The Train Pain Academy

To register for this 1 day workshop and learn from Dr Whitaker in person visit our website (www.trainpainacademy.co.za/upcoming-events) and click on either the Cape Town or Joburg workshop. More information on what the workshop will cover is also available on our website

Join Dr Gaby Prinsloo & Jacqui Koep for this much anticipated course! The last one for 2024 so book your seat asap 😁

REGISTER HERE: https://app.glueup.com/event/pain-the-stress-response-systems-module-4-or-5-94444/

Chronic stress interplays with pain. More stress = more cortisol = more pain. Simple, right?

Wrong.

The relationship is a little more complex than that!

When the HPA-axis is reactivated over and over again by chronic stress, it becomes dysregulated. This dysregulation may be in the form of hyperactivity (with increased cortisol) OR hypoactivity (with decreased cortisol).

The direction of this dysregulation (hypo- or hyper-) may be associated with the extent and persistence of pain, such that:

· Chronic pain localised to a body region (e.g. low back pain) is associated with hyperactivity of the HPA-axis; higher basal levels of cortisol; an increased reactivity to an acute stressor; excessive release of cortisol; and then slower recovery from that stressor compared to pain-free controls.

· Whilst with chronic widespread pain (e.g. Fibromyalgia) there is an associated hypoactivity of the HPA-axis; lower basal levels of cortisol; blunted reactivity to a stressor; lower release of cortisol; and slower recovery.

More research is needed to explore the stress-pain relationship and how it can be used to prevent the spread and persistence of pain.

Explore the relationship further by joining “Pain and the stress-response systems” (Module 4 or 5 of the Certificate in Pain Management) on 23/24 November!

Register here: https://app.glueup.com/event/pain-the-stress-response-systems-module-4-or-5-94444/

Many people living with persistent pain experience significant anxiety and depression.

A US-based study published in PAIN this year*, found that U.S. adults living with persistent pain are approx. 5 times more likely to have clinically significant unremitted anxiety or depression compared with those not living with chronic pain; and that they make up an underrecognized majority of US adults with these mental health struggles.

Sadly, this study also found that some pain-specific barriers lead to disparities in the mental health treatment use of US adults with persistent pain when compared to those with mental health needs only.

We need better mental health outcomes for those living with persistent pain.

Amongst other things that can bring positive change, the authors suggest that we:

· Include chronic pain in the mental health conversation.

· Engage meaningfully with the mental health experiences and outcomes of those living with persistent pain to inform policy change.

Find out more about our psychologically-informed and wholistic approach to understanding, assessing and managing pain at: trainpainacademy.co.za.

*De La Rosa, Jennifer S.a,b,*; Brady, Benjamin R.a,c; Herder, Katherine E.a,d; Wallace, Jessica S.a,b; Ibrahim, Mohab M.a,e; Allen, Alicia M.a,b; Meyerson, Beth E.a,b; Suhr, Kyle A.a,f; Vanderah, Todd W.a,g. The unmet mental health needs of U.S. adults living with chronic pain. PAIN ():10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003340, July 30, 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003340

REGISTER HERE: https://app.glueup.com/event/pain-the-stress-response-systems-module-4-or-5-94444/

Get in-depth knowledge and practical skills on incorporating exercise/physical activity into paincare plans for common conditions: OA, fibromyalgia, longCOVID and CLBP.

Register now for “Prescribing exercise for pain and health conditions” (Module 4 or 5 of the Certificate in Pain Management) coming up on 9 & 10 November!

REGISTER HERE: https://app.glueup.com/event/prescribing-exercise-for-pain-health-conditions-module-4-or-5-94440/

Don't miss the last Communication Skills workshop for 2024! Register now to gain invaluable skills that will benefit not only your patient care but also your personal relationships.

Register here: https://app.glueup.com/event/clinical-communication-skills-course-module-2-94101/

Don't miss international expert, Dr Bernie Whitaker coming to SA in November 2024.

Register for Cape Town: https://app.glueup.com/event/distraction-guided-imagery-workshop-in-person-not-online-119427/

Register for Joburg: https://app.glueup.com/event/distraction-guided-imagery-workshop-in-person-not-online-119433/

Prescribers, our experts (Prof Romy Parker, Dr Kerry Louw & Dr Roland van Rensburg) have created a comprehensive workshop for you to learn how to prescribe medications to target pain mechanisms and how to develop multi-modal pain management plans using analgesics, adjuvants and non-pharmacological treatments!

When you register for this module, you will have access to:
· 8 hours of pre-recorded lectures on pain physiology, mechanism-based clinical reasoning, and the pharmacology of drugs used in pain management.
· A one-day, LIVE online workshop on 23 November 2024 of case study presentations and discussions to apply your clinical reasoning.

19 CPD + 2 ETHICS points!

REGISTER HERE: https://app.glueup.com/event/prescribing-for-pain-module-4-or-5-94453/

We end by turning our attention to children and adolescents living with pain.

In their systematic review and meta-analysis published in the September issue of PAIN, Chambers et al offer an update on the prevalence of persistent pain in this population and found the following:
· Overall, 1 in 5 children and adolescents are living with persistent pain (echoing the prevalence in adults).
· The highest prevalence was for headache and musculoskeletal pain (about 25%).
· Prevalence for pain varies by type between genders.
· Overall, and for all types of pain except for back pain and musculoskeletal pain, girls have higher prevalence for pain.
· Children living with persistent pain experience significant functional impairment (that often continues into adulthood); as well as increased risk for developing mood disorders, experiencing social isolation, being absent from school more often, and having a poorer quality of life.

The authors conclude that, given the significant burden associated with persistent pain in childhood, understanding the epidemiology of persistent pain in this population is important.

Ref: Chambers, C. T., Dol, J., Tutelman, P. R., Langley, C. L., Parker, J. A., Cormier, B. T., ... & Marianayagam, J. (2024). The prevalence of chronic pain in children and adolescents: a systematic review update and meta-analysis. Pain, 165(10), 2215-2234.

Don't miss it! REGISTER AT: https://app.glueup.com/event/fibromyalgia-workshop-4hr-online-120105/

September is and we are highlighting the importance of paincare being:
· Individualized
· Multidisciplinary
· Multimodal

According to IASP, Multimodal treatment refers to: “The concurrent use of separate therapeutic interventions with different mechanisms of action within one discipline aimed at different pain mechanisms. For example: the use of pregabalin and opioids for pain control by a physician; the use of NSAID and orthosis for pain control by a physician”

Multimodal also refers to the combination of medication with other kinds of interventions and non-medication strategies.

Rehabilitation professionals, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists, will also be ‘multimodal’ in combining ‘top-down’ (targeting central mechanisms) and ‘bottom-up’ (targeting peripheral mechanisms) kinds of non-medication strategies in their paincare. (For example, Therapeutic pain science education with physical activity and TENS.)

Are you offering multimodal paincare?

Learn more about multimodal paincare with us: www.trainpainacademy.co.za

REGISTER HERE: https://app.glueup.com/event/hypermobility-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-widespread-pain-engine-room-120332/

REGISTER HERE: https://app.glueup.com/event/fibromyalgia-workshop-4hr-online-120105/?pk_campaign=widget-event-list

Helen Roome: Occupational Therapist - Adults.

In this of September, we are following the lead of IASP and focussing on the importance of paincare being:
· Individualized
· Multidisciplinary (or interdisciplinary!)
· Multimodal

A person living with pain is best supported by a team of practitioners from different disciplines offering multiple modes of paincare. It is even better when that team is closely collaborating in assessment and treatment using a shared biopsychosocial model and goals.

For example: the prescription of an anti-depressant by a physician alongside exercise treatment from a physiotherapist, and CBT by a psychologist - all working closely together with regular team meetings.

Are you working within a multidisciplinary (or interdisciplinary) paincare team?

Learn more about multidisciplinary paincare with us: www.trainpainacademy.co.za

The month of September is and, this year, IASP is focussing on the importance of paincare being:
· Individualized
· Multidisciplinary
· Multimodal

Paincare needs to be individualised (or ‘personalised’) because, although all pain is pain, not all pain is the same.

As IASP notes: “Pain is always a personal experience that is influenced to varying degrees by biological, psychological, and social factors.” And: “Through their life experiences, individuals learn the concept of pain.”

Are you individualizing your paincare?

Learn more about how to individualise paincare with us: www.trainpainacademy.co.za

NB: Please note the date change on this workshop.. It will now take place on 7 September (instead of on 14th)

REGISTER: https://app.glueup.com/event/learn-to-code-with-the-icd-11-4hr-workshop-118213/