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‘If I have seen further, it's by standing on the shoulders of giants.’  So wrote Isaac Newton to fellow scientist Robert Hooke back in 1675. The two didn't always agree, but the sentiment, that for the most part research and discovery is built on the work of those who came before, is as true today as it was then.  Three and a half centuries later, the British Pain Society has just launched its Year of AI, Technology and Innovation in Pain Management.  In this episode we join the conversation, exploring the promises and challenges of developments in neuromodulation, virtual reality and AI. … It just seems amazing that something as intense and specific as pain, we haven't yet figured out exactly what we need to do in the brain to change it ... … The technology is not going to be as much of a barrier. The barrier is our own imagination of what we think is possible and how we should use that technology … … In my head, there was just all these risks and questions, and I'm like, guys, we need to do some studies on how this is going to roll out in healthcare …  Featuring:  Karen Davis, Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto  Joshua W. Pate, Associate Professor in Physiotherapy at the University of Technology Sydney Ben Seymour, Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Oxford  Diego Vitali, Research Fellow at University College London

'The last injury report by Save the Children stated 50,000 casualties in children from 2020 to 2025, and we think that's an underestimation…' Can mental and physical trauma in childhood lead to a lifetime of pain?  ‘If you’re exposed to things like abuse, neglect and various household challenges, and external challenges like war and displacement, you might be more likely to develop poor health…’ ‘One of the things that’s come out, particularly within our Ukraine collaborators, is that their children have high pain scores, regardless of injury severity and regardless of pain management…’ What are the lessons from history that we ignore at our peril?  'We asked, was there anything they wanted to tell us about their experiences? A number of them wrote about the Second World War. Some of them, exactly as you say, said we just got on with it, and they were very stoic, but there were others who...' And what can be done?  'Some say, well, you can't avoid adversity happening, and that is true. My answer to that is if you can intervene after some adversity, then…'This episode features discussion of trauma and conflict that some listeners may find distressing. Thanks go to the British Pain Society: all interviews were recorded at their 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting.

This episode is produced in partnership with the British Pain Society. The interview with Sam Hughes was recorded at their 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting. Can nature and mindfulness help pain? This episode of Airing Pain looks at the interplay between nature and mindfulness, and how they can become part of the pain management toolkit.  Nature and neuroscience. Understand the science with Dr Sam Hughes. Learn how nature interacts with pain, and how this interaction works in virtual reality.  Greater connections. We join the Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust on one of their group wellbeing walks. We look at the benefits of building connections with nature, each other and ourselves.  Focusing on the here and now. We hear from trained and accredited mindfulness teacher Cath Ashby. Cath explains how the practice of mindfulness can be applied to nature, and what this can do for pain. Contributors: Dr Sam Hughes, a Senior Lecturer in Pain Neuroscience at the University of Exeter Elly Kinross, a Woodlands and Greenspace Officer with the Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust Cath Ashby, a trained and accredited mindfulness teacher Pain Concern’s free, online mindfulness sessions

This episode is produced in partnership with the British Pain Society. These interviews were recorded at their 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting. The 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting is just weeks away – register here. Amongst other things, here we tackle the taboo subject of acute period pain, highlight how changes in primary care are improving the pain management landscape, and discuss common misconceptions about opioid use. Does period pain need rethinking? Understand the research with Katy Vincent, Professor of Gynaecological Pain at the University of Oxford. Can a health and wellbeing coach change patient lives? One of the latest developments in pain management, as explained by NHS coach Phoebe Williams.  Do opioids get a fair press? Great for pain from an accident, surgery or fall. But for chronic pain? Dr Jane Quinlan, consultant in pain management, gives an overview and some top tips.  Contributors:  Prof Katy Vincent, Professor of Gynaecological Pain at the University of Oxford Phoebe Williams, Health and Wellbeing Coach at NHS Hammersmith & Fulham Dr Emma Davies, National Clinical Lead for Persistent Pain at NHS Wales Performance and Improvement Tim Atkinson, Vice Chair of the British Pain Society’s Expert Patient and Carer Committee Dr Jane Quinlan, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Management at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

‘if you’re treating people in pain, you’re treating autistic people in pain’Do neurodivergent people experience pain differently? The simple answer – and the slightly more complicated one Why you, or your patients, aren’t recovering  Building relationships across neurotypes Pain thresholds, pain anxiety, pain communication… With Dr David Moore, Reader in Pain Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University Thanks go to the British Pain Society – this interview was recorded at their 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting. Read Pain Matters 91 now.

This episode of Airing Pain explores how social factors impact the onset, experience and treatment of pain.  …understanding how things like your thoughts, your fears, your social interactions influence your biology can be really, really powerful…  …you're not just dealing with the pain, you're holding it in for everyone else… …we normalise, and even celebrate, different types of pain for different genders… Can stress cause chronic pain? The research, explained… with Cormac Ryan, Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation at Teesside University. What can pain do to relationships? What can relationships do to pain? Pain masking, social withdrawal, the power of attunement… with Rebecca Pearson, Professor of Developmental Psychology and Epidemiology at Manchester Metropolitan University. How do sex and gender affect pain? Sex hormones, gender identity, social modelling… with Katelynn Boerner, Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of British Columbia. Thanks go to:  The British Pain Society – the interviews in this episode were recorded at their 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting.  If you have any feedback about Airing Pain, you can leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey

'Now I’m in control of the pain instead of the pain being in control of me'This episode explores the transformative impacts of pain education classes. Featuring excerpts from a live education session, here we look at how a brief, free course—delivered by trained volunteers with lived experience—is empowering people to navigate life with chronic pain.   Listen to hear how patients are learning more about their pain and the toolbox of techniques available to manage it.  These sessions are the result of a unique collaboration between Pain Concern and the NHS. They are available both online and in person (in Glasgow, run by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s pain management team).  Book onto a free class/find out more information.   Watch Prof Lorimer Moseley's explanation of pain, as recommended in this episode. Contributors: Dr David Craig, Joan Melville, Georgina McDonald, Mairi McWilliams, Lindsay McLean, Heather Wallace.  This podcast has been produced in collaboration with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.   Pain Concern thanks the following funders for their unrestricted educational grants: Richer Sound; NHS Lothian Charity, The National Lottery Community Fund; The Hugh Fraser Foundation; The Trades House of Glasgow Commonweal Fund. If you have any feedback about Airing Pain, you can leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey.

Airing Pain #149: Why pain persists: from childhood trauma to faulty immunityThis edition of Airing Pain looks at the research into why pain persists, how we can identify people at risk and whether we could prevent it happening.In this episode: How does acute short-term pain turn into chronic, persistent pain? Kathleen Sluka explains that people who experience psychological trauma at young ages are more likely to have chronic pain later in life. What scientists think is happening is that psychological trauma or other stressful events actually change your immune system. Shafiq Skikander adds that a lot of patients with fibromyalgia may have had early life stressors. In addition, when they come to clinic presenting with fibromyalgia, they usually have a history of depression. So how does this happen? Gareth Hathway explains that slowly but surely, our understanding of the basic mechanisms is advancing. We now understand that babies do feel pain, young people do feel pain. It has a long-term consequence. We need a specialist approach to managing pain at every part of the life course. We need to think about how we measure that pain and how we treat that pain.The interviews were recorded at the British Pain Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting, 2024.Contributors: Shafiq Sikander, a professor of sensory neurophysiology at the William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University, London.Gareth Hathway, professor of neuroscience at the University of Nottingham’s’ school of life sciences.Kathleen Sluka, a professor in physical therapy and rehabilitation science at the University of Iowa in the United States.ThanksThe interviews were recorded at the British Pain Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting, 2024. This programme describes research using laboratory animals that is consistent with Pain Concern’s Humane Care and Use of Animals in Medical Research Policy. Additional Resources: You can join our Airing Pain online community:Airing Pain online communityIf you have any feedback about Airing Pain, you can leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey

Artist Jason Wilsher-Mills has lived with pain and chronic polyneuropathy since he was a child.In this interview he talks about his recent exhibition at the Wellcome Collection in London called "Jason and the Adventure of the 254"

"Susan Birth, Chief Executive of Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, explores the challenges faced by individuals with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders, touching on symptom management, NHS navigation, and promising new research."

"Simon Harvey, General Manager of Able in South Wales, discusses supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism, and neurodivergent conditions. He reflects on the podcast's relevance for families and individuals, sharing personal insights about pain management and raising autistic children with ADHD."

Airing Pain 148: Links between hypermobility and neurodivergenceReleased on: 5/3/2025This Airing Pain episode explores how neurodivergent individuals experience pain, potential links to hypermobility, and the need for better education to support conditions like autism and ADHD. Neurodiversity refers to the different ways a person’s brain processes information. It is an umbrella term used to describe a number of conditions including Autism or Autism Spectrum Conditions; ADHD; Dyscalculia; Dyslexia; Dyspraxia, or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), and more.In this episode:  Dr. Clive Kelly discusses research on co-occurring conditions in neurodivergence, highlighting varied symptoms and how pain perception differs among individuals. Dr Jessica Eccles talks about her research into the relationship between joint hypermobility and neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD and autism.  We hear from Ren Martin, an autistic learning disability nurse and mother of three neurodivergent children, and Ceri Reid of Parents Voices in Wales, advocating for better neurodiversity and mental health services. Throughout the episode, we hear from Imogen Warner, whose writings are featured in the Autistic Girls Network, and who highlights the reality of being a young autistic person. Contributors:  Dr. Clive Kelly, Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist, James Cook University Hospital and University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  Dr Jessica Eccles, Reader in Brain-Body Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School.  Ren Martin, neurodevelopmental specialist.  Ceri Reid, neurodivergent mother and founder of Parents Voices in Wales. Imogen Warner, student with lived experience of autism and chronic pain.  Jane Green MBE, founder of SEDSConnective We are immensely grateful to The British Humane Association and The Heather Hoy Charitable Trust whose generous grants made this podcast possible.Time Stamps: 00:43 Understanding Neurodivergence and Pain04:46 The Relationship between Hypermobility and Neurodivergence12:06 Gender Differences in Diagnosis and Pain13:49 Ren Martin’s Personal Experience32:27 Diagnosis for Neurodivergent Individuals35:18 Challenges in Education for Neurodivergent Children42:40 Training for Educators and Healthcare WorkersLinks Referred to in this Episode:    School toolkit for JHS and EDS - School Toolkit for EDS and JHS Parents Voices in Wales: Resources & Key Documents – Parents Voices in Wales CIC Autistic Girls Network: https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/ Ehlers-Danloss Society: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com Hypermobility Syndrome Association. - The HMSA | The Hypermobility Syndromes Association Healios: https://healios.org.uk/ SEDSConnective: https://www.sedsconnective.org/  If you have any feedback about Airing Pain, you can leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey

This episode of Airing Pain focuses on person-centred care. Person-centred care is based on the individual rather than on a generic group of patients.   In this episode:  Vicky Sandy-Davis, Lead Nurse of Independent Health and Social Care, talks about the importance of recognizing the value of person-centred care, specifically for people with intellectual or learning disabilities Ian Taverner and Sarah Harrisson discuss the importance of involving people living with chronic pain in research studies so that researchers can be guided by those with experience of chronic pain Professor Nicole Tang and Jenna Gillett share findings from their research on mental defeat.  For people living with chronic pain, mental defeat can be a way of characterizing how the pain impacts a person's perceived loss of autonomy which can lead to a loss of identity when experiencing repeated episodes of pain.  The interviews were recorded at the British Pain Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting, 2024.  Contributors:  Vicky Sandy-Davis, Lead Nurse for Independent Health and Social Care, West Midlands Ian Taverner, Chair of the Public Advisory Group of CRIISP (Consortium to Research Individual, Interpersonal and Social Influences in Pain) Sarah Harrisson Research Associate in Applied Health Research at Keele University, Specialist Pain Physiotherapist with the IMPACT Community Pain Service (Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) in Stoke-on-Trent Professor Nicole Tang, Director of the Warwick Sleep and Pain Laboratory, Academic Co-Lead for the Warwick Health Global Research Priority Mental Health Theme Jenna Gillett, PhD student at Warwick University and Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Buckingham.  If you have any feedback about Airing Pain, you can leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey

Airing Pain 146: Irritable Bowel Syndrome & Inflammatory Bowel Disease     This edition of Airing Pain focuses on two conditions affecting the gut: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Both affect the digestive system, and both cause pain. In this episode we learn about what separates these outwardly similar sounding conditions, how they are diagnosed, and what treatments might be available.   Dr David Bulmer discusses the key differences and distinguishing features of IBS and IBD, the latest research into these conditions, and potential medicinal treatments for managing the pain they cause.   Professor Rona Moss-Morris sheds light on remission, pain, and symptom management for IBS and IBD, and the challenges these conditions present. We hear about research into the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies designed specifically to help manage IBS and IBD symptoms. The interviews were recorded at the British Pain Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting, 2024.  Contributors:  Dr David Bulmer, Associate Professor at Cambridge University, specialising in visceral pain and gastrointestinal disease, with a special interest in IBS, IBD, and pain.   Prof. Rona Moss-Morris, Professor of Psychology as Applied to Medicine and Head of the Department of Psychology at the Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King’s College London. Lead for Digital Therapies at the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre. She has a special interest in factors that affect symptom experience and adjusting to chronic medical conditions.  Time Stamps:  01:29 Paul Evans introduces Dr David Bulmer, Associate Professor at the Department of Pharmacology at Cambridge University.  01:46 Dr David Bulmer explains the difference between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease and how they are diagnosed.  02:50 Bulmer discusses research into the potential causes of IBS and IBD, including localised allergic response and potential genetic markers.  06:18 Bulmer describes a study into the use of antidepressants for the treatment of IBS.   07:29 Bulmer discusses new treatments for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and how far these impact the actual pain experienced.  12:17 Bulmer explains the ‘Low FODMAP’ diet treatment.  14:17 Evans introduces Professor Rona Moss-Morris, Professor of Psychology as Applied to Medicine and Head of the Department of Psychology at King’s College London.  14:22 Moss-Morris explains the term ‘remission’ and how it is applied to IBS and IBD.  16:33 Moss-Morris discusses clinical trials using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for those with IBS and IBD symptoms.  18:53 Moss-Morris explains what CBT is and how it is used.  23:16 Moss-Morris discusses the use of apps and digital approaches to treatment.  27:55 Moss-Morris gives a final message on pain.   If you have any feedback about Airing Pain, you can leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey

Airing Pain 145 Rethinking Pain: Pain Management in the Community This edition of Airing Pain centres on rethinking the traditional clinician-patient relationship in pain management and exploring alternative approaches to bringing pain management back into the community.   Dr Barbara Phipps, GP and Lifestyle Medicine expert, discusses the development and benefits of group consultations for pain management.  Dr Jackie Walumbe sheds light on the pervasive inequalities in chronic pain services, highlighting the value of communities and member-led collaboratives in building and shaping self-management.  Prof. Mark Johnson, Dr Kate Thompson, and Kerry Page talk through the benefits of de-medicalising pain management, shifting the focus to a community setting.  We hear about the fantastic work of Rethinking Pain, a community-based pain support service in Bradford and Craven, and the inspiration this can serve for future chronic pain services and self-management initiatives.  The interviews were recorded at the British Pain Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting, 2024.  Contributors: Dr Barbara Phipps, Practising NHS GP and Teaching Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, currently running a community based Chronic Pain management service within the NHS. Barbara has a special interest in Lifestyle Medicine, and is a trustee of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine.  Dr Jackie Walumbe, Clinical Academic Advance Practice Physiotherapist in the Complex Pain Team at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Research Fellow at University of Oxford.  Professor Mark Johnson, Professor of Pain and Analgesia and Director of the Leeds Beckett Pain Team (Centre for Pain Research) at Leeds Beckett University.  Dr Kate Thompson, Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Leeds Beckett University, with a background in physiotherapy and special interest in pain research.  Kerry Page, Programme Lead for Rethinking Pain, the chronic pain community service based in Bradford District and Craven.  Time Stamps: 01:58 Paul introduces Dr Barbara Phipps, Practising NHS GP and Teaching Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, currently running a community based Chronic Pain management service within the NHS. Barbara has a special interest in Lifestyle Medicine, is and is a trustee of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine.  02:27 Dr Barbara Phipps discusses the development of group consultations for people with long-term primary pain.  07:28 Paul and Barbara discuss the importance of people being believed about their pain, perception of pain experiences, and detection on functional MRI scans.  10:41 Paul draws upon issues the funding in pain management services and who decides whether a treatment programme is value for money or not.  10:53 Paul introduces Dr Jackie Walumbe, Clinical Academic Advance Practice Physiotherapist in the Complex Pain Team at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Research Fellow at University of Oxford.  11:04 Dr Jackie Walumbe discusses her research on understanding how the term and practice of Self-Management is understood and acted on by people living with chronic pain, particularly those who don’t have ongoing contact or access with specialist pain services, and the relationship between this and policy makers’ decisions.  14:42 Paul and Jackie discuss key findings regarding issues of inequality, and a report by Versus Arthritis (Unseen, Unequal and Unfair: Chronic Pain in England), reflecting issues of policy and politics and the importance of other communities in filling the gaps.   18:09 Paul introduces Rethinking Pain, a community-based service for adults living with long-term pain, in Bradford District and Craven.   18:28 Paul introduces Dr Mark Johnson, Professor of Pain and Analgesia and Director of the Leeds Beckett Pain Team (Centre for Pain Research) at Leeds Beckett University.   18:37 Paul introduces Dr Kate Thompson, Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Leeds Beckett University, with a background in physiotherapy and special interest in pain research.  18:40 Paul introduces Kerry Page, Programme Lead for Rethinking Pain, the chronic pain community service based in Bradford District and Craven.  18:47 Kerry Page discusses the Rethinking Pain service, its background, services, and success.  19:57 Dr Kate Thompson explains how Rethinking Pain’s approach differs from other community pain management programmes  20:58 Dr Mark Johnson talks about how pain is a context driven experience, and the importance of understanding how the narrative matters when it comes to managing pain.  25:49 Kerry Page recalls the importance of giving time to listen to the pain community and those living with chronic pain, and the way that Rethinking Pain’s initiative provides this through Health Coaches.   35:53 Kerry page discusses how pain management services can help to reach more people and connect people and organisations from across the pain community.   Additional Resources: Rethinking Pain  Inequalities in Chronic Pain Report - Versus Arthritis  If you have any feedback about Airing Pain, you can leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey  _______________________________________________________________________________________________