Chronic pain management study

INSIDE CHRONIC PAIN
An Intimate and Critical Account
Lous Heshusius; David B. Morris (Foreword); Scott M. Fishman (Clinical Commentary) (Afterword)

An ILR Press Book
The Culture and Politics of Health Care Work

$24.95t cloth
2009, 200 pages, 6 x 9
ISBN: 978-0-8014-4796-9

“With Lous Heshusius as a guide, pain patients can learn much about the perils of a modern health-care odyssey. Health professionals can learn how an articulate middle-class female white patient thinks (with all that thinking entails) when her world is irreversibly altered by pain. She does not promise happy endings. Chronic pain is like that. From the rare intersection in this text between patient narrative and physician response, however, readers may construct a dialogue on pain in our time that cannot fail to bring plentiful opportunities for personal insight and professional enlightenment.”—from the Foreword by David B. Morris

Chronic pain, which affects 70 million people in the United States alone—more than diabetes, cancer, and heart disease combined—is a major public health issue that remains poorly understood both within the health care system and by those closest to the people it afflicts. This book examines the experience of pain in ways that could significantly improve how patients and practitioners deal with pain. It is the first volume of a new collection of titles within the acclaimed Culture and Politics of Health Care Work series called How Patients Think, intended to give voice to the concerns of patients about their own medical care and the formulation of health policy.

Since surviving a near-fatal car accident, Lous Heshusius has suffered from chronic pain for more than a decade, forcing her to give up her career as a professor of education. Inside Chronic Pain, based in part on the pain journal Heshusius keeps, is a stunning memoir of a life lived in constant pain as well as an insightful and often critical account of the inadequacies of the health care system-from physicians to hospitals and health insurance companies-to understand chronic pain and treat those who suffer from it. Through her own frequently frustrating experiences, she shows how health care providers often ignore, deny, or incorrectly treat chronic pain at immense cost to both the patient and the health care system. She also offers cogent suggestions on improving the quality and outcome of chronic pain care and management, using her encounters with exceptional medical professionals as models.

Inside Chronic Pain deals with pain's dramatic and destructive effects on one's sense of self and identity. It chronicles the chaos that takes place, the paralyzing effect of severe pain, the changes in personality that ensue, and the corrosive effects of severe pain on the ability to attend to day-to-day tasks. It describes how one's social life falls apart and isolation takes over. It also relates moments of happiness and beauty and describes how rooting the self in the present is crucial in managing pain. This beautifully written account is a literary and clinical gift to all who are associated in any way with chronic pain.

A unique feature of Inside Chronic Pain is the clinical commentary by Dr. Scott M. Fishman, president of the American Pain Foundation. Fishman has long tried to improve the lives of patients like Heshusius. His medical perspective on her very human narrative will help physicians and other clinicians better understand and treat patients with chronic pain.

FIBROMYALGIA & SLEEP DISTURBANCE

Where: Northern Alberta Sleep Clinic

Principle Investigator: Dr. Atul Khullar

This study is testing the use of the drug Lyrica (pregabalin) on sleep disturbance in people with

fibromyalgia. OFFICIAL TITLE: Effects of pregabalin on sleep maintenance in subjects with

fibromyalgia syndrome and sleep maintenance disturbance: a randomized placebo-controlled

2 way crossover polysomnography study.

Pregabalin (Lyrica) is approve in over 50 countries for several conditions related primarily to

the treatment of pain. Studies using pregabalin have been conducted in over 10,000 patients with

a variety of conditions, including different types of nerve pain (neuropathic pain). In Canada

pregabalin is approved for the management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic

peripheral neuropathy (DPN), port-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), and for the management of pain

associated with fibromyalgia in adults. While in the U.S. pregabalin is also approved for the

treatment of sleep disturbance related to fibromyalgia, in Canada it is considered investigational.

This study will require 6 nights of sleepovers at our clinic, with each sleepover being two nights

in a row. Qualifying subjects will receive either study related medication or an inactive substance

also called a placed. The study length will be approximately 3 months with 7 visits. Visit

procedures will include fasting blood draws, study related physical exams, study related psych

evaluation, EKG’s, drug screen, questionnaires and vitals. The study may compensate you for

your time and travel.

Anyone interested in participating and for more information CONTACT:

NORTHERN ALBERTA SLEEP CLINIC

Suite 302, 8702 Meadowlark Road

Edmonton, Alberta T5R 5W5

Study coordinator: Elena Kumar (780) 487-5333 or (780) 860-5714

Research@edmontonsleep.com

Clinical Study - Toronto Sleep Institute, for patients who are living with fibromyalgia

Clinical study being conducted at the Toronto Sleep Institute, for patients who are living with fibromyalgia and who have sleep disturbances issues. We discussed the possibility of the 'Chronic Pain Association of Canada' relaying information about this clinical study (by way of your website and newsletters) to potential patients who might be interested in participating. As discussed, I have attached several documents which provide thorough information regarding this exciting clinical trial including:

An introductory cover letter
A clinical trial information sheet
A recruitment notice for patients (which includes our contact information).

Please do not hesitate to contact me at this email address or at 416-488-6980 Ext 6, should you have any further questions or concerns. Alternatively, you may contact the Senior Clinical Research Coordinator of this study, Gonzalo Portacio at Gonzalo@medsleep.com or at Ext 26.

Maheleth Llinas
Clinical Research Coordinator
Maheleth@medsleep.com
Toronto Sleep Institute
586 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 507 • Toronto Ontario Canada M4P 1P2 • 416-488-6980 ext. 6 (phone) • 416-488-3998 (fax)
www.torontosleep.com

Study - creative behaviour and chronic illness

I am a graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan, in the School and Counseling Psychology program. I am searching for men 18 years of age or older, who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness at least two years ago, and who are interested in volunteering to participate in a study about creative behavior and chronic illness. This project is a part of my thesis research to obtain a Masters of Education.

The purpose of the study is to explore the relationship between creative behavior and stress. If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete an online survey containing questions about your background, your personal attitudes, your feelings towards various situations, and your involvement in creative activities. Depending on how many creative activities you participate in, it will take approximately 15-30 minutes to complete the survey. The survey will be available online at

https://survey.usask.ca/survey.php?sid=15430

If you wish to learn more about this study or have any questions or comments about this study, please feel free to contact me at 966 – 5263 or tajesto@yahoo.ca, or my faculty advisor, Dr. Jennifer Nicol at 306 966-5261 or jaj.nicol@usask.ca. We would be happy to provide more details about this study.

If you wish to participate, you may paste the following link into your web browser:

https://survey.usask.ca/survey.php?sid=15430

Thank you very much for your help.

Sincerely,

Tara Storie

Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education, University of Saskatchewan.

CHRONIC PAIN WORKSHOP

COMOX VALLEY NURSING CENTRE
615 TENTH STREET
COURTNEY, B.C.

The six week course (2 hours at each session) is designed for people living with chronic pain who would like to explore self-management strategies to enhance their quality of life. Attendance at all sessions is recommended. Starts, Sept. 14/09 The only “cost” is your time, commitment and participation. Seating is limited to 20 participants.

For more information or to register, please call (250) 331-8504, extension 38119.

Niagara Health Study

The impact of personal relationships on coping with chronic illness

This is a study, being conducted at Brock University in Canada, of how people cope with serious chronic illnesses such as chronic pain, particularly through their personal relationships with others. While it is well known that people who have strong social ties have better health and recovery, we do not well understand the pathways by which this occurs. Through the survey responses of people who actually cope with such conditions, researchers hope to better understand these processes and how to help them. Anyone suffering from a chronic illness such as chronic pain is encouraged to participate in this
research; location of residence is not a concern, as we would like to have participants from all over the world.

www.brocku.ca/nhs

“Let Your Voice Be Heard – Contact Your Elected Representative”

Take action now and inform your Provincial Representative and Federal Representative that you are concerned about the

hidden pain epidemic in our country and as a resident in their constituency you are seeking their support to create change.

FIND YOUR PROVINCIAL ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE and YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

Alberta

http://www.gov.ab.ca/home/index.cfm?Page=461

British Columbia

http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm

Manitoba

http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/members.alphabetical.html

New Brunswick

http://app.infoaa.7700.gnb.ca/gnb/pub/ListMLA1.asp