Airing Pain

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”  Wat

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 consequ

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

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

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 San

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.  Contributor

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

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

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 Comple

Airing Pain 144: Dilemmas in Pain Research  This episode of Airing Pain focuses on the challenges that researchers must overcome when researching pain and developing new treatment approaches. Many questions remain unanswered in the field of pain research. For example, we might know that a treatment works for some people living with pain, but we might not know how it works or why some people benefit and some do not.  So, there is a lot of research being done to try to better understand pain. This leads to another problem: how to cope with the amount of new information emerging from research and trials? It is important that new research data is made more accessible for clinicians, healthcare workers, patients, and researchers. Data is no use unless it can be assessed and summarized so that doctors can understand how to use it to benefit their patients.  Our contributors for this edition are leaders in this field and they discuss some of the issues they have encountered whilst conducting their research into

Coming 12 June: This edition of Airing Pain focuses on the dilemmas and roadblocks that researchers encounter when researching pain and developing interventions, how they may overcome them, and why systematic reviews of research are so important. Our contributors for this edition are leaders in this field and they discuss some of the issues they have encountered whilst conducting their research into pain and how to treat it.  Interviews in this edition were recorded at the British Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting. Contributors: Professor Robert Brownstone is a Professor and Head of Neurosurgery at University College London. Dr Neil O’Connell is a Reader in the Physiotherapy Division of the Department of Health Sciences at Brunel University London. He is also a member of Cochrane's central editorial board.  Dr Kirsty Bannister is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience/Neuropharmacology at King’s College London.

This edition of Airing Pain focuses on the treatment of pain, the importance of catering treatment to a person’s individual genetic makeup, and why addressing the psychological dimensions of pain is crucial in treating it effectively.  The process of finding a medication or treatment that works for a person often involves a lot of trial and error, which can be a frustrating process for someone to go through. This process can be side-stepped through the use of personalised medicine, where information about a person’s genetic makeup is used to tailor and optimise their treatment so it is as effective as possible. Although medication is oftentimes a vital part of treating pain, incorporating psychological treatment alongside medication can be hugely beneficial when it comes to making pain management better for those living with acute or chronic pain. Changing how someone thinks about pain can enhance their response to the physical components of the treatment they receive. Our contributors for this edition

Coming 10 April: This edition of Airing Pain focuses on the treatment of pain, the importance of catering treatment to a person’s individual genetic makeup, and why addressing the psychological dimensions of pain is crucial in treating it effectively.   Our contributors for this edition discuss the ways in which the treatment of pain can be made more effective for people by incorporating personalised medicine or psychological treatments into a person’s care plan.  This edition will be funded by the Guy Fawkes Charitable Trust and was created with support from the British Pain Society. Contributors:  Professor Tony Dickenson, Professor of Neuropharmacology at University College London  Dr. Beth Darnall, PhD, Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Director, Stanford Pain Relief Innovations Lab. Professor Irene Tracey, Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford and a Professor of Anaesthetic Neuroscience in the Nuffield Department of Clinica

Pain Concern would like to remind listeners that the topic of chronic pain can be uncomfortable for those with lived experience of chronic pain. Please read the description for information about this edition's content.  In a 2020 US study, it was found that ‘Implicit bias remains a contributor to healthcare disparities.’ This can be based on gender, ethnicity, disability or locality, and has the potential to affect somebody no matter their background.    In Airing Pain 142, we begin with specific references to disparities in Musculoskeletal (MSK) treatment, and how we can learn from other healthcare fields to increase patient satisfaction; we then focus on how both internal and external stigma can lead to discrimination in treatment; before ending with a discussion about why ethnic minorities are being inadvertently discriminated against in the pain management setting.   If you enjoyed this episode of Airing Pain, why not subscribe?  You can also leave us a review via our Airing Pain survey Read Transcri

This edition of Airing Pain sheds light on the unique challenges of living with cancer as a child or young adult, and the later impacts of the cancer treatment they underwent during the critical formative years. Airing Pain speaks to experts on the longitudinal impacts of cancer for these age groups; across medical, physical, and psychosocial.   Pain and fatigue are commonly reported as the most significant negative impact on quality of life when living with cancer. Until quite recently there has been little research in the area of living with cancer and experiencing medical treatments for cancer as a child or young adult during the critical formative years, and even less so on the long-term impacts these treatments can have throughout later adulthood.   Our contributors discuss a variety of determinants that impact long-term effects such as type of treatment, type of cancer, their personal resilience, and their family and social support networks. We also hear of the opportunities in improving cancer care