Episode 3: Full episode - Trevor Barker - Recovery from chronic/persistent back pain (Chronic pain)

In this episode we meet Trevor Barker, a former electrician and now support coordinator from north eastern Victoria who following a minor workplace injury, developed and lived with debilitating chronic lower back pain for over 20 years. His eventual recovery came swiftly through education and he now works with some of the world's leading pain scientists and educators to share his story and encourage others to learn more and make meaningful change in their own lives. Trevor has appeared on SBS’s Insight program, as well as contributing to various podcasts, radio and print media and continues to share and champion recovery from persistent pain.

We meet Trevor and hear about his life, the injuries which initiated his pain and the deterioration of his condition. He describes the turning point, and the things which were most important in his recovery. He also explains how he deals with pain flare-ups if they occur.

Full transcripts and show notes are available for each chapter on the podcast website: storiesofrecovery.buzzsprout.com

Trevor's recommendations:

• 24:09 - The Persistent Pain Service at Albury Wodonga Health is where Trevor took part in a 3 week intensive full time residential program.  The 'turning point' for his pain,
• 25:32 & 53:36 - Holding his arms up during the intake assessment (in contrast to the other things which he could not complete), initiated a thought process in his mind...'if I use my body, it can be strong'. Trevor's advice - use your body and make it strong,
• 31:25 - Try to incorporate movement and mindfulness into your life. Reduce stress and retrain the pain system,
• 32:00 & 56:20 - Learn that 'pain doesn't have a direct relationship with tissue damage',
• 35:00 - Practice mindfulness (Trevor explains what he learnt and how he practices it),
• 38:11 - Practice 'crossing the midline above shoulder height' throughout the day to stop the brain from spreading pain msgs across the brain/body,
• 43:30 - Explore the resources of the Pain Revolution, and perhaps read 'Explain Pain',
• 57:34 - Read about DIM-SIM therapy (Danger In Me - Safety In Me) & give it a go,
• 1:01:39 - Find a medical professional who is trained in pain science, who can safely assess what you are 'safe' to do, and can work with you to understand pain and recover,
• 1:07:16 - Watch these two great videos by David Butler and Lorimer Moseley,
• 1:08:20 - Read Alison Sim's book Pain Heroes. Trevor refers to it as 'painful yarns' in the interview which is another good book by Lorimer Moseley,
• 1:09:03 - Have the courage to try new things, new approaches - "give things a go",
• 1:12:27 - Be wary of anyone who is trying to treat you with a 'Biomedical' approach, rather than a 'Biopsychosocial' approach,
• 1:18:33 - How to deal with pain 'flare-ups', a practical example,
• 1:28:06 - Trevor's msg to those still in pain.

For more detailed show notes, see the individual chapter sections on the podcast website.