Neuroscience focuses upon the brain. Neuroscience has shown us that the brain is involved with pain. Consequently the brain has been blamed for pain, the unpleasant motivator that is designed to grab our attention and enforce action that protects us from a threat, actual or potential. Recent thinking that sensibly gathers paradigms from both neuroscience […]
Pain and tiredness
May 21, 2014 By
Pain is tiring and being tired worsens pain. It is a cycle with these two bedfellows, each begetting the other. But, not only does fatigue increase our sensitivity, we also have less resilience and powers of coping. A double whammy indeed. Sleep is often disrupted in chronic pain states. Either having difficulty getting to sleep […]
Fibromyalgia — creating conditions for change
May 8, 2014 By
Pain and symptoms can and do change. They can change moment to moment and day to day, but if you suffer persisting symptoms, all of the variations can blend into a long physical and mental struggle. Striving for change needs understanding, motivation, resilience and a plan of how to reach your goals. Fibromyalgia is biology […]
When do we seek help for our pain?
April 25, 2014 By
When do we seek help? I am interested in the point at which an individual decides that they need help. The timeline varies enormously from the initial feeling of pain to years of discomfort that finally become intolerable or limiting. Each person will have their own view that is grooved by prior experiences, culture, beliefs […]
The habitat — multisensory memories
April 8, 2014 By
Running in the woods today I was taken back to school days when we would go down to the habitat to learn about nature. Our enthusiastic science teacher, whose laboratory experiments would invariably go wrong, led us down the hill, across the playing fields and into a small wooded area that surrounded a murky pond. […]
Beyond the biomedical model of pain – an interview with Richmond Stace
March 25, 2014 By
Recently I was interviewed by Rachael from Physiopedia and Physiospot. We discussed some of the areas I feel are important in tackling the problem of pain, in particular chronic pain. Click here for the interview Primarily the topic focus was the psychosocial aspects of pain, an area that has provoked increasing interest. The word is […]
Want to feel happier, suffer less pain & anxiety, think more clearly?
March 8, 2014 By
Mindfulness programme The brief practice of mindfulness for just 10 minutes each day has a positive affect upon physical and psychological health. Mindful practice forms part of our treatment and proactive training programmes for chronic pain and health problems. However, learning the practice is beneficial for anyone who wishes to reduce feelings of tension, anxiety […]
Pain – the unseen force
March 4, 2014 By
“Do we see the hundred-thousandth part of what exists? Look, here is the wind, which is the strongest force in nature, which knocks men down, destroys buildings, uproots trees, whips the sea up into mountains of water, destroys cliffs, and throws great ships onto the shoals; here is the wind that kills, whistles, groans, howls–have […]
5 reasons why mindfulness is part of our treatment programmes
January 30, 2014 By
1. Mindfulness reduces suffering: pain, anxiety, tension. 2. Mindfulness promotes clarity of thought. 3. Mindfulness develops a sense of calm. 4. Mindfulness creates an ability to focus ones attention where you want to, and not in response to the wandering mind. 5. Mindfulness changes physiology, triggering restorative processes: e.g./ healing, digestion, sleep, anti-inflammatory action. For […]
Where do we tackle pain?
January 27, 2014 By
When someone tells you that they have a painful knee, it makes sense to have a look at the joint to see what has gone wrong. Perhaps an x-ray or a scan would help to determine the state of the cartilage, bone and surrounding soft tissue. An assessment of the range of motion, motor control and […]