About Soula Mantalvanos

“I felt I had lost my independence, I could not communicate and express my personal experience and that no one understood me.” Soula combines her many years of chronic pain with her professional design experience to advocate about misdiagnosis and injured Victorian workers. Soula founded pudendalnerve.com.au and PainTrain My Health Summary to help raise the quality of care for those enduring and treating chronic pain.
January 24th, 2019 9:10 am

Under Anaesthetic, However…

By |2019-01-23T14:45:10+11:00January 24th, 2019|Categories: About, Blog, Funnies, My treatment|Tags: |

While you read this, I'm in total bliss under full anaesthetic having my spinal stim implanted and my sacral stim (which fizzed) removed. I've popped this poem in my head, and now yours too in the hope that Brain Plasticity, in all its madness as clarified so perfectly in Michael's poem and illustration, works its nonsense on me.

December 23rd, 2018 11:38 am

Ho, Ho, Holidays

By |2018-12-23T11:38:12+11:00December 23rd, 2018|Categories: Blog|

Can’t say I’m feeling festive. But my treatment glitch is no excuse to put a damper on everyone else’s holiday season. I love seeing people happy and having a great time. And [...]

December 13th, 2018 12:45 pm

Spinal Cord Stim Trial Day 6

By |2023-02-17T10:32:00+11:00December 13th, 2018|Categories: About, Learn, My treatment, Professional Resources|Tags: , , , , |

I'm not exactly enthused about health admin. There's already enough admin and digital filing to do in life. But I've found that my PT health summary is saving me, not only admin time, but alot of stress having to remember details of my experience. I've included a self portrait for my specialist today!

September 9th, 2018 3:33 pm

Venezia!

By |2022-09-06T11:44:20+10:00September 9th, 2018|Categories: About, Blog, Living|Tags: , |

There was no rushing to catch transport! And the sounds of Venice are soothing and happy. In the morning we woke to the sounds of the local's footsteps and the sounds of them working along the canal. Local chatter in the street, dogs barking and of course, the church bells. Sounds impact a person with a chronic illness. My mind was at peace, it felt rested, all was calming and gentle.

August 12th, 2018 4:06 pm

My GPADD18 Presentation

By |2022-05-17T10:35:37+10:00August 12th, 2018|Categories: Advocacy, Events|Tags: , |

I'll deem my efforts a success. I managed. I learned a bundle. I made something of the chronic pain experience. And I believe I provided some insight. I arrived at Yarra Valley Lodge on Thursday night and left Sunday early morning to manage the presentation, question time and a short attendance at the dinner on Saturday evening. So that's 3 nights' sleep (and one nap Saturday afternoon) to get the focus I needed, and so I could appear in a way that I felt reflected my most Soula self. The presentation (below) took weeeeeeeeks to put together! Something that would have taken me a few short days previously. That might sound like a sacrifice to many of you, but with this approach, my pain levels remained low (if not off), and on my return to Queenscliff, I could resume my part-time work and the week ahead as per normal. It worked; I'm pacing up! I do have a niggle, though. We're not learning fast enough. We're not listening hard enough. I left disappointed I hadn't achieved enough. My presentation I couldn't film during the conference for obvious reasons, but I have put together the graphic presentation with my voice over. WARNING: This presentation contains calls for a new approach to managing chronic pain. It calls for bundles of learning for both professionals and patients and sacrifice and 100% commitment. It's a little boring and most disheartening for those searching for a quick fix. In this presentation: 0:28 Outline 0:43 About Soula 0:58 The accident 1:44 Chronic pain treatment & investigations 2:19 The peripheral stimulation implant 2:36 Diagnosis 3:00 Quality of life — More treatment 3:27 Communicating Pain 3:50 What is our understanding of Pain? 4:50 Resources for pain — pudendalnerve.com.au — The Hurting Strings Documentary — My book Art & Chronic Pain 7:14 Changing our ways — New definitions and more!

July 22nd, 2018 2:33 pm

Pain Revolution Names PainTrain a ‘Best Resource’

By |2022-11-26T20:58:49+11:00July 22nd, 2018|Categories: Blog, Help, Manage, My Health Story|Tags: , , , , |

PainTrain has followed Pain Revolution very closely over the years and its this research with Soula's experience that has driven the PainTrain concept. We love having your support all the way Soula! Your [...]

Go to Top