Airing Rethinking Pain

I was in great company for the show, alongside Dr Kate Thompson from Leeds Beckett University, Ms. Kerry Page from Rethinking Pain, and our wonderful host, Paul Evans, who has a knack for putting people at ease. We got together to record a podcast called Rethinking Pain: Pain management in the community, where we had a lively chat about shaking up the traditional approach to pain management. Instead of the usual clinician-patient setup, we explored how we can bring pain care back to the community and make it more accessible.

The episode also includes Dr Barbara Phipps, a GP and lifestyle medicine expert from the University of Edinburgh, who shared some fascinating insights into group consultations for pain management; and Dr Jackie Walumbe, a Clinical Academic Advanced Practice Physiotherapist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who talked about the disparities in current pain services and how community-led approaches can help bridge those gaps.

You can give the episode a listen here.

As we discussed how Rethinking Pain has evolved, I couldn’t help but think how incredible it was to see how far the service has come, and it was a great chance to reflect on the importance of community-driven solutions.

For those who aren’t familiar, Pain Concern is a fantastic charity that supports people living with pain, as well as the professionals and caregivers who help them. I’ve had the pleasure of fundraising for them through the Flippin’ Pain cycle outreach tours. Their Airing Pain podcasts feature stories from people dealing with pain and insights from internationally recognized experts. You can find all their episodes on the Pain Concern website and popular podcast platforms. Plus, healthcare professionals can earn CPD credits by listening to and reflecting on any of the 145 episodes—how cool is that?

Listening back to interviews is always an odd mix of discomfort and revelation for me—did I really say that? But it’s always a learning experience. Here are three quotes from the episode that still stick with me:

Ms Kerry Page, talking about the role of the voluntary and community sector: “We’re now delivering some of our workshops in mosques, in multiple languages, and to all sorts of age groups. That’s the power of an organization like Keighley Healthy Living from the voluntary sector.”

Dr Kate Thompson, comparing Rethinking Pain to more conventional services: “What people experience when they access [Rethinking Pain] is a different set of rules compared to traditional therapy or medically-led pain services.”

And me, on the need for a culture shift in pain services: “We need to co-produce solutions with communities, redesign the system, and shift the mindset—which is exactly what *Rethinking Pain* is all about.”

The whole experience with the podcast and the ongoing work we’re doing with Rethinking Pain really highlights how important it is to rethink how we approach pain management. It’s all about working together, bringing pain management closer to people’s lives, and making sure no one has to deal with chronic pain on their own.