Episode 3: Chapter 2 - Trevor Barker - Recovery from chronic/persistent back pain (Chronic pain) - The turning point to recovery

In this third 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.

In this chapter Trevor describes the learnings he gained at the Albury Wodonga Health - Persistent Pain Service and how they changed his life.

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

Shownotes:

• ^00:30 - 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.
• ^02:10 - 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,
• ^04:20 - Trevor recommends to "give it a red hot go",
• ^06:00 - Trevor explains that they were 'doing and experiencing it. Not just talking about it', which made the difference,
• 07:00 - Trevor came off his opioid pain medication during his time at the pain service, and describes how his pain reduced during the same period despite increasing activity,
• ^07:45 - Trevor explains that there is a DIRECT relationship between the amount of stress in your life and with the pain you experience (as demonstrated by current pain science). He recommends incorporating movement and mindfulness into your life, reducing stress and retraining the pain system,
• ^08:15 - Trevor discusses the 3 things which helped him to reduce stress and thus reduce his pain:
  • ^08:20 - Learning that 'pain doesn't have a direct relationship with tissue damage',
  • ^11:25 - Practising mindfulness (Trevor explains what he learnt and how he practices it),
  • ^14:25 - Practising 'crossing the midline above shoulder height' throughout the day to stop the brain from spreading pain msgs across the brain/body,
• ^19:53 - Explore the resources of the Pain Revolution, and perhaps read 'Explain Pain',
• 24:23 - Trevor tells a story describing 'the pharmacy cabinet in our brain',
• ^28:59 - Trevor advises that "Making change is where it is at", as chronic pain only deteriorates over time, and in fact that we can learn to dial down what is going on.

^Trevor's main tips