Airing Pain Airing Pain

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 University of Calgary, on the importance of validating pain in young people.   

Professor Lesley Colvin, Project Lead at Consortium Against Pain InEquality (CAPE) and Professor of Pain Medicine at the University of Dundee, and consultant in pain services. 

Jen Ford, DRAP Pain Physio & Therapy Lead at Bath Centre for Pain Services & Bristol Paediatric Pain  

Professor Lesley Colvin, Project Lead at Consortium Against Pain InEquality (CAPE) 
 and Professor of Pain Medicine at the University of Dundee, and consultant in pain services. 

Professor Tim Hales, Project Lead at CAPE and a non-clinical Professor of anaethesia at the University of Dundee. 

Dr Lauren Heathcote, Senior Lecturer in health psychology at Kings College London 



Timestamps 
2:06 Prof Tim Hales discusses the impact on ACE on chronic pain and how people respond to treatment. 
7:02 Prof Lesley Colvin Professor on how ACE causes persistent pain. 
16:05 Dr Lauren Heathcote discusses the psychology of pain and symptom perception in young people. 
23:26 Jen Ford on the different approach required when working with children. 
26:05 Dr. Katie Bernie explore the importance of children and family partnerships. 

Related links 
CAPE Consortium Against Pain InEquality 

Health Scotland – Adverse Childhood Experiences
 
TED talk: Carol Dwerk – The Power of Believing you can improve 

Bath Centre for Pain Services 

Airing Pain survey

Pain Concern Children and Families resources 

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). 
Eluned Morgan MS, Health Minister 
Owen Hughes National Clinical Lead for Persistent Pain in Wales 
Stephen Allan, Regional Director New Citizen’s Voice Body for Wales 
Dr Sue Jeffs, National Clinical Lead for Persistent Pain Patient organisation representatives 
Mary Cowern Head of Nation for Cymru Versus Arthritis 
Heather Wallace, Pain Concern 

Representatives of other organisations present at the event, including Health Education for Improvement Wales, Real City Strategy North Wales, Cardiff and Vales University Health Board and Case UK Ltd.

Read Transcript  Feedback survey

Timestamps 
0:35 Eluned Morgan MS welcomes delegates to the launch of the revised Living With Persistent Pain in Wales guidelines. 
3:04 Owen Hughes explains the updates to the guidelines.
6:04 Eluned Morgan MS on the feedback received regarding the guidence and how it can continue to evolve. 
6:35 Representatives from Real City Strategy North Wales and Powys Living Well Service discuss how those living with pain can be supported.
12:48 Eluned Morgan MS and a representative from Cardiff and Vales University Health Board talk about self-management and peer support groups. 
23:59 Mary Cowern, Neil Fowler and Bethany Davies on how the guidelines will impact their organisations. 
37:39 Eluned Morgan MS on the need to reduce ineffective treatments. 
38:35 Information on upskilling for healthcare professionals from Catrin from Health Education and Improvement Wales. 
40:38 The Patient Voice – Stephen Allan, Eluned Morgan MS and Dr Sue Jeffs on the importance of patients informing on the services available. 
48:11 Heather Wallace reflects on the event and a final request about person-centred care from Eluned Morgan MS. 

Additional Resources 



Living with Persistent Pain in Wale Guidance 

eppcymru.org 

All Wales Analgesic Stewardship Guidance  
CaseUK
Versus Arthritis

Airing Pain 109 Fibromyalgia  

Airing Pain 121: Living with Persistent Pain in Wales 

Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 

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 Research, Coventry University
Tali Foxworthy Bowers, Choreographer and Movement Director (Edinburgh Fringe: “Monoslogue”)
Jenna Gillett, PhD Student, Department of Psychology University of Warwick

The music used at the beginning of this edition was an original composition for Pain & I by Alicia Jane Turner.
Images provided by Sarah Hopfinger.

Read transcript

Time Stamps:
1:35 – Miriam Introduces Sarah Hopfinger’s “Pain and I” performance during Edinburgh’s Festival Fringe, and asks what techniques from the world of dance offer those living with pain?
3:41 – Pacing as a technique. Also see 13:25 for Sarah Hopfinger on pacing.
6:34 – Emma Meehan, at the British Pain Society, on how dancers living with pain approach pain.
8:34 – Introducing Tali Foxworthy-Bowers
15:54 – A huge thank you, and invitation, for filling in our survey
16:20 – Emma Meehan and research into what somatic practices in movement can offer those living with pain.
18:20 – The importance of sharing and telling stories about pain experiences as an act of self-compassion for performers, and mutual connection. See also 25:53 for a continuation of this sentiment from Tali Foxworthy Bowers.
21:25 – Pain catastrophising, how we frame pain, and techniques for being kinder to ourselves with self-love and compassion.
27:54 – Suggestions of how to support those close to you who are living with pain.
31:34 – Emma Meehan discussing agency with pain, as showcased at the British Pain Society ASM 2023.
35:10 – The role of charities in patient support, and what else can charities be doing?
37:27 – Chronic pain is chronic strength: acceptance of pain as part of the bodies we love and care for.

Additional Resources:
Burning nights 
NHS Resources
Somatic Practice
Dr Meehan's Book: Performing Process

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.

This edition of Airing Pain platforms four internationally recognised clinicians from the British Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting.

This edition of Airing Pain examines how Covid-19 has impacted on the relationship between patient and healthcare professional.