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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 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting.  If you have any feedback about Airing Pain, you can leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey   

Pain Education Classes – Learn to live well with pain  “A life-changing experience” – Lindsay McLean, Airing Pain #150 This episode of Airing Pain 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). Find out more in ‘Additional Resources’ below.  “[The sessions] offer hope”  “If you can learn to turn the volume of pain down, you can bring back joy and an ability to participate in life”  “Now I’m in control of the pain instead of the pain being in control of me”  Watch Lorimer Moseley’s ‘Why Things Hurt’, as highlighted by educator Joan Melville, here – https://youtu.be/gwd-wLdIHjs?si=ckR6O4CN7LPM9a9K. 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. Additional Resources:  Explore our free Pain Education Classes and sign up. 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 immunity This 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. Thanks The 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 community If you have any feedback about Airing Pain, you can leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey  

This edition of Airing Pain focuses on advances in understanding and managing chronic pain, from neuroimmune mechanisms to new diagnostic and treatment approaches. In this trailer, listen to excerpts from the full program on: how does acute, short term pain turn into chronic, persistent pain? Why do early life experiences affect later life pain?  And why do existing tools for measuring pain fall short? 

Full Episode available: 5/3/2025 This 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.

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 neurodivergence Released on: 5/3/2025 This 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 Pain 04:46 The Relationship between Hypermobility and Neurodivergence 12:06 Gender Differences in Diagnosis and Pain 13:49 Ren Martin’s Personal Experience 32:27 Diagnosis for Neurodivergent Individuals 35:18 Challenges in Education for Neurodivergent Children 42:40 Training for Educators and Healthcare Workers Links 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  

Coming 9th October:  This edition of Airing Pain focuses on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – two outwardly similar sounding conditions, but the devil is in the details.  Our contributors are experts on visceral pain, gastrointestinal disease, and psychological factors affecting chronic conditions; find out what they have to say in the latest edition of Airing Pain, coming soon.    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 in interest factors that affect symptom experience and adjusting to chronic medical conditions. 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   _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Coming 14th August: 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.   Is the 1-to-1 doctor-patient consultation the best we can do? How can we help people to feel more empowered in managing their own pain? Our contributors are experts in pain management, research, and community engagement; find out what they have to say in the latest edition of Airing Pain, coming soon.   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.  If you have any feedback about Airing Pain, you can leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey