The Conditions for Recovery Podcast: Hope, Agency and Chronic Illness

George Dowswell Specialist Pain Physiotherapist and Coach
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Medicine

The pain script is broken. The Conditions for Recovery Podcast counteracts the message that deterioration is inevitable and that "coping" is the best you can hope for. Sharing real stories of people navigating the complex realities of persistent pain and chronic illness, we'll discuss how to move beyond diagnosis and regain control. Hosted by Specialist Pain Physiotherapist George Dowswell, this show is a challenge to the hopelessness narrative. We explore the lived experience of regaining agency over chronic conditions. Subscribe to begin learning how to rewrite your script and reclaim your life.

  1. 11 hr ago

    Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Dismissal, Amputation & Living Well with Victoria Abbott-Fleming

    “Yes, I've got CRPS. There's nothing I can do about it. But I can do something about me and how I think, feel and act.” Released for CRPS Awareness Month, this episode features Victoria Abbott-Fleming, MBE (founder of Burning Nights CRPS Support) sharing her incredible story of survival, self advocacy and choosing life. In this episode of The Conditions for Recovery Podcast Victoria Abbott-Fleming, MBE shares her journey from a workplace injury to seeing 39 doctors before receiving a diagnosis to founding Burning Nights CRPS Support, releasing her book The Courage Love Gave Me and reclaiming control over her life. Victoria lives with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) which eventually progressed to double above-knee amputations. Along the way, she faced significant dismissal, medical gaslighting, false accusations of exaggeration during legal claims and rigid clinical labelling which reduced the quality of care she received. Victoria brings her experience, her legal background as a barrister and her expertise as an advocate, speaker, educator and Chair of Trustees at Burning Nights to help increase understanding and support for others living with CRPS and persistent pain. Even though Victoria’s journey involves rare and extreme medical complications, her insights into navigating clinical bureaucracy, acceptance versus cure seeking, self advocacy and whole person care will be very recognisable to anyone living with long term conditions. In this episode, we discuss: Victoria’s years long journey to get a diagnosis: Experiencing eye rolls, dismissals and being told her symptoms were "not following the right pattern" or being exaggerated. That symptoms can be severe without showing up on scans: How structural testing fails complex pain conditions and leads healthcare professionals to question patient credibility. Overcoming damaging clinical labels: Deconstructing terms like "failed to rehabilitate" and "refusing treatment" whilst valid barriers were ignored.Shifting mindset from cure seeking to living: Reframing acceptance not as resignation but as reclaiming purpose and quality of life beyond appointment to appointment survival. Moving beyond one size fits all healthcare: Why bi-directional communication, clinician vulnerability and listening to people as whole individuals are essential for recovery.Connect with Victoria: The Courage Love Gave Me Available via Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Courage-Love-Gave-Me/dp/1916843034/ Burning Nights CRPS Support https://www.burningnightscrps.org/ Connect with the Show: Links: www.paincoaching.co.uk/links Follow: @SpecialistPainPhysio BOOK YOUR FREE 30-MIN CONSULTATION WITH GEORGE: https://www.paincoaching.co.uk/consultation Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your qualified healthcare professional or personal clinician before making any decisions about your medication, treatment or approach to your health.

    Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Dismissal, Amputation & Living Well with Victoria Abbott-Fleming

  2. 27 Oct

    "I Just Wanted More Meds" How One Phone Call Changed My Fibromyalgia Recovery with Karen Payne

    “I was an absolute shadow of the person that I was and to have an element of my previous life back is fantastic.” In this episode of The Conditions for Recovery Podcast Karen Payne shares how severe fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, chronic fatigue and sustained stress left her isolated, overwhelmed and close to being bed bound. Karen had lived with chronic fatigue for years, but when her symptoms escalated in 2024, pain and fatigue began to impact every part of her life. She stopped socialising, struggled to plan ahead and felt increasingly unable to keep carrying the responsibilities that had always fallen to her. Expecting a call to increase her pain medication, Karen instead had a conversation with a Pain Coach that helped her feel heard and opened her up to a the possibility of a different way of living alongside pain. Through patient trial and error, pacing, nutrition changes, rest, firmer boundaries and supportive community, Karen found ways to plan again, reconnect with life and rebuild her independence. Her story is not about a quick fix or a cure; it is about finding what helps, protecting her capacity and reclaiming parts of the life she thought she had lost. Karen’s insights on triggers, pacing, whole person care and self prioritisation will resonate with anyone living with a long term condition. In this episode we discuss: Karen’s journey with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis: How escalating pain and fatigue led to isolation, uncertainty and a loss of independence.Stress, caregiving and overload: The pressure of holding everything together and what happened when Karen’s capacity ran out.From scepticism to possibility: Why one unexpected conversation became a turning point in Karen’s relationship with pain.Finding what works personally: Karen’s experience of pacing, nutrition changes, rest, grounding, TENS and other approaches she explored over time.Boundaries and self prioritisation: Learning to say no, step back from burnout and make space for her own wellbeing.The value of supportive community: How positive peer support helped Karen feel less alone and more open to trying new things.Challenging stigma around chronic pain: Why persistent pain and fatigue are real, complex experiences and not laziness or a lack of effort. Connect with Karen Instagram: @chronically.a.payne LinkedIn: Karen Payne Connect with the show Links: https://www.paincoaching.co.uk/links Follow: @SpecialistPainPhysio Book your free 30-minute consultation with George: https://www.paincoaching.co.uk/consultation Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional or your personal clinician before making decisions about medication, treatment or your approach to health.

    "I Just Wanted More Meds" How One Phone Call Changed My Fibromyalgia Recovery with Karen Payne

  3. 13 Oct

    No Diagnosis. No Answers. How Do I Live With This Pain with Jennifer Daly-Cyr

    “I became very good at being a good patient but I wasn't really learning how to live with pain.” In this episode of The Conditions for Recovery Podcast Jennifer Daly-Cyr shares her journey from the sudden onset of severe, unexplained abdominal pain to reclaiming her identity, purpose and quality of life. Despite years of extensive medical testing, procedures and surgeries, Jennifer continues to live without a clear diagnostic explanation. Along the way, she has navigated the loss of her career, invisible stigma, isolation and the constant uncertainty that comes with living without any medical label. Jennifer now uses her lived experience in patient led research and advocacy, working with organizations including The Canadian Pain Society, Pain Ontario and The Chronic Pain Network. Whether you live with undiagnosed pain or have an answer to your symptoms Jennifer's insights on shifting from a search for a medical fix to actively building a fulfilling life alongside symptoms will be recognisable and important listening to anyone navigating a long term condition. In this episode we discuss: Jennifer’s sudden onset of unexplained pain: Navigating the wilderness of not finding answers, the trap of being a "good patient" and the turning point toward finding purpose.The stigma of unlabelled illness: Why invisible and undiagnosed conditions face unique societal and healthcare challenges.Shifting hope and reclaiming agency: Moving from hoping someone "fixes" the pain to choosing what to do to make the best of the life you have.Self advocacy: Finding practical ways to prepare for medical appointments without burning out on tracking data.Systemic healthcare challenges: The impact of long wait times, the need for early intervention, coordinated care and patient-oriented research.Connect with Jennifer: LinkedIn: @jenniferdalycyr & @actiononpain Instagram: @jen_dalycyr & @actiononpain Action On Pain podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/action-on-pain YouTube: @actiononpain Connect with the Show: Links: www.paincoaching.co.uk/links Follow: @SpecialistPainPhysio BOOK YOUR FREE 30-MIN CONSULTATION WITH GEORGE: https://www.paincoaching.co.uk/consultation Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your qualified healthcare professional or personal clinician before making any decisions about your medication, treatment or approach to your health.

    No Diagnosis. No Answers. How Do I Live With This Pain with Jennifer Daly-Cyr

  4. 29 Sept

    “Operation Get Better” Redesigning Life After A Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia with Alexandra Stenson

    When Alexandra Stenson was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia she was told her life was over and that she just needed to learn to live with pain and limitations. She thought "that's not for me" and started a journey of figuring out how her life could be better. She now says she is healthier and happier than she was before becoming disabled. “Let's look at what's possible. Let's not sign you off and leave it there. Let's go, how well could I feel? How great could my life look? What could I do? Not I can't do that anymore.” In this episode of The Conditions for Recovery Podcast, Alexandra Stenson shares her journey following a 2018 car accident from being told her life was over to finding a way to live happily and healthily alongside persistent pain. Alexandra was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and hypermobility after a period of uncertainty. She faced disheartening advice, medical dismissal and the harsh reality of navigating an invisible condition where people kept telling her she "looked fine". Alexandra brings her experience as a pain support group facilitator to share practical, empowering strategies for managing long term conditions. Alexandra’s insights into holistic wellness, mindset shifts and peer support will resonate with many people living with chronic conditions. In this episode, we discuss: Alexandra’s Journey To A Fibromyalgia Diagnosis: Navigating invisible symptoms, imposter syndrome and the frustration of being told "you look fine".Overcoming "Your Life Is Over" Medical Messaging: Why standard acceptance and expectation management advice feels like resignation, can lead to downward spirals and how Alexandra decided to focus on “Operation Get Better”.Redesigning Life With A Comprehensive Toolkit: Combining nutrition, sleep, functional medicine and lifestyle changes alongside conventional care.Reclaiming Personal Agency: Transforming the phrase "no one is coming to save you" into an empowering call to action and the importance of choosing to pursue wellness every time that you can.Recognising The Role of Time and Patience: Realising that flares are temporary and how catastrophising makes them worse.The Power of Peer Support and Community: How co-facilitating a pain support group created a collective hive mind for sharing tools and mutual understanding.Connect with Alexandra: LinkedIn: Alexandra Stenson Connect with the Show: Links: www.paincoaching.co.uk/links Follow: @SpecialistPainPhysio Other resources: Books that Alexandra found life changing: Designing Your Life: For Fans of Atomic Habits by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans The Miracle Morning (Updated and Expanded Edition): The 6 Habits That Will Transform Your Life Before 8AM by Hal Elrod The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk BOOK YOUR FREE 30-MIN CONSULTATION WITH GEORGE: https://www.paincoaching.co.uk/consultation Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your qualified healthcare professional or personal clinician before making any decisions about your medication, treatment or approach to your health.

    “Operation Get Better” Redesigning Life After A Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia with Alexandra Stenson

  5. 15 Sept

    “My Meds Could Kill Me”: Reclaiming Life After 60 Years of Pain with Ann Livingstone

    “That’s when I went from just existing to beginning to live.” In this episode of The Conditions for Recovery Podcast, Ann Livingstone shares her journey from living through six decades of persistent pain, fatigue and opioid dependency to taking back control of her life and finding a new sense of purpose. For 60 years Ann experienced physical injuries, medical dismissal repeatedly framed by clinicians as "what do you expect?" and years of zombifying pain medication before being warned during a hospitalisation that organ damage from her drugs could kill her before the pain did. Ann now uses her experience as a pain advocate, founder and director of Community Pain Hub Somerset CIC, Live Well with Pain facilitator and Footsteps Festival organiser to champion early intervention and community peer support. Her insights into navigating non linear recovery, rejecting both toxic positivity and narratives of inevitable decline and finding moments of wellness within illness will resonate with anyone living with persistent pain or long term health conditions. In this episode we discuss: Ann’s 60-Year Journey with Pain: From childhood accidents and medical dismissal to reaching a crisis point with pain medication.The Turning Point During COVID-19: How volunteering during COVID-19 restored her sense of value, contribution and purpose.The Case for "Upstreaming" Pain Care: How offering early support and education can prevent people from falling into years of isolation and suffering.Community Pain Cafes & Peer Support: Ann's innovative idea to create accessible community hubs attached to GP surgeries that focus on whole person support alongside diagnostic tests.Moving Beyond Toxic Positivity & Inevitable Decline: Why both simplistic cure narratives and the wilderness of hopelessness are equally harmful.Navigating Non Linear Recovery: How major life events and grief impact physical symptoms and why experiencing a flare up is never a personal failure.Connect with Ann: Community Pain Hub Somerset: https://communitypainhubsomerset.org.uk/ Footsteps Festival: https://footsteps-festival.co.uk/ Connect with the Show: Links: www.paincoaching.co.uk/links Follow: @SpecialistPainPhysio BOOK YOUR FREE 30-MIN CONSULTATION WITH GEORGE: https://www.paincoaching.co.uk/consultation Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your qualified healthcare professional or personal clinician before making any decisions about your medication, treatment or approach to your health.

    “My Meds Could Kill Me”: Reclaiming Life After 60 Years of Pain with Ann Livingstone

  6. 1 Sept

    Chronic Back Pain: What Next When Standard Advice Fails with Amber Kyliuk

    "When you live with pain, the first thing you want is your pain gone. The pain might lessen, it might not but let’s figure out how to get back into life and have that energy." In this episode of The Conditions for Recovery Podcast Amber Kyliuk who has lived with persistent low back pain for 12 years shares her story of figuring out what she could do next once conventional treatment had failed. Amber was teaching a yoga class for people living with back pain but couldn’t improve her own pain with the standard advice so she began delving more deeply into pain science. Amber now works with other people experiencing pain and she’s back to living life enjoying many of the activities she loves such as cycling, skiing, hiking and strength training. Amber shares insight that only people who bridge the gap between clinician and person living with pain can. In this episode: Pain Is Real Tests Are Just One Part of a Bigger Picture: Persistent symptoms are genuine, disruptive and life changing regardless of what your scans or tests show.The Way We Talk About Pain Can Help or Harm: Language shapes beliefs and oversimplified messages can cause self doubt or blame.Recovery Needs to be Individualised: One size fits all healthcare is a missed opportunity. Care always needs to respond to the person, not just the diagnosis.Living Well Matters More Than Chasing Perfect: The goal is not just reducing pain but rebuilding confidence, function and a meaningful life alongside it.Small Steps Build Lasting Change: Noticing cues early, pacing and doing the work gradually prevents huge variability whilst supporting long term recovery.Unfortunately, due to pretty heavy technical issues the quality dropped on the section of the recording from 28:23 - 41:42. During this segment, we also discussed: Shifting from traditional treatments to understanding mind body approaches.The common mistake of pathologising normal discomfortHow emotional stress can trigger real pain without causing physical tissue damage.How small victories help you get your life back through confidence building.Connect with Amber: Website: https://criticalmovementyyc.ca Substack: https://criticalmovementyyc.substack.com Pain Literacy Course: https://critical-movement-yyc.systeme.io Connect with the Show: Links: www.paincoaching.co.uk/links Follow: @SpecialistPainPhysio BOOK YOUR FREE 30-MIN CONSULTATION WITH GEORGE: https://www.paincoaching.co.uk/consultation Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your qualified healthcare professional or personal clinician before making any decisions about your medication, treatment or approach to your health.

    Chronic Back Pain: What Next When Standard Advice Fails with Amber Kyliuk

  7. 18 Aug

    Chronic Pain, Dismissal and the Path to Recovery with Virginia McIntyre

    “I’d rather sit with a Doctor who says “I don’t know what’s going on” than not to believe me and say that I was trying to avoid work or I was making it up.” In this episode of The Conditions for Recovery Podcast globally recognised patient advocate and educator Virginia McIntyre shares her story of being dismissed with accusations of over reaction and just not wanting to work to an “awesome life” full of purpose, participation and community. Virginia was a high functioning, career focussed Super Mum who ran marathons and had an active social life until a workplace injury and subsequent surgery led to years of chronic pain which stopped her in her tracks. She endured many disappointing, dismissive interactions with healthcare professionals who wouldn't listen to what she was saying about her pain and trust her story. She began to see positive improvement once she started to work with people who specialised in persistent pain. She is now President and Executive Director of the People In Pain Network, Chair of the Canadian Pain Society People with Lived Experience Committee, Co-host of The Action on Pain Podcast and member of the Pain Canada National Advisory Committee. She’s also enjoying being a grandmother and back to running just not quite as far. Her journey with pain is one which many will relate to and her insights into how she has been able to rebuild her life are invaluable. In this episode: Your Pain is Real: The power of being genuinely believed by healthcareLosing Trust in Healthcare Professionals: Being trapped in the wilderness of dismissalImproving Early Access to Specialist Services: Before people spiral into loss of hope, identity, and relationshipsThe Need for Better Pain Education for Healthcare ProfessionalsThe Role of Purpose and Participation in RecoveryThe Benefit of Community Support: Often dismissed as sh*t life syndrome competitions but can be the missing pieceRecognising your Agency in your Own Health Journey: When there is no simple, medical solution, then what?Drowning Out the Noise of Unhelpful Communities: Not all support groups are created equalBeing Open to Opportunities: Trying something that might be helpful does not commit you for lifeIndividualised Care: Pain is complex and individual and the approaches we take need to mirror thatRebuilding Identity and Self Worth After a Chronic Pain DiagnosisConnect with Virginia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-mcintyre-8867a247/ Action On Pain Podcast available on all major platforms People In Pain Network: www.pipain.com Connect with the Show: Links: www.paincoaching.co.uk/links Follow: @SpecialistPainPhysio BOOK YOUR FREE 30-MIN CONSULTATION WITH GEORGE: https://www.paincoaching.co.uk/consultation Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your qualified healthcare professional or personal clinician before making any decisions about your medication, treatment or approach to your health.

    Chronic Pain, Dismissal and the Path to Recovery with Virginia McIntyre

  8. 4 Aug

    Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Myths, Stigma & Recovery with Carolyn Sullins, PhD

    “You can’t focus exclusively on one part of your body or mind and neglect the rest.” In this episode of The Conditions for Recovery Podcast Carolyn Sullins, PhD shares her journey from decades of medical gaslighting and misdiagnosis to feeling back in control of her symptoms and her life. Carolyn now has a diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder but it took a long time to reach that outcome. Along the way she faced a huge amount of dismissal, stigma and self doubt. Carolyn brings her expertise as a researcher to the table to help to increase understanding and support for others living with FND. Even though Carolyn does not live with persistent pain her insights and experiences will be recognisable to many people with long term conditions and I know that this episode will be exceptionally valuable to many more people than just those with FND. In this episode, we discuss: Carolyn’s long journey to an FND diagnosis: The stigma and self doubt that came with being misunderstood.Why symptoms can be real, life altering and vary significantly without showing up on standard scans or tests.How collaborative, individualised physical rehabilitation helped Carolyn regain confidence and function.Why Stress, Trauma and Mental Health Matter: Without being used to dismiss someone’s physical experience.The Need to Move Beyond One Size Fits All Healthcare: Listening to people as whole individuals.Connect with Carolyn: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-sullins-phd-3b89582a/ Substack: https://drsullins.substack.com/ Connect with the Show: Links: www.paincoaching.co.uk/links Follow: @SpecialistPainPhysio Other resources: Neuro Symptoms: https://neurosymptoms.org/en/ FND Hope: https://fndhope.org/ BOOK YOUR FREE 30-MIN CONSULTATION WITH GEORGE: https://www.paincoaching.co.uk/consultation Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your qualified healthcare professional or personal clinician before making any decisions about your medication, treatment or approach to your health.

    Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Myths, Stigma & Recovery with Carolyn Sullins, PhD
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The pain script is broken. The Conditions for Recovery Podcast counteracts the message that deterioration is inevitable and that "coping" is the best you can hope for. Sharing real stories of people navigating the complex realities of persistent pain and chronic illness, we'll discuss how to move beyond diagnosis and regain control. Hosted by Specialist Pain Physiotherapist George Dowswell, this show is a challenge to the hopelessness narrative. We explore the lived experience of regaining agency over chronic conditions. Subscribe to begin learning how to rewrite your script and reclaim your life.

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