I’m sure you’ll all agree my advocacy for chronic pain has been extensive in my 13-year lived experience. I’ve learned a lot about who to trust, who I should collaborate with and which message is worthy of me sharing my [...]
(Excerpt from Neos Kosmos feature story, Chronic pain: the treacherous disease that steals the lives of thousands, MAΡΙΑ ΚΑΜΠΥΛH 25 September 2019) Η συγκλονιστική συνέντευξη – κατάθεση ψυχής της ομογενούς Σούλας Μανταλβάνου, που διαφωτίζει και δίνει ελπίδα σε όσους υποφέρουν από [...]
I'm finding it draining to advocate and blog my experiences. But also, I don't feel my voice is as necessary anymore. I want to be known for my creativity and where it aligned with chronic pain to influence behaviour change – specifically the structure of appointments.
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 night's 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 alot of 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.
(Article from the RACGP website) Neelima Choahan 26/07/2018 11:36:34 AM Chronic pain affects one in five Australians. newsGP spoke with a patient and a GP about some of the best ways to tackle the situation. Soula Mantalvanos, who has lived with chronic pain [...]
I’m an event in the spotlight. GP’s, I hope to see you there! (Article from RACGP June newsletter) Events in the spotlight GPADD18 Conference: Saturday and Sunday 4–5 August 2018 The RACGP Victoria Drug and Alcohol Committee invite you to attend [...]
(Just quickly, I'd like to take this opportunity to say PainTrain – My Health Summary, Theo and I are so proud to have contributed to this year's Ride for Pain and the #painrevolution. I would personally like to thank everyone who contributed [...]
March 1, 2007 my life changed in a massive way. I’m not one for getting tense about anniversaries – it’s all too emotional and I feel it holds me back allowing pain to consume more of my life than it [...]
Pain management has come to me in various forms. It’s a pretty special feeling that my 11 years of experience with chronic pain may be useful for learning and inspiring change in the way pain [...]
(Cut to the chase, I want to support the Pain Revolution 2018. Image: Lorimer and Soula at the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia Melbourne launch) I’ve got a soft spot for Professor Lorimer Moseley. In Feb 2011 I had just [...]
