July 2023 Pain BC Newsletter | | Staying comfortable in extreme heat | |
Winter is known to be a challenging time for many people who live with pain, but extreme heat in the summer can also aggravate symptoms for those who already live with chronic illnesses.
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has information on preparing for heat events and identifying different types of heat alerts and signs of heat-related illness. You can check out the resource here.
If you are displaced by wildfire or another state of emergency, pharmacists can provide you with your medications, including opioid pain medications, without a new prescription from your doctor. For more information visit the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia.
If you are sensitive to heat, here are some ways to stay cool:
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Tune in to local weather forecasts and alerts so you can be prepared.
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Stay hydrated and drink water even if you don’t feel thirsty. Carry a water bottle with you when outdoors.
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Find an air-conditioned or shady spot close to you where you can cool off on hot days, such as a library or community centre.
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Wear light, breathable clothing and wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen when outside.
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Place a cold washcloth around your neck or run cold water over your wrists to quickly cool yourself down.
For non-emergency health advice, you can call 811 any time of the day or week to speak to a health service navigator, who can help you find health information and services or connect you directly with a registered nurse, a pharmacist, a registered dietitian, or a qualified exercise professional.
| | Pain BC programs, resources and updates | |
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Apply to volunteer with us
Applications open for Pain Support and Wellness Groups facilitators and Coaching for Health volunteers
Pain BC is looking for volunteer facilitators to co-lead/facilitate our Pain Support and Wellness Groups. We are particularly looking for volunteers who can facilitate groups in Punjabi, Cantonese, Mandarin or Arabic. Pain Support and Wellness Groups offer an opportunity for people living with persistent pain to meet on a regular basis to learn about self-management and to share knowledge, experiences and coping strategies.
We are also looking for volunteer coaches for our Coaching for Health program, a free telephone coaching program designed to help people living with pain learn self-management skills, regain function and improve their well-being. People with lived experience of pain are encouraged to apply, as are those with similar work experience who would like to support those living with pain through an anti-oppressive and strength-based health coaching program.
Applications for these volunteer positions will be accepted until August 11, 2023.
| | Our supports for people with pain | |
Highlight: Effective Prescribing of Opioids for Chronic Pain (EPOCH)
Health care providers can register by September 5, 2023
In September 2023, Pain Canada will deliver the next cohort of Effective Prescribing of Opioids for Chronic Pain (EPOCH). The course consists of three webinars and a capstone workshop to help health care providers deepen skills and practice in using opioid medications as part of a multi-modal approach to chronic pain management. The course is available to health care providers across Canada.
| | Knowledge is power. Learn to manage pain and improve well-being though our library of evidence-based articles on LivePlanBe or start a customized program on LivePlanBe+. | |  | Connect with Pain Support Line staff to talk about your pain, find information on community resources, learn about pain and self-management, and much more. | | | Join an online group and build a community of support while learning about pain, pain management and coping strategies. | | | Receive one-on-one phone support and mentorship from a coach who will help you learn about self-management, regaining function and improving your well-being. | | |
Gentle Movement @ Home: Guided movement and relaxation for pain
Gentle Movement @ Home free online videos provide guided movement and relaxation designed to help people with persistent pain learn to feel safe to move again. Topics include breath awareness and regulation, body tension regulation, and movement and relaxation techniques in both seated and standing positions.
The full collection of Gentle Movement @ Home videos are available to view for free via our YouTube channel.
| | | Upcoming Pain BC and partner workshops, webinars and courses for health care providers | |
Pain Foundations for Allied Health Providers
Pain Foundations for Allied Health Providers is an online course designed for allied health care providers to improve their understanding of chronic pain and how to address the challenges of pain assessment and treatment. This practical, compact course allows learners to develop clinically relevant approaches to chronic pain management and develop a strong grounding in pain science to support further exploration. The course is free for health care providers in BC and offered at a modest cost for providers outside of BC.
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Pain Foundations for Primary Care Providers
This practical, compact course allows physicians and nurse practitioners to develop clinically relevant approaches to chronic pain management, including non-pharmacological treatments and prescribing best practices. Learners will develop a strong grounding in pain science to support further exploration. The course is free for primary care providers in BC and offered at a modest cost for physicians and nurse practitioners outside of BC.
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Gentle Movement and Relaxation course
This free, online course will equip physiotherapists and other therapeutic movement professionals with practical knowledge and teaching resources to lead their own movement and relaxation programs for people living with chronic pain.
The Gentle Movement and Relaxation course is currently available to BC health care providers only.
| | | Pain BC relies on the generosity of our donors to deliver our programs and services. We gratefully acknowledge that many of our programs and services receive partial financial support from the Province of British Columbia, including Coaching for Health, the Pain Support Line, Pain Support and Wellness Groups, our chronic pain management workshops for health care providers, Gentle Movement and Relaxation course, LivePlanBe, Making Sense of Pain, Pain Foundations, and the Pain Waves podcast. | | Other programs, opportunities and resources | |
Webinar: Sleep and chronic pain
Free webinar on August 15, 2023
People who live with pain commonly experience issues with sleep and, conversely, poor sleep can make it more difficult to manage pain. Hosted by Power Over Pain, this workshop aims to provide insight on how to improve the management of pain by optimizing sleep. It will explore the relationship between sleep and pain, with a focus on practical considerations for managing sleep disturbance among people who live with pain. The webinar will be presented by Dr. Josh Rash.
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Webinar: Rethinking mental health care for chronic pain
Free webinar on August 29, 2023
Mental health supports such as counselling or medication are often recommended to people living with chronic pain. However, there is a problematic history of chronic pain being thought of as a mental illness, leading to insufficient and ineffective care and supports. In addition, many people living with pain cannot access mental health supports due to financial or other barriers. In this free webinar hosted by Pain Canada, four panelists will discuss the complexity of using mental health care to manage chronic pain and explore the possibilities of approaches that challenge how we traditionally think about mental health.
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My Info Library for arthritis and chronic pain
Free online database of resources
Put together by Arthritis Research Canada, My Info Library is an online collection of resources to help people live well with arthritis and chronic conditions. It was designed especially for people who may be low-income, housing insecure, Indigenous, ethnic minorities, immigrants, refugees, or older adults, though it may also be helpful for people from other communities. It includes links to resources for learning more about arthritis, managing pain, and finding social, financial, and housing support.
| | Research and engagement opportunities | |
Study: Patient-centred care in young people living with chronic pain
Located at the University of Manitoba, the IN∙GAUGE research program is inviting youth aged 12-34 to participate in a study which aims to advance patient-centred care in young people living with pain. Participants will share their experiences with chronic pain, create art (such as music, video, painting), meet other young people living with chronic pain, and help teach doctors, teachers, and family about what young people need. For more information, email ingauge@umanitoba.ca or call 204-481-4994.
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Study: Power Over Pain Portal for Youth
The Power Over Pain Portal for youth is an online portal designed to help young people manage their pain. Researchers are seeking participants aged 12-18 who have been experiencing pain for three months or longer. Participation will involve answering online questionnaires, using the Power Over Pain Portal for eight weeks, and optionally completing a feedback interview. All participants will receive volunteer hours and gift card compensation. To sign up, email rachelr.kelly@sickkids.ca.
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Study: Pain throughout the day
If you live with pain, does it change throughout the day? The CircaPain research team is studying how time of day impacts pain and wants to hear about your experience. This study is open to all adults who have had persistent pain for more than three months. Learn more and take the survey on CircaPain's website: circapain.ca.
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My disabled body prepared me for motherhood like nothing else could
The author explains how disability and parenting can inform and enrich each other, sharing her personal experiences and how they bring her depth, pain, joy, loss, connection, frustration, and laughter.
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Tenant with disability calls on Victoria council to make parking accessible for renters
Victoria renter Aeryn Donald is asking Victoria city council to expand its subsidized monthly parking pass for people with disabilities to include not just students and people who work downtown, but also downtown residents.
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A free self-management program for anyone with chronic pain
Pain specialist Dr. Andrea Furlan recently featured LivePlanBe+ on her YouTube channel. Check it out to learn how the free program can help you manage your pain.
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When you're stuck in the middle of 'sick' and 'well'
The author, who lives with chronic fatigue syndrome, shares the unpredictability of being in the middle of 'sick' and 'well' as she learns to manage her illness, and how she enjoys small victories while being prepared for what is ahead.
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© 2023 Pain BC Society. All Rights Reserved.
312 Main St
Vancouver, BC V6A 2T2
Charitable registration number: 83220 0422 RR0001
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