In episode twenty, we are speaking to Dr. Anita Chakravarti who has been a prominent member of the pain community in Saskatchewan as someone with lived experience of pain, and as a care provider.  Anita is a physician, anesthesiologist, and member of the department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Anita was the first medical director for the Chronic Pain Centre in Saskatoon, has been a physician at the St. Paul’s Hospital Pain Clinic, and is a Medical Advisor to the Canadian Pain Coalition. She was a long-time board member of the Saskatchewan Pain Society, and is also a facilitator of mindfulness and self-compassion which she regularly presents on.  In this episode, Anita shares about her own experiences living with chronic pain. We delve into the topic of mindfulness and self-compassion – or, “kindfulness,” as Anita calls it – which can be an instrumental resources in one’s tool kit while on a pain journey. Anita details pain as a collective experience, and how current medicine has focused on the separation of mind and body as it relates to the pain. Further, she explains the neuroscience behind how self-acceptance can assist someone living with pain, the sense of betrayal that can occur while experiencing with pain, and the importance of “befriending” your body as a pain management strategy.This episode is jam packed with incredible wisdom, personal experience, and tools for both physicians and people with lived experience of pain, so we hope you enjoy our final episode of Season 1!If you wish to contact Anita directly for more information about these topics, she is available at  anita.chakravarti@usask.caAdditional Links and Resources Anita Chakravarti's ProfileFor Physicians: Mindful Practice in Medicine  – Centres for Mindfulness Jon Kabat-Zinn Eckart Tolle - The Power of Now Kristen Neff - Self Compassion SaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information.

In episode nineteen, we are speaking to Dr. Michelle Gagnon. Michelle is a registered clinical psychologist and PhD psychology professor at the University of Saskatchewan. Michelle received her graduate school training out of the University of Regina, where she also completed a residency at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario. Her area is on the social and psychological influences in the pain experience across the lifespan, with a current focus on pediatric pain. During the episode, Michelle gives us details on the pain-related research activities happening in her lab, the Family Health Lab, at USask. Here, they are actively recruiting teens/parents for studies about menstrual pain, and the development of a phone app for menstrual pain management. Michelle also shares some of the innovative studies being led by the students' she is supervising, with a discussion on the importance of mentorship for young pain researchers.   Michelle provides an excellent overview of how pediatric or youth pain differs to adult or elderly populations, how pain can be embedded in a family, and the normalization of pain for certain populations . We have a discussion catered to health care providers on ensuring stigma and discrimination doesn't occur against particular groups regarding their pain experience. Lastly, Michelle explains the social experience of pain from the perspective of the person living it – which may help those currently trying to seek help for their pain gain insight on how they can, perhaps, better advocate for themselves.If you have questions about the Family Health Lab at USask, or wish to participate in some of the projects they are currently working on, please visit: https://www.familyhealthlab.com If you wish to contact Dr. Gagnon directly for more information, she is available at Michelle.gagnon@usask.ca or on Twitter @MicheGagnonAdditional Links and Resources Family Health LabFamily Health Lab TwitterFamily Health Lab FacebookFHL Student Research - Kayla Wall, Mindfulness and Menstrual PainSaskatchewan Centre for Patient Oriented Research (SCPOR)Article re: Menstrual Pain Impacting Chronic Pain Later in Life SaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved in the podcast.

In episode eighteen, we are speaking to massage therapist, Donelda Gowan, who is the associate director of the Centre for Integrative Medicine in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology within the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Donelda is also the previous Chair of Research on the Board of Directors of the Massage Therapist Association of Saskatchewan, and the current Chair of INCAM – the Canadian Interdisciplinary Complementary and Integrative Medicine Research Network.  Donelda recently retired from massage therapy after 35 years of practice, and Donelda provides listeners valuable education on what integrative medicine is, the benefits of massage therapy as a low-risk modality in pain management, and the importance of utilizing massage as a bridging therapy for those living with chronic pain. In this episode we also discuss the importance of physical touch and social connection in healing, the value of listening to your body while undergoing treatment which can enable massage therapy to be a tool of empowerment, and how to find a skilled and knowledgeable massage therapist in the province for your specific needs. There is currently a listserv through the University of Saskatchewan that people can subscribe to in order to get announcements of Centre activities; but if you have more direct questions about the Centre for Integrative Medicine at USask, or wish to contact Donelda directly for more information, she is available at d.gowan@usask.caAdditional Links and Resources International Society for Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative MedicineCentre for Integrative Medicine Website - LISTSERV for Event AnnouncementsDonelda on Twitter  Meta-Analysis (2004) of Benefits of Massage Therapy How to Find a Massage Therapist in Saskatchewan SaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved in the podcast.

In episode seventeen, we are speaking to chronic pain social worker, Jennifer King, who works with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals at the MaciOPS/Chronic Pain Clinic at the University of Saskatchewan (which she teaches us all about)! Jennifer shares her journey that has led her to becoming a social worker involved in chronic pain, and the specialized role they have in supporting patients with pain. Jennifer is all about “meeting people where they are at” - she touches on the importance learning about the nervous system, various mind strategies she uses in her practice, and what somatic therapies are. She walks us through some amazing pain education on the “protective” and “restorative” mechanisms that can worsen or improve pain, and gives us a primer of what a meeting with a social worker for pain management may look like.Jennifer’s practice is incredibly client-centred and individualized, and she has a lot to say about the importance of addressing trauma in the body as a first step in healing. She also has great insight for health care providers and local representatives on how to help improve management, and leaves us with some great tools about how to help advocate for change – for yourself as a patient, or for pain care more broadly in Canada. We love Jennifer’s fresh perspective, and you can reach out to her directly via her private practice at the following website: http://jenniferkingrsw.com/ Additional Links and Resources Mac iOPS (Chronic Pain Clinic) Mac iOPs self-referral form Philip Yancey Book – the Gift of PainJennifer King’s Website (Facebook and Instagram also available)Pain Canada - Download template letter for local representatives SaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook A thank you to our sponsors and supporters: The Saskatchewan Pain Society The Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved in the podcast.

In episode sixteen, we once again speak to our podcast's incredible interim host, Jessica Jack. In this episode, Jessica walks listeners through her own lived experience of pain where she had never received a formal diagnosis. Throughout the episode, Jessica details how her physical pain was rooted in her mental health experiences.Further, Jessica details how "pain had been normalized" as a part of her everyday experience, and she provides education on what the normalization of pain is, extinction bursts, and what we can do about it as our pain starts to ramp up before it gets better. She closes with a discussion on how pain has been normalized in many different contexts, and a very exciting announcement about SaskPain's involvement in a new initiative by Pain Canada! We hope you enjoy this episode, and for anyone wanting to connect with Jessica directly, you are welcome to do so by e-mailing Jessica at Jessica.jack@usask.caAdditional Links and ResourcesPain Canada Website Alan Gordon & Extinction Bursts "The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment" by Babette RothschildSaskPain Website SaskPain FacebookSaskPain TwitterA thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information, or to get involved.

For episode fifteen, we are speaking to patient partner and pain advocate Alexandria Pavelich. Alexandria - the podcast's regular host - had the tables turned where Jessica interviewed her about her lived of experience of pain. Alexandria has a history of migraines, back pain, pelvic pain, and has received dozens of varying pain diagnoses throughout her life such as RSD, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, herniated discs, and interstitial cystitis with limited options being offered in terms of management or treatment. Alexandria shares her story of how she overcome pain with the help of Dr. Gabor Maté who encouraged her to learn more about the connection between mind-body, and how trauma can impact one's experience of pain. Alexandria also details how imaging is not the be-all-end-all in diagnoses and treating pain, and how suggestive the mind can be when receiving medical information. Lastly, they dive into the idea of resistance: what does a patient do when they are told they are non-compliant after resisting the treatments being offered, or if they begin to reject the pain diagnoses they've received? If you are a patient whose ever felt unseen or unheard by a practitioner trying to get help for your pain, then this episode is for you!  We hope you enjoy this episode, and for anyone wanting to connect with Alexandria directly, you are welcome to do so by visiting her website at www.alexandriapavelich.com - Alexandria is also on Twitter at @PainSociologist. Additional Links and ResourcesCurable AppPain Psychology Centre - Remote Counselling Available Partners in Pain - March 30 Online WebinarThis Might Hurt - Documentary Film Recommended Books: Dr. John Sarno's "Healing Back Pain"Dr. Howard Schubiner's "Unlearn Your Pain"Dr. Gabor Mate's "When The Body Says No: The Hidden Cost of Stress"Alan Gordon's "The Way Out" SaskPain Website SaskPain FacebookA thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information, or to get involved.

In episode 14, we are speaking to chronic pain pharmacist, Kelly Kizlyk, who works with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals with MedSask at the University of Saskatchewan. Kelly shares her journey that has led her to becoming a chronic pain pharmacist and the lessons she’s learned along the way, culminating her current position of helping people who live with chronic pain be better able to make informed and supported decisions about their medication needs. She touches on the many roles she has, including self-management, assessment, medication management (such as best possible med history, med selection and dosing, interactions, monitoring, and de-prescribing), opioid stewardship, and advocacy for people living with chronic pain.Patient (or client)-centered care is the heart of Kelly’s work, and she discusses how she puts the needs of people living with pain at the forefront by engaging in shared decision-making instead of telling people what they should be doing by giving information and supporting them through the decision-making process. She also talks about how important it is to stay curious and actively listen to people about the choices they make, rather than judging them or their circumstances. This helps to hear the experiences that shape people’s decision-making processes, as the risk and benefits of medications vary by individual, so hearing each person’s lived experience is essential in helping them make good decisions about their medications.Kelly concludes that, by emphasizing the importance of relationship-building with and between people living with pain, chronic pain pharmacists like herself play an important role in supporting the pain community by giving people space to be human.Additional Links and ResourcesFor more information on the MedSask program, visit https://medsask.usask.ca/ For other pharmacy resources in Saskatchewan, check out https://usask.ca/pharmacist For opioid-specific information, check out the MAC iOPS program https://pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca/mac/healthcare-professionals/about-the-mac-iops.phpSaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved in the podcast.

In episode thirteen, we are hearing from Jennifer Pond about her experiences in living with spondylolisthesis. Jennifer walks us through managing the dark times and creating the light times that are necessary for staying balanced when you’re dealing with persistent pain. From sharing your feelings to healing and dealing, Jennifer details her experiences with pain and relates it back to the thing that connects us all - being human. Jennifer starts by telling us about the difficulties of living with spondylolisthesis, including the progression of the disease. She details the difficulties of isolation, loneliness, and trying to manage pain by not sharing it with others. She also talks about how freeing and healing it was to “share your sh*t” by being visible and vocal about her pain so that people can know who she is and what she’s dealing with.This episode is centered around how dealing with the challenges presented by pain is really about the human condition - being a functional member of society, being connected with others, and having people to support you. Jennifer also speaks about the importance of mindfulness and awareness, being present with your pain and the negative feelings that come along with them. She also talks about the importance of engaging with the higher level emotions of joy, gratitude, and excitement.Ultimately, this episode highlights how important it is to be open about being human about pain, with all the messy details that journey will entail! If you’d like to connect with Jennifer, you can find her at jennifernicolepond@gmail.com Additional Links and ResourcesSaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved in the podcast.

In episode twelve, we dive into the topic of yoga and how yoga techniques can help deal with chronic pain with certified yoga therapist, Sarah Garden. Sarah has more than twenty years of experience helping people with all kinds of chronic illnesses relate to their bodies and their feelings, but current focus is on chronic pain. Sarah is a Director of Yoga at Bodhi Tree Yoga in Regina and also works at the Regina Chronic Pain Care Clinic.An important aspect of Sarah’s yoga therapy work is the concept of neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to change and adapt both its structure and its function in response to experiences and as a result of change over the course of your life. Sarah discusses how the body and mind learn and adapt to dealing with pain, and how those same pathways can be used to teach yourself how to change those feelings of pain.Sarah also goes into detail about the techniques she uses to teach these changes. She discusses her ARMS technique, which helps you to be aware of what’s happening in your body, to regulate the responses you have to your body’s feelings, to learn how to incorporate movement and mobility, and to eventually build your strength and coordination. She goes on to give some tips on how to work on this by yourself if you are unable to work with a yoga therapist.We also discuss how Sarah came to work on chronic pain and the meaning that Saskatchewan has for her in her own journey of dealing with chronic pain, as she is committed to help the people who need it, including people who have unequal access to pain care.Any questions about Sarah’s work or the techniques she uses can be directed to her at sarah@bodhitreeyoga.comIf you have any questions about today’s episode, or would like more resources on any of the topics covered, please email us at info@saskpain.ca

In episode eleven, we speak with Erin Beckwell, a social worker and pain researcher who has her own 40+ years of lived experience with pain. Erin shared her experiences with how who she is impacts her pain experiences, including her identity as a fat person and as a queer person.Opening up about her experiences with labels, like being labelled as someone with chronic pain, someone with a disability, and her self-imposed labels of “being okay” by not admitting her pain to other people, Erin talks about the complexity of living with pain and reconciling it with both the way she sees herself and the way other people see her.Being in pain can create a contentious relationship with your body, and Erin talks about exploring the relationship with her body in relation to her size, as well as assumptions from health professionals and people in her life that her weight is directly tied to her health. Erin also elaborates on how being a part of the queer community and the diversity that is inherent to that community allowed her to accept being different and to love her body, pain and all.Self-awareness and self-advocacy are also prominent themes in this episode, as owning who you are, with the limitations and strengths that come with that, are important parts of Erin’s journey in living well with her pain. She also touches on how important it is for doctors to be open to accepting people for who they are rather than just looking for a condition or diagnosis.If you have any questions about today’s episode, or would like more resources on any of the topics covered, please email us at info@saskpain.caAdditional Links and ResourcesSaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved in the podcast.

For episode ten, we speak with Endometriosis warrior, Tiara Jackle, who has been living with stage four endometriosis for many years. Endometriosis is a disease with no cure where the tissue - similar to the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus - grows on the outside which can lead to cyst formation, adhesions, and pain. Chronic pain – typically, pelvic pain - is often associated with endometriosis, along with pain during sexual activity, bowel movements, or menstrual cycles.  During the episode, Tiara educates us all about Endo, where the gold-standard for diagnosis is a surgical laparoscopic exploration and biopsy. In addition to having two excision surgeries to help manage her endometriosis, Tiara has tried a variety of other techniques to manage her condition such as pelvic floor physiotherapy, and by following an Auto-Immune Wellness protocol diet (see the shows notes for more information). Tiara explains the difficult process she went through in order to get diagnosed over a ten year period, and the dismissal and devaluation she felt was a woman dealing not only with chronic pain but a reproductive health issue that was not taken seriously when trying to seek care. She shares some powerful insights about having to be the expert of your own body when on a pain journey, and the importance of educating yourself in order to advocate for the best treatment options and to start feeling well again. For anyone wanting to learn more about endometriosis, we suggest visiting the "Endometriosis Network of Canada" website. Endometriosis specialists in Saskatchewan currently reside in Saskatoon (Dr. Laura Weins), and in Regina (Dr. John Thiel & Dr. Darrien Rattray). You can e-mail us for more information at info@saskpain.ca  Additional Links and Resources Endometriosis Network CanadaSaskatchewan Pelvic Pain & Endo Warriors Support Group  AutoImmune Wellness Diet Mickey Trescott Instagram - Recipes & Information!SaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook A thank you to our sponsors and supporters: The Saskatchewan Pain Society The Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved in the podcast.

For episode nine, we speak to Saskatoon-based physiotherapist, Juliet Sarjeant. Juliet has been specializing in pelvic health treatment through her own physiotherapy practice, as well as at Saskatoon City Hospital, for almost two decades. She has undertaken a great deal of continuing education in pelvic health and pelvic pain, and she has previously been the chair of the Women’s Health Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.During the episode, Juliet starts us off with a “Pain 101” – she breaks down the differences between acute versus chronic pain to provide a strong educational overview. With this, Juliet also introduces listeners to “pelvic pain” and the various systems involved that may be affected by the pelvic floor muscles (such as the bladder, bowels, and sexual organs). Juliet explains the role physiotherapy has in pelvic health to combat chronic or actuate pelvic pain. She reinforces that YOU are the expert on your body, and the role a patient has in educating themselves and putting in the work to help overcome the pain they are dealing with. She also touches on the fear cycle, and the power of visualization and graded exposure therapy in overcoming chronic pain.  We learn throughout the episode that the pelvis, or pelvic pain in general, is not given a great deal of attention due to the sensitive nature of the area, and how there is often a misunderstanding by care providers not specialized in pelvic health about the variety of health improvements patients can have if they attend to their pelvic floor health. For anyone wanting to connect with Juliet directly, you are welcome to do so via e-mail at contact@prairiepelvichealth.com or by visiting her website at www.prairiepelvichealth.com. She is also on Facebook and Instagram (@PrairiePelvicHealth). Additional Links and ResourcesPrairie Pelvic Health - FacebookPrairie Pelvic Health - Instagram www.prairiepelvichealth.comVisual Depiction of Pelvic Floor Muscles How Visualization Can Help Pain SaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved in the podcast.

CONTENT WARNING: Suicide, Explicit LanguageIn episode eight, we speak to Dayna Fesciuc, who is an incredible pain advocate, and research and pain partner in Saskatchewan. Dayna has suffered for over a decade from a variety of diagnoses such as complex regional pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. This episodes details some of her personal experiences as she has found ways to start living well. During the episode, we do delve into some difficult topics such as how mental health, suicide, grief, and negative health care provider and patient interactions can really impact one’s pain management. This may be triggering for some listeners. There is also explicit language mentioned in the last few minutes of the episode.  Dayna speaks to the utmost importance of doing “inner work” – addressing things outside of pure physiological therapies - and how finding a suitable care provider who will actively listen and help meet you where you’re at on your pain journey is essential. Dayna is also a proponent of how alternative therapeutic approaches, like art therapy and a vitamin regime, can be essential on someone’s healing journey. Dayna’s story is very raw and powerful, she provides - in great detail - what it is like to live in pain every day and the struggles that can accompany that. She stresses the importance of patients learning to: fight for themselves within the health care system, using your voice, and how “taking the reigns” and standing up for oneself while pursuing suitable pain management strategies is an absolute must. The episode is incredibly inspiring, and a must listen for anyone who has felt grief or frustration on a pain journey.   Additional Links and ResourcesSaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook  MAC iOPS (As Mentioned in the Episode)  re: Patient Resource and Chronic Pain Toolkit Dayna’s Art Therapy Workshop with “Partners in Pain” We hope you enjoyed this episode, and we encourage you to visit our website at www.saskpain.ca or reach out if you would like to share your own personal story. We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information.

For Episode 7, we get to speak with Saskatoon-based cannabis researcher and educator Dr. Robert Laprairie. Robert is a PhD research expert with numerous titles under his belt: Assistant Professor, CIHR-GSK Research Chair in Drug Discovery and Development, President & Director of Education and Trainee Initiatives, and lead on the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC) - all based out of the University of Saskatchewan!During the episode, Robert opens with a strong "Cannabis 101" - he breaks down the science behind what is actually happening in our body's endocannabinoid system, explains Type 1 and type 2 cannabinoid receptors, and provides useful differentiations between "THC" and "CBD."Robert also explains how cannabis works in our system to help combat things like chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, and the positive effect it has on other substance use activities - a topic that's highly relevant given the amount of pain patients who may be concerned about their opioid or other substance use strategies for pain management. Robert provides information for care providers on educational training, steps in assisting your patients with cannabis use, and policy and research suggestions as cannabis for pain moves forward. Lastly, insight for patients who are considering cannabis use as apart of their medical regiment and the different modes of delivery. In short: start low, go slow! We learn throughout the episode that cannabis as medicine research is a relatively new and emerging field, and we can't wait to see where Dr. Laprairie and his team go next. For information on his current lab activities, please visit his website, HERE. We hope you enjoyed this episode, and for anyone wanting to connect with Robert directly, you are welcome to do so by e-mailing him at Robert.laprairie@usask.ca, or finding him on Twitter or Instagram "@RBLaprairie."Additional Links and ResourcesCannabinoid Research Initiative of SaskatchewanCanadian Consortium for the Investigation of CannabinoidsDr. Laprairie's Academic Profile CAMH Website - Information on Cannabis UseCanadian Centre on Substance Use & Addiction - Information on Cannabis UseThe Clinic Network SaskPain Website SaskPain FacebookA thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information, or to get involved.

In episode six, we speak to Andrew Hartman who is currently a doctoral student in Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan, and a Certified Health & Wellness Coach. Also the founder of Saskatoon-based business, Psystem, Andrew and their team run a virtual wellness space to provide support, resources, and services for those on pain journeys - an endeavour that was directly inspired by Andrew's own lived experience of pain!Andrew has had a lifetime of experience with chronic pain, and currently suffers from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). AS is a global inflammatory disease similar to arthritis that causes pain; over time, it can cause bones in the spine (vertebrae) to fuse, and can spread to additional joints causing damage in other parts of the body.During our conversation, Andrew shares some inspirational stories and insight on how perseverance and self-advocacy are crucial parts of accepting and managing a chronic pain condition. They also provide some keen takeaways and advice for those struggling with depression and/or physical limitations alongside their pain, the importance of conscious breath work and yoga practices to enable feelings of safety in one's body, and excellent advice to both care providers and patients. Lastly, we close with some education on the “The Spoon Theory” of chronic illness, which is a self-pacing strategy that emphasizes the need for chronic pain patients to work within a certain quota as a pain management strategy. Developed by Christine Miserandino to relate to many types of chronic illness, it describes perfectly an idea of each person having limited energy – using the analogy of “spoons” as a unit of energy - on how someone can approach their day and learn to live well.   More information about the Andrew and Psystem can be found on Facebook and Instagram (@MyPsystem – links below), or by e-mailing “info@psystem.ca” We will also post a link about the “The Spoon Theory” on our social media channels for more information following the release of this episode. Additional Links and ResourcesSaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook Psystem WebsitePsystem FacebookPsystem InstagramVangool Wellness Yoga  Vangool Wellness Podcast - "Awaken To Your Body's Natural Wisdom with Adrianne Vangool" We hope you enjoyed this episode, and we encourage you to visit our website at www.saskpain.ca or reach out if you would like to share your own personal story. We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information.

For Episode 5, we are speaking to registered nurse, Tracy Fichtner, who is based on the Yorkton area. Tracy not only has her own experiences with chronic pain, but she has 31 years of nursing experience where she currently works in Primary Health Care as a “Healthy Living Facilitator." Tracy has participated as a person with lived experience in the 2016 Saskatchewan Provincial Pain Conference, and in 2020, she joined the "Improving Pain Care in Saskatchewan Collaborative Research" (Improving Pain in SK) project, where she sits on the Provincial Advisory Panel as a patient partner. During our conversation, Tracy shares some keen insight on the importance of "accept - believe - support" in chronic pain. She also takes time to educate us about what the pain cycle is (an image of this can be found on SaskPain's social media), and how that helped in her own pain journey. Tracy also tells us all about the "Partners in Pain" webinar series - a virtual community support & educational group for people living with chronic pain in Saskatchewan - which provides opportunities for engagement and learning. Partners in Pain sessions are also recorded and available on YouTube (link below). Each 1-hour session consists of new knowledge from an information session with an expert healthcare provider, new connections through a personal story by someone living with chronic pain, new pain management skills by sharing tools for managing pain through a non-pharmacological activity. The remote environment also facilitates a question and answer people so thought-sharing and support is available. More information about the IPSK and Partners in Pain events can be found on the www.saskpain.ca website and social media channels, where they are also seeking sponsorship or donations so that they are able to continue to run these incredibly community-based events! We hope you enjoyed this episode, and for anyone wanting to connect with Tracy directly, you are welcome to do so by e-mailing her at tracy.fichtner@gmail.com. Additional Links and ResourcesSaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook"Partners in Pain" YouTube ChannelA thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information, or to get involved.

For Episode 4, we are speaking to Ross McCreery. Ross is an incredible advocate in the Saskatchewan chronic pain community and abroad where he shares his own experiences of living with complex regional pain syndrome, also known as CRPS. Ross is the founder of CRPS Awareness Day in Saskatchewan - which is on November 2nd - he is a board member of the Saskatchewan Pain Society, and he is actively involved as a patient family advisor for various research endeavours. He is a published writer and speaker, has an amazing website and blog called “Painfully Optomistic,” and today he is going to tell us all about his chronic pain journey, and the importance of patience and persistence while learning to manage pain. We hope you enjoy this episode, and for anyone wanting to connect with Ross directly, you are welcome to do so by visiting his website at https://painfullyoptomistic.com/ or dropping him an e-mail at ross@painfullyoptomistic.com. Ross is also on Twitter at @Rossco006, and has an active Facebook Page which can be found at "Painfully Optomistic." Additional Links and ResourcesSaskPain Website SaskPain FacebookA thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information, or to get involved.

For our third episode of “Your Partners In Pain," we are speaking with Jessica Jack who is a medical anthropology student and lead research assistant on the “Improving Pain in Saskatchewan” project. With their own lived experience of pain, Jessica tells us all about the multi-year IPSK research project in the province and ways for those in the community to get involved. Jessica shares with us some of the surprising findings from the research where she conducted the interviews, future directions for improving pain care in Saskatchewan, and the importance of community and culture in pain research and treatment!  We hope you enjoy this episode, and for anyone wanting to connect with Jessica directly, you are welcome to do so by e-mailing at jessica.jack@usask.ca Additional Links and ResourcesSaskPain Website SaskPain Facebook Improving Pain in Saskatchewan INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/improvingpainsk/ Improving Pain in Saskatchewan FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/Improving-Pain-in-Saskatchewan-105939404538315 A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives Fund Our Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information, or to get involved.

For our second episode of “Your Partners In Pain," we are speaking with Nikki Cooke who is a complex and chronic patient advocate, a current student who lives with psoriatic arthritis, and someone who has recovered from experiencing complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). We speak to Nikki about her personal experience of having pain as a pediatric patient, and the silver linings in her life that came from experiencing arthritis as a young person. We discuss the process of receiving a diagnosis, which often involves experiences of grief and depression, the importance of self-advocacy and social support in pain management, and advice for those experiencing pain or treating pain. For anyone wanting to connect with Nikki directly, you are welcome to e-mail her at ncooke121@gmail.com.Additional Links and ResourcesSaskPain WebsiteSaskPain FacebookSaskPain TwitterSaskPain on LinkedInA thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives FundOur Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved

For our first episode and “Your Partners In Pain” podcast launch, we are speaking with Dr. Susan Tupper, who is the co-chair of the Saskatchewan Pain Society and a leading pain researcher in the province. In this episode, we speak to Susan about her involvement in pain research in the province, the various roles she has with pain care and advocacy, as well as her own lived experience with chronic neck pain and headaches. We discuss the importance of having a care provider on your team who believes in you and your pain experience, how grief and anger are common experiences along a chronic pain journey, and advice for those new to experiencing chronic pain. For anyone wanting to connect with Susan directly, you can e-mail her through the www.SaskPain.ca website at info@saskpain.ca, or if you are active on social media, Susan is on Twitter "@SMTPT" or you can drop her a message through the Improving Pain in SK Instagram or Facebook Pages. Additional Links and ResourcesSaskPain WebsiteSaskPain FacebookSaskPain TwitterSaskPain on LinkedInImproving Pain in SKImproving Pain in SK FacebookImproving Pain in SK InstagramA thank you to our sponsors and supporters:The Saskatchewan Pain SocietyThe Community Initiatives FundOur Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions We happily feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at info@saskpain.ca, or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved