70: The Case for Pain Management

Make sure you stand up and do a few stretches after listening to this episode of Airing Pain! ‘Movement is medicine’ for people in pain, says consultant physiotherapist Eve Jenner. But it’s about more than just exercise – physiotherapists can help people understand pain, know the difference between ‘hurt and harm’ and get a better night’s sleep. Understanding pain matters for doctors and public health officials too, argues pioneer of pain management services Professor Michael Bond. It’s not just political correctness to look at pain as a problem in itself; it’s a question of biology. Changes in the spinal cord make pain persist. Getting the message across could be a matter of life and death. Research suggests that delays in the diagnosis and treatment of persistent pain can reduce life expectancy, Dr Manohar Sharma says. He explains why working as a team of different specialists, including the person in pain, is crucial for making the complex spinal interventions he specialises in succeed.Contributors:  Michael Bond, retired professor of psychological medicine  Manohar Sharma, Clinical Director of Pain Medicine at The Walton Centre, Liverpool  Eve Jenner, independent consultant physiotherapist. #Backpain #Chronicpainasaconditioninitsownright #Educatinghealthcareprofessionals #Insomnia #Physiotherapy #Psychologicalapproachestopainmanagement