, we want to transform the way in which pain is understood and treated. This isn't just about creating health care services for people in pain. It's also about tackling the broader personal, community and societal impacts of pain. 
 
Looking towards the new year, what does 2018 hold for Pain BC? 
  • Our new volunteer coaches will provide self-management support to people living with pain from across BC. Physicians can refer patients by faxing the referral form to 1-(888)-329-5702
  • Our Connect for Health program will expand its reach and provide resource connection services to more clients in innovative ways
  • Our educational programs will reach several hundred clinicians
  • New pain education programs will be integrated into the work of harm reduction teams working on the overdose crisis
  • Local community partnerships will continue to be developed, resulting in the spread of successful programs and the creation of new ones
Our collective impact efforts will no doubt uncover new opportunities and unmet needs. With your support, and the commitment of our many partners, we plan to tackle them both.
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Live Plan Be  Connect for Health
 
Pain Waves Podcast: Insurance Denial and Chronic Pain 
We talk about insurance policies and disability benefits with lawyer Martin Willemse
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Martin Willemse is a disability lawyer with extensive experience representing individuals who have had their long-term disability claims denied, including many people in pain.
 
In this podcast, he shares in-depth knowledge of insurance policies, and provides important insights on how to improve your chances of making a successful claim.
 
 
Coaching for Health Program: Now Recruiting 
Gain self management skills through one-to-one coaching
 
Are you 18+ years of age and have been living with persistent pain for at least six months? Would you like to learn more about self-management skills, how to regain function and improve your well-being? Let 2018 be the year for positive pain management changes. 
 
We are now recruiting participants for our FREE Coaching for Health program.
 
If you think you would be a good fit for this program, ask your doctor to refer you. 
 
Physicians can fill out the referral form and e-mail it to coachingforhealth@painbc.ca or fax it to 1-(888)-329-5702.
 
 
 
Chronic Pain Management for Registered Massage Therapists 
RMT workshop coming to Victoria and the Lower Mainland
 
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In partnership with RMTBC, this workshop for registered massage therapists provides an opportunity to learn how modifications of traditional massage therapy practices can increase success and improve outcomes for people in pain.
 
The workshop aims to improve your confidence and decrease your stress when working with the challenges of persistent pain.  We will thoroughly discuss the science of pain and ways to incorporate effective therapeutic pain management approaches into daily practice. The course will challenge misconceptions about pain as we learn the basics of incorporating a biopsychosocial framework into daily practice behaviour.
 
Jan 20, 2018 - Victoria Register now
Mar 11, 2018 - Lower Mainland Register now 
 
New to Yoga? Here's How You Can Start 
Find out more about using yoga to help manage pain on Live Plan Be
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You may have heard of the numerous health benefits associated with yoga, and perhaps you’re open to trying a class but not sure where to start. 
 
Written by Tori Etheridge, Lead Research Physiotherapist at Healthtech Connex, this new article provides helpful tips for individuals considering using yoga as a tool to manage chronic pain.
 
 
CDC Update on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis  
 
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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), is now being better recognized by the CDC as an important public health concern and illness that affects more than 560,000 Canadians.
 
 
Unrest Screening on PBS 
View this Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) documentary free on PBS or online
 
Article ImageIn this award-winning documentary, a Harvard PhD student named Jennifer Brea shares her life-altering experience with developing Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
 
 
UPCOMING WEBINARS: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WWDPI
 
 
Jan 12, 2018 - 11:00 am PT
An overview of the research on the powerful effect of couples' relationship dynamics on pain; evidence-based strategies for couples to manage pain and distress together.
 
 
Jan 25, 2018 - 11:00 am PT
The meaningfulness of work for people living with long-term work disability and chronic pain, and the role meaning plays in return to work effort.
 
Jan 29, 2018 - 4:00 pm PT 
Theory and evidence underlying Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for chronic pain, as well as the core skills needed in applying this therapeutic approach.
 
Feb 15, 2017 - 8:30 am PT
More details and registration coming soon.
Feb 27, 2018 - 11:00 am PT
Treatment of chronic pain requires “multimodal analgesia”, a management plan that often requires pharmacological as well as non-drug therapies, and very importantly large measures of clinician guided patient self-management.
 
March 8, 2018 - 11:00 am PT
Assisting workers in achieving a safe and sustainable return to work after illness or injury has always ​been an appropriate goal of treatment. However, North American workplaces are increasingly challenged with how to address prescription and over-the-counter medication use by employees.
 
Apr 11, 2018 - 9:00 am PT
Chronic migraines cause significant disability for many people so it is important that it be appropriately diagnosed and treated.
 
Pain BC is a program partner for the Chronic Pain Webinar Series hosted by the Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute. 
UPCOMING PAIN BC AND PARTNER EVENTS 
 
 
 
CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT FOR REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPISTS
Jan 20, 2018 - Victoria Register now
Mar 11, 2018 - Lower Mainland Register now 
This workshop for registered massage therapists provides an opportunity to learn how modifications of traditional massage therapy practices can increase success and improve outcomes for people in pain. 
 
 
PAIN BC WEBINAR | PHARMACOGENOMICS FOR CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT
Jan 31 2018 - 12 pm PT
This webinar will give health care providers a basic overview on pharmacogenomic testing and how it can be used as a tool to support medication decision making for chronic pain management.
 
BEST PRACTICE PAIN MANAGEMENT FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS - VANCOUVER
Feb 23 2018 - 9 am PT to Feb 24 2018 - 5 pm PT
Pain BC is holding an advanced clinical workshop for Occupational Therapists interested in developing or enhancing sound clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of clients living with complex and chronic pain.
 
CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP FOR CHIROPRACTORS
This workshop is intended for chiropractors or students of chiropractic interested in developing or enhancing sound clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of people living with complex and chronic pain.
Apr 7, 2018 - Victoria Register now
Sept 29, 2018 - Vancouver Register now
 
 
 
Pain BC programs and initiatives are funded, in whole or in part, by the Government of British Columbia.
 
In the News
In the News 
 
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC has recently closed consulations about revising its rules for how opioids are prescribed and will report on any proposed revisions in early 2018.
 
This clinical commentary discusses the many biopsychosocial factors associated with chronic whiplash-associated disorder.
 
Cynthia White: The silent victims of the opioid crisis
A freelance writer discusses her experience with resistance from physicians in obtaining opioid medications in BC, despite having lived with long-term chronic pain from a previously fractured vertebra.
 
How a gene mutation could help to treat chronic pain
A rare gene mutation recently discovered by scientists contains expressions of low pain sensitivity, and has the potential to create a new pathway in treating chronic pain.
 
Good Feelings in the Midst of Chronic Pain
A researcher shares her findings on eight tools that may be linked to improved psychological well-being and reduced pain.
 
 
 

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