October 2023 Pain BC Newsletter
Register now for the virtual Putting the Pieces Together conference
November 6-12, 2023
It's less than one week until Pain Canada hosts the second annual Putting the Pieces Together: A virtual conference for and by people with pain. The online conference will take place from November 6-12, 2023 and registration is free.

Putting the Pieces Together aims to connect and mobilize a national community to realize a dramatically improved system of care and support for people with pain.

The conference will feature numerous presentations on topics relevant to people living with pain, including sessions on equity and diversity in chronic pain, federal efforts to improve pain care in Canada, and somatic awareness in pain management.

Please join us to become part of the national movement on pain at the Putting the Pieces Together conference.
Take part in Pain Canada's National Pain Awareness Week social media campaign

November 5-11, 2023 is National Pain Awareness Week, a time to raise awareness of chronic pain, it’s impacts, and how implementing An Action Plan for Pain in Canada can improve equitable access to timely and evidence-based care and support for all people with pain.

Please join us to create dialogue and draw attention to chronic pain this National Pain Awareness Week by using Pain Canada’s social media toolkit, and by adding your voice to the conversation using the #NPAW2023 hashtag. The toolkit includes ready-to-use social media messages and graphics on a range of pain-related topics. Please join us and add your voice to the conversation!

Together, we will build a future where no one is alone with pain.
Pain BC programs, resources and updates
People stacking their hands together to show teamwork
Pain Support and Wellness Groups: Fall dates available
Register now for an upcoming group

If you live with pain in BC, our support groups are a chance to connect with others, share coping strategies and learn about pain management while building a community. Groups are free to attend and meet online via Zoom videoconferencing. You can also join via phone.
Our supports for people with pain
LivePlanBe+ logo
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.

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.

Moving Through Pain: A free course for health care providers
Based on Pain BC’s course Gentle Movement & Relaxation, Moving Through Pain is Pain Canada's new free, self-paced online program for health care providers who want to support people living with pain to move with more ease. Learners who complete Moving Through Pain will be equipped with the practical knowledge and teaching resources to support people living with pain to engage in gentle movement and relaxation as part of a supported self-management plan.

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: COVID-19 vaccines and inflammatory arthritis
Free webinar on November 4 at 11:00AM PST

Navigating COVID-19 while living with inflammatory arthritis and other rheumatic conditions can be challenging. Join the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance (CAPA) on November 4 at 11:00AM PST for an educational webinar moderated by Dr. Dawn Richards and a diverse panel of experts that will discuss COVID-19 and other vaccines.
Resiliency Toolbox for caregivers
Free online resource for caregivers looking to build their resiliency

Family Caregivers of BC have created a free online resource aimed at caregivers looking to reduce their stress levels, build their connections to others and prioritize their wellbeing while caring for others.
Free online pain management for people in the Pacific Northwest of BC
New Making Sense of Pain program starts in January 2024

Designed by Pain BC and offered by the the Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice, Making Sense of Pain is an opportunity for people who struggle with persistent pain to meet regularly and build a community of support while learning about pain, pain management and coping strategies. This 10-week program will be offered via Zoom once a week for two hours starting in January 2024.

To register or find out more information, please call: 1-250-917-8928
Research and engagement opportunities
University of Manitoba Ingauge logo
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 [email protected] or call 204-481-4994.
CircaPain logo
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.
In the news
New research offers clues to what causes long COVID -- fuelling hope for eventual treatment
Multiple research teams have identified numerous hallmarks of the often-debilitating condition that can cause chronic fatigue, brain fog and pain.
Chronic pain events during NPAW
As a part of National Pain Awareness Week, Power Over Pain Portal has created an events calendar to track the many free events taking place.
The problem with the pain scale when you live with chronic pain
The author of this article shares the limitations of the standard pain scale for people who live with pain when trying to receive health care.
Parenting with chronic pain
Parenting with chronic pain can be difficult at times. This webinar recording reviews basic parenting coping strategies to use when you have pain.
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