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 best educational information about living with and treating chronic pain has come from these guys. This isn't my opinion, this is a global fact - the world is reading the pain evidence these wonderful Australian researchers are gathering. Have a read about DIMs and SIMs but also note, David Butler and Tim Cocks wrote this in March 2015! Where have we all been?!! DIMs SIMs Ever since Explain Pain emerged in 2003, Lorimer Moseley and I have been asked by clinicians for a “simpler version… for patients ”. We actually wrote something in 2005 but we resisted publishing this “short version” for a number of reasons – the data showed that people, even without medical training could get it – the material in “Explain Pain” wasn’t too hard or complicated, rather most clinicians underestimated their patient’s ability to learn about, and understand their pain. Additionally, and also important, the material was changing rapidly and so too were delivery modes. Remember YouTube only started in 2005. Since Explain Pain , many clinicians have written their own short manuals – some are excellent, some are scary, others are plain wrong and many defy basic multimedia principles . We’ve noted that some, including published books and manuals, closely resemble the structure, text, ideas and style of Explain Pain , so much so that Lorimer and I can hear ourselves speaking when we read them! Introducing The Explain Pain Handbook: Protectometer The time seems right for the Explain Pain Handbook: Protectometer with its novel concepts of ‘DIMs’, ‘SIMs’ and the ‘ Protectometer ’. The Explain Pain Handbook: Protectometer is a short, interactive handbook for people experiencing pain. It was harder to write than any thesis or longer book than we’ve ever done, but hopefully we have it right. Current thinking about pain allows this statement: We will experience pain when our credible evidence of danger related to our body is greater than our credible evidence of safety related to our body. Equally we won’t have pain when our credible evidence of safety is greater than our credible evidence of danger (Moseley and Butler 2015, pp14). There is such power in this simple statement. Lorimer is fond of saying that “it is as simple… and complicated as that”. There is a lot of danger ‘out there’ and it emerges from many domains. An example might be contained in an X-Ray report or what someone says or what you believe or hear on the news. There is a lot of safety out there too – such as accurate and up to date knowledge, having goals, help from a good health practitioner or being aware that someone loves you. DIMs and SIMs We call the dangers out there DIMs – Danger In Me , and the safety out there SIMs – Safety In Me . Each DIM or SIM must comprise distributed, context variable, neuroimmune circuitry in the brain – a unique ‘neurotag’ to use the language from Explain Pain . We think that DIMs and SIMs can be organised into seven varieties… <img class="aligncenter wp-image-2321 size-large" src="https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/categories-of-dimssims.jpg?w=911&h=1024" sizes="(max-width: 633px) 100vw, 633px" srcset="https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/categories-of-dimssims.jpg 633w, https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/categories-of-dimssims.jpg?w=134&h=150 134w, https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/categories-of-dimssims.jpg?w=267&h=300 267w" alt="Categories of DIMsSIMs" data-attachment-id="2321" data-permalink="https://noijam.com/2015/03/12/dim-sims/categories-of-dimssims/" data-orig-file="https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/categories-of-dimssims.jpg" data-orig-size="633,711" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Categories of DIMsSIMs" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/categories-of-dimssims.jpg?w=267" data-large-file="https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/categories-of-dimssims.jpg?w=633" /> Check out the examples above (and ponder some of your own). Note that there are things that are listed as both DIMs and SIMs? This is a reminder of the power of context. If your inflamed appendix has perforated, a hospital might be a very powerful SIM. If on the other hand, the hospital was where a previous surgery went wrong, the hospital might be one very big DIM. Similarly, a hot, red, swollen ankle an hour after ‘twisting’ is probably a DIM to most, but with the knowledge of the powerful self-healing properties of body tissues, the importance of inflammation and the likely timeframe to recovery, this DIM could become a SIM. Already there are signs pointing to potent interventions here, in particular, education. DIMs, SIMs, The Protectometer and Pain DIMs and SIMs are what ‘drive’ the Protectometer; the brand new pain education and treatment device in every Explain Pain Handbook – see the image below. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-2317 size-full" src="https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/protectometer-introduction.jpg?w=390&h=583" sizes="(max-width: 390px) 100vw, 390px" srcset="https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/protectometer-introduction.jpg 390w, https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/protectometer-introduction.jpg?w=100&h=150 100w, https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/protectometer-introduction.jpg?w=201&h=300 201w" alt="protectometer-introduction" width="390" height="583" data-attachment-id="2317" data-permalink="https://noijam.com/2015/03/12/dim-sims/protectometer-introduction/" data-orig-file="https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/protectometer-introduction.jpg?w=390&h=583" data-orig-size="390,583" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="protectometer-introduction" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/protectometer-introduction.jpg?w=390&h=583?w=201" data-large-file="https://noijamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/protectometer-introduction.jpg?w=390&h=583?w=390" /> As credible for evidence for danger increases, i.e. DIMs increase in number or ‘power’, the indicator moves up. As credible for safety increases (more or more powerful SIMs) the indicator moves down. In the Handbook, we expand on the Protectometer a whole lot further – the top third of the Protectometer has the 0-10 pain scale that indicates that at a certain level of danger, an individual will start to construct a pain experience. The pain scale also demonstrates how increasing danger, adding DIMs from any category, can further increase pain, and we zoom in on the ‘alert zone’ – that area between ‘0’ and ‘1’ on the pain scale where even a small DIM might ‘tip’ someone into pain. The power of the Protectometer Using the Protectometer allows an individual (and their clinician) to map out all the many things – DIMs and SIMs – that collectively influence their pain experience. The therapy that flows on from this sounds simple – remove DIMs, and find and enhance SIMs. But “DIMs and SIMs can hide in hard to find places” – some deep self-reflection might be required. At the heart of the Protectometer is a subtle, but potent treatment effect – the possibility of a deep understanding and complete reconceptualisation of pain with potential for life long benefit. The Protectometer is only half way through the Handbook – there is so much more packed in; a look at protective systems other than pain, such as the immune, motor, thinking and language systems. There is also the hope that bioplasticity brings, and treatment strategies that cover goal setting, moving smart, getting active, graded activity, unleashing happy hormones from the drug cabinet in the brain and cleaning up language. But they’re all for another noinote! What is interesting is how quickly and easily the DIM SIM terms have caught on – I guess it is the food connotation perhaps hinting at the unknown ingredients within. David Butler and Tim Cocks noigroup.com protectometer.com

education | pudendalnerve.com.au

WEBINAR: Overlapping Conditions Associated with Persistent Pelvic Pain

By Soula Mantalvanos|2020-02-27T14:52:22+11:00February 20th, 2020|Learn, Professional Resources|

UPDATE: FEB 26, 2020 Dear Participants, Thank you for listening to Dr. Marvel's Webinar. It was a great presentation. If you did not have an opportunity to listen to it or would like to hear it again, here are two [...]

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Buy a Leunig – I’m Donating Profits to Pain Revolution
Buy a Leunig – I’m Donating Profits to Pain Revolution

Advocacy, Blog, Events, Learn, News, Professional Resources

Buy a Leunig – I’m Donating Profits to Pain Revolution

By Soula Mantalvanos|2020-02-02T11:32:57+11:00February 1st, 2020|Advocacy, Blog, Events, Learn, News, Professional Resources|

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 [...]

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Pain Revolution FREE Seminars from Geelong to Gippsland
Pain Revolution FREE Seminars from Geelong to Gippsland

Help, Personal, Professional

Pain Revolution FREE Seminars from Geelong to Gippsland

By Soula Mantalvanos|2020-01-08T11:24:03+11:00January 7th, 2020|Help, Personal, Professional|

FREE Pain Education events are coming to your town! If you’ve been following my blog, you would have read that this year I’ve decided not to look into research so much. I’ve decided I’m going to ‘sit with my confusion’. [...]

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Explain Pain, Geelong
Explain Pain, Geelong

Learn, Professional Resources

Explain Pain, Geelong

By Soula Mantalvanos|2019-11-23T11:39:57+11:00November 23rd, 2019|Learn, Professional Resources|

Explain Pain, Geelong with David Butler, Brendon Haslam Guess who’s coming to a town near me? Some of my favourite people!! I’ve been raving about NOI group for some time – at first, yes, I thought they were all mad. But having [...]

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John Quintner: A Follow up Interview

By Soula Mantalvanos|2019-03-10T12:13:52+11:00March 10th, 2019|Learn, Professional Resources, Read|

A few months before I decided to ease on the advocacy, I contacted my dear friend Dr John Quintner asking him if he was up for a followup interview. Ever willing to help and share his research and knowledge, John [...]

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Taking Back Control Of My Chronic Pain
Taking Back Control Of My Chronic Pain

Learn, Professional Resources

Taking Back Control Of My Chronic Pain

By Soula Mantalvanos|2018-10-23T16:26:03+11:00October 23rd, 2018|Learn, Professional Resources|

No, not me! I feel I’m in a little control… But this, is exactly what I was thinking about after my GPADD18 presentation, wouldn’t it be great to host events such as GPADD18 for patients? [...]

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University of Tasmania Relationship Wellbeing Survey
University of Tasmania Relationship Wellbeing Survey

Blog

University of Tasmania Relationship Wellbeing Survey

By Soula Mantalvanos|2018-10-13T10:30:19+11:00October 13th, 2018|Blog|

Researchers at the University of Tasmania would love to hear from women (and their partners) who experience various forms pf persistent pelvic pain. The research is aimed at increasing the understanding of the impact of persistent pelvic pain [...]

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Royal Australian College of GP’s news – I’m in it!
Royal Australian College of GP’s news – I’m in it!

Advocacy, Blog, Events, News, Online

Royal Australian College of GP’s news – I’m in it!

By Soula Mantalvanos|2018-07-05T09:54:04+10:00July 5th, 2018|Advocacy, Blog, Events, News, Online|

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 [...]

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Dim Sims
Dim Sims

Learn, Professional Resources

Dim Sims

By Soula Mantalvanos|2018-06-24T11:12:24+10:00June 24th, 2018|Learn, Professional Resources|

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 [...]

0

FPM ANZCA Better Pain Management
FPM ANZCA Better Pain Management

Learn, Professional Resources

FPM ANZCA Better Pain Management

By Soula Mantalvanos|2018-06-05T13:11:54+10:00June 5th, 2018|Learn, Professional Resources|

I’m a member of PainAustralia, well, PainTrain is. As you all know I support and follow alot of the pain educators and advocates. Why? Because it’s important to support the organisations that are educating professionals and the general public about [...]

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