Self-management is an invaluable tool many living with pain find empowering and effective in managing pain day-to-day. While no two bodies are the same, some common lifestyle changes and coping strategies have been shown to improve quality of life for many people with pain.

Small daily changes might seem insignificant at first, but their long-term impact on managing chronic pain can be profound. Minor modifications in daily routines, such as incorporating gentle exercise, practicing pacing, and making time for rest, can have an impact on how we experience pain. These small changes, tailored to individual needs and capabilities, can enable people living with pain to regain a sense of control over what can feel like overwhelming circumstances. This podcast episode from Huberman Lab highlights some possible changes that may prove helpful. 

Navigating the landscape of chronic pain self-management is not a solitary journey. The support of a well-informed health care team plays a pivotal role in providing self-management guidance and resources. One such resource is Pain Canada’s LivePlanBe+ program. This free online program, available in both English and French, guides users through a personalized learning experience with animated videos, learning modules, resources to explore, stories from other people with lived experience of pain, interviews with health care providers, and practical tools.

Wherever you are in your self-management journey, LivePlanBe+ will be beside you every step of the way.

Pain BC is looking for volunteer facilitators to co-lead our Pain Support and Wellness Groups. We are looking for English-speaking volunteers for our existing groups, as well as volunteers who can lead new groups conducted in Punjabi, Cantonese, Mandarin and Arabic. Our groups provide an opportunity for people living with persistent pain to meet regularly to support each other by sharing knowledge, experiences, and coping strategies.

We are also looking for volunteer coaches for our Coaching for Health program, a free telephone coaching program designed to help people living with pain learn self-management skills, regain function and improve their well-being. People with lived experience of pain are encouraged to apply, as are those with similar work experiences who would like to support those living with pain through an anti-oppressive and strength-based health coaching program.

Are you a health professional looking for free group-based mentoring, learning opportunities, and on-demand one-to-one mentoring conversations to better support people with pain, mental health challenges, and substance us? Pain BC's BC Adaptive Mentorship Network for Pain, Mental Health and Substance Use (BCAMN) could be for you!

BCAMN is currently recruiting community-based primary-care and allied health mentees for its next program intake.

Power Over Pain Portal is offering a free webinar on February 1, 2024 at 9:00AM PST on sleep and chronic pain. Topics covered will include the role of our biological clock, nutrition, self-talk, stress-response regulation and the impact of pharmaceutical products on sleep. Recordings of the webinar will be available for those who cannot attend the live session. To check out other upcoming webinars from Power Over Pain Portal, visit: portal.poweroverpain.ca/events

The second annual Supported Pain Self-Management Online World Conference is taking place on February 9, 2024 at 6:00PM PST. The 3.5-hour conference will feature experts with both professional and lived experience of pain from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada sharing the latest best practice information on pain self-management. Please note this event requires a donation to attend, the minimum being approximately $8.50 in CAD.

The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre guideline group has formulated evidence-based recommendations and a good practice statement for the update of the 2017 Canadian guideline on Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain. While not legally enforceable "rules" for prescribing, the final guideline will be very influential on opioid prescribing pain in Canada, making it highly relevant for people who use opioid pain medications as part of their pain management.

The Michael DG. DeGroote National Pain Centre is seeking the public's feedback on these recommendations prior to publication and dissemination. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, and the deadline to provide feedback is 9:00AM PST on February 29, 2024.

Pain Care BC (PCBC), a provincial health improvement network, is conducting Patient Journey Mapping Sessions with people living with pain as part of their work to improve the quality and coordination of pain services across BC. The session will be conducted online via Zoom. The deadline to apply is February 2, 2024.

The Power Over Pain Portal for Youth is an online tool designed to help young people manage their pain. Researchers are seeking participants aged 12-18 who have been experiencing pain for three months or longer. Participation will involve answering online questionnaires, using the Power Over Pain Portal for eight weeks, and optionally completing a feedback interview. All participants will receive volunteer hours and a gift card.