It only takes $10 to say thank you for all these free resources
Have I helped you in any way? That is my complete intention because raving on about living with chronic illness isn’t fun. So your smallest act of gratitude would mean the world to me (and to the ongoing management of this website).
Then hit the button!
Donate via the PayPal button.
Pain Revolution Names PainTrain a ‘Best Resource’
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 voice is so needed and loved, and your work on PainTrain - My Health Summary is exceptional. – Pain Revolution Pain Revolution's research and efforts are truly inspiring a revolution in the chronic pain field. Pain Revolution understand the need for behaviour and attitude change because they see pain research first hand. Their endless efforts to educate the world, along with their findings are making a huge [...]
Fragile – I’ve hit a bump in the road
But I'm sure it'll all pan out ok. So much for looking after myself and preparing for potential weight gain as I approach my half decade milestone. The weight I've lost has potentially caused a shift in the position of my implants.
GPs Are Your Patient G.P.S
(Image from my book, Art & Chronic Pain – A Self Portrait) Navigating the horrific pain journey is complex enough. Patients need GPs who steer them to appropriate treaters via the shortest route – our GPs are our GPS! Do you have a good one? Seriously, I could entertain myself for hours with the puns between GPs and GPS but I’m just going to make my point as I have better things to do, as you do! After 11 years in the pain world, I honestly can say that I don’t feel I was travelling via a poor GPS with [...]
Royal Australian College of GP’s news – I’m in it!
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 the 2018 conference, GPADD18 – Dealing with Addiction. This conference will address some of the most common addictions and associated conditions that are presented to GPs in their daily practice, including chronic pain, motivational interviewing, hepatitis C and pharmacotherapy. In 2007, Soula Mantalvanos, Graphic Designer (pictured above), was working on a design brief for a client when the fit-ball she was [...]
Dim Sims
I’m not talking about the food kind. As you’re all aware, this is a site about chronic pain education and pain management. But what do DIMs SIMs have to do with chronic pain you would so rightly ask? If you don’t know, then you should either: (professionals) come and hear my patient presentation at GPADD18 in August and/or (professionals & patients) buy Protectometer I keep rattling on about noigroup, Prof Lorimer Moseley, David Butler and Pain Revolution – who could I please just add listed PainTrain as one of their best patient resources and I’m sooooo chuffed! I believe the [...]
Frida Kahlo: Portrait of Chronic Pain
The Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907–1954) is one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. Although famous for her colorful self-portraits and associations with celebrities Diego Rivera and Leon Trotsky, less known is the fact that she had lifelong chronic pain. Frida Kahlo developed poliomyelitis at age 6 years, was in a horrific trolley car accident in her teens, and would eventually endure numerous failed spinal surgeries and, ultimately, limb amputation. She endured several physical, emotional, and psychological traumas in her lifetime, yet through her art, she was able to transcend a life of pain and disability. Of her work, her self-portraits are conspicuous in their capacity to convey her life experience, much of which was imbued with chronic pain. Signs and symptoms of chronic neuropathic pain and central sensitization of nociceptive pathways are evident when analyzing her paintings and medical history. This article uses a narrative approach to describe how events in the life of this artist contributed to her chronic pain. The purpose of this article is to discuss Frida Kahlo's medical history and her art from a modern pain sciences perspective, and perhaps to increase our understanding of the pain experience from the patient's perspective.