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Dear Members,
For your information, we are providing to you the following advisory that was sent this morning by the painexplained campaign to the attention of news, health and finance reporters across Canada :

Interview Opportunity - Budgeting Pain Treatment in Canada - Too Costly to Ignore
TORONTO, March 4 /CNW/ - As the Federal Budget is tabled today over six million Canadians living with moderate to severe chronic pain are waiting to see what considerations, if any, have been made to effectively research, treat and manage pain in Canada.

Chronic pain significantly impacts the Canadian economy through lost workplace productivity and increases the burden on Canada 's healthcare system. A survey of moderate to severe chronic pain sufferers found almost 60 per cent had lost their job, suffered loss of income or had a reduction in responsibilities as a result of their pain.(1) Among those who were still employed, pain significantly affected absenteeism rates, with a mean number of 28.5 lost work days per year.(2)

Despite the problems associated with chronic pain, six-in-ten of those afflicted (62 per cent) report their workplace does not have a wellness program that includes a component about preventing or living with chronic pain according to a recent Chronic Pain in the Workplace survey.(3) Seventy per cent of chronic pain sufferers believe their condition is holding them back in their career, and 87 per cent say their job aggravates their pain.(4)

A National Health Population Survey estimated that chronic pain costs Canadians approximately $14,744 per affected person per year.(5) Estimates place direct health care costs for Canada to be more than $6 billion per year (in year 2000 dollars) for individuals suffering from chronic pain and by 2025, these costs can be expected to rise to more than $10 billion per year.(6) Wait times for treatment at the few publicly funded interdisciplinary pain clinics across Canada often exceed the six month benchmark. Many patients wait up to five years for pain treatment with large areas of Canada having no access to service.(7)

Despite these facts, pain treatment is not a priority with our government. Medical and personal insight into pain treatment needs is available at your convenience:

Who: Dr. Mary Lynch - President of the Canadian Pain Society, Director,Pain Management Unit, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax

Lynn Cooper - painexplained.ca steering committee member, President of the Canadian Pain Coalition (CPC) and chronic pain sufferer

Dr. Roman Jovey - painexplained.ca steering committee member, Past President of the Canadian Pain Society (CPS) and a doctor treating both chronic pain and addiction problems

About painexplained.ca

painexplained.ca is an awareness and advocacy campaign founded by the Canadian Pain Society, the Canadian Pain Coalition, and the Canadian Pain Foundation. The painexplained.ca initiative seeks to promote awareness of the issue of under treated pain in Canada through a long-term, coordinated public awareness campaign with the goal of addressing the vital need to achieve better understanding, prevention and management of all types of pain in Canada .

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(1) Chronic Pain Survey. Nanos Research, sponsored by painexplained.ca. 2007-2008

(2) IBID

(3) Chronic Pain in the Workplace survey. Ipsos Reid, sponsored by Janssen-Ortho Inc. October, 2009.

(4) IBID

(5) Statistical Report on the Health on Canadians. Health Canada (1999).http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-570-x/82-570-x1997001-eng.pdf

(6) The economics of Chronic Pain. CJ Phillips D Schopflocher (2008). In S Rashiq D Schopflocher, P Taenzer E Jonsson (Eds) Chronic Pain: A Health Policy Perspective. Weinham , Germany : Wiley-Blackwell.

(7) Challenges in accessing multidisciplinary treatment facilities in Canada . Peng, Chouiniere et al. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. December 2007; 54: 963-8.

For further information: To schedule an interview or for additional information, please contact: Kristina Rikunova, Argyle Communications, (416) 968-7311, ext. 243, krikunova@argylecommunications.com

….on November 2009, Gloria attended a Workshop on Neuropathic Pain which was presented by the Interdisciplinary Pain Program at UWO. Real patients added to the informative day.

….in October 2009, Gloria attended the 20th annual Clinical meeting of the AAPM held in Phoenix, Arizona. The Conference Title was Integrative pain Management for Optimal Patient care.
Integrative pain Management continues to be patient-centred and reaffirms the importance of the relationship between the practitioner and the patient. This approach promoted optimal wellness and helps patients reach their goals with a greater sense of personal control.
This interactive and proactive few days was a re-freshing break from the challenges of offering pain management programs in an out patient environment. Speakers included those from scientific researchers to complementary health practitioners . Topics included those on sleep disturbances to the emotional impact on pain and pain perception as well as the use of psychological and physical adjuncts to pharmacological management of persistent pain symptoms.

….in October 2009, Gloria and Darien attended a three day Neuro-optometric Rehabilitation Course held at Parkwood Hospital in London. Course organizer Dr. William Padula is a an optometrist who has developed new assessment techniques and treatment strategies to assist both the neurologically impaired as well as the post traumatic head injury patient. He has co=founded the organization NORA ( www. More information on vestibular and visual problems can be accessed on the Clinic website under…..

….In June 2009, Gloria Gilbert wrote the exams of the American Academy of Pain Management. She is now credentialed as a Fellow with both the American and Canadian A P M organizations

…. in April 2009 Darien attended a 2 day workshop in Woodstock on Vestibular Rehabilitation. (see more information on vestibular Rehabilitation on the Clinic web site)

….in February 2009, Gloria attended a Workshop sponsored by Toronto rehab on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury- Challenges and Controversies in Diagnosis. This was the first time that health professionals of all disciplines had sat down to discuss this important topic. Presentations include those by the medical Doctor, psychologist and physiatrist (Doctor of Physical medicine and rehabilitation) associated with the Neuro-Rehabilitation Program at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. It also included a key note discussion on ‘lessons learned from the sports world on Post-concussion Syndrome. This is a major topics that has only begin to be discussed in depth. Gloria will be attending the second Workshop to be held in February 2010 in Toronto

…in Chronic Pain Management
The Canadian Pain Coalition (www.canadianpaincoalition.ca) continues to advocate for the acknowledgement of chronic pain as a significant concern of all Canadians and to work on improving services provided to its constituents. It held another successful National Pain Awareness week in November 2009. One of its outreach efforts its integration into the Canadian Pain Foundations walk-a thon to raise money for additional research and services for patients living with persistent pain.

Over the last decade, physiotherapists across Canada have been increasingly interested in the need for multi-disciplinary management of their patients with chronic pain symptoms. Therapist have now become more officially organized into a new Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association called The Pain Sciences Division. Members of the Pain Sciences Division can be accessed on the website http://sites.goggle.com/site/canadianpainphysiodirectory/
This vehicle will make it easier for patients across our vast country to find physiotherapists who have an interest and appreciation of the complexity of patients experiencing chronic pain.

Dr. Michael MacDonald . rehabilitation psychologist in London has published an on-line book entitled www.Unbelieveable Pain Control.com.
Using a case study approach, Dr. MacDonald describes 4 different patients, who are each experiencing their pain symptoms using ‘differing coping styles’ .Although written primarily for patients, it is additionally useful for the health professional to gain insight as to the way that chronic pain patient ‘experience’ their feelings.

…..in Exercise Programs for People of all ages…

We all have heard the expression ’Use It of Lose It’. Although we usually associate this phrase with ‘the brain’ (i.e. keep your brain active and healthy’, and your memory will be better), this is also an important statement for muscles and joints.
Research studies have now found that muscles actually get smaller as we age (sarcopenia).Since we are born with a finite number of muscle fibers (in the millions- when we are young), we should not panic if we lose a few!
Increasing clinical studies have shown the benefits of achieving strength and endurance measures- to both seniors and people of all ages.

Exercise often becomes additionally challenging for the patient who is experiencing pain –either because of trauma or after surgery. Most people ‘do not want to move’ because IT IS PAINFUL. Funding the right type of exercise program – one that will build strength and NOT be uncomfortable is the create pain is the challenge.
Consider pool exercise programs and exercise programs in a non-weight bearing position’ (such as Pilates) to avoid joint pain while building muscle strength and endurance.

 

Other good general informational sites:

Hospital for Sick Children www.aboutkidshealth.com
National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke www.ninds.nih.gov
National Library of Medicine www.nlm.nih /gov/medlineplus/healthtopics/html
National Institute of Arthritis, Musculo-skeletal & Skin Diseases www.niams.nih/gov

Professional Sites

Canadian Pain Society www.canadianpainsociety.ca
International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) www.iasp-pain.org
Canadian Academy of Pain Management www.canadianapm.com
Acupuncture Foundation of Canada www.afcinstitute.com
Institute for Work & Health www.iwh.on.ca
Canadian Physiotherapy Pain Sciences Group www.cppsg.squarespace.com
UWO Interdisciplinary Pain Program www.londonpain.ca