Pain Medicine Resources

Videos and Pain Support Groups for Patients and Family

If you or someone you love is experiencing chronic pain, it can be difficult to understand at first the difference between traditional medical treatment (say, fixing a broken arm) and pain management. The American Chronic Pain Association has prepared a wonderful video introduction to the topic called A Car with Four Flat Tires. Once you have watched that, they have a lot of other great resources for people suffering from chronic pain, including local support groups.

American Chronic Pain Association
(916) 632-0922
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677
https://theacpa.org/

Pain / Stress Management Books

Free Apps for Relaxation and Pain Management

Please look on the Play Store (Android) or the App Store (Apple) for the following apps:

  • Breathe2Relax is a personalized stress management tool which provides detailed information on the effects of stress on the body and diaphragmatic breathing. Available for Apple or Android.
  • Calm introduces you to mindfulness with 5 minute instructions. It also has relaxation scenes and sounds to support self-guided meditation. Available for Apple or Android.
  • Headspace teaches you the basics of meditation and mindfulness in just 10 minutes a day. Available for Apple or Android.
  • Kardia is a hands-on paced breathing exercise. Capitalizing on touch-screen technology, as user can vary their breath rate by simply swiping on the screen. Available for Apple or Android.

Educational Videos

Understanding Pain

The Department of Defense and Veterans Health Administration has published a series of videos on chronic pain. They are well worth the short time it takes to watch them.

Understanding Pain: What to do about it in less than five minutes?

Understanding Pain: Brainman stops his opioids: This is a short educational video on opiate medications and chronic pain (1 minute):

Migraine 101

Stanford University Neurology has produced a quick (5 minute) three-step guide to managing headaches:

Role of the Brain

Professor Lorimer Moseley, Foundation Professor of Neuroscience and Chair in Physiotherapy at The Sansom Institute for Health Research at the University of South Australia, is a clinical scientist investigating pain in humans. His talks go into a bit more depth on the role psychology and the brain play in chronic pain.

Why things hurt, A TedX talk by Lorimer Moseley (15 minutes):

Explain Pain by Lorimer Moseley (24 minutes):

Pain Neuroscience Research by Lorimer Moseley (48 minutes):

Fibromyalgia

Prof. Sean Mackey, Director of Stanford University’s Division of Pain Medicine, provides a detailed update on fibromyalgia (1.25 hours):

Pain Matters Documentary

In conjunction with the Discovery Channel and seven national pain advocacy organizations, Pain Matters has produced a documentary that explores chronic pain through personal stories, as well as perspective from leading national experts in pain management. You will have to provide them your email address and other personal information to receive a complimentary DVD copy of the documentary. Start here to request your copy.

Mind-Body Connection in Pain

Stanford University Division of Pain Medicine maintains some highly educational talks about different types of pain. Pain psychologist Dr. Beth Darnall, Ph.D., talks about Unlocking the Medicine Box in your Mind (37 minutes):

Exercise Videos

Stanford Hospital and Clinics Gentle Yoga movements (40 min):

Guided Meditation, Relaxation, and Stress Management

Health Journeys sells CDs or MP3s of guided meditation, imagery, and relaxation.

Biofeedback

The Biofeedback Certification International Alliance, an international nonprofit, provides a search for local providers of biofeedback. Biofeedback Provider Search.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a structured program teaching mindfulness meditation and mindful yoga exercises. MBSR aims to help participants develop nonjudgmental awareness of moment-to- moment experience.

A very large literature supports the effectiveness of MBSR. Studies suggest effectiveness for depressive and anxiety symptoms. It also has been shown to reduce pain experience, increase pain coping and acceptance, and improve insomnia.

You can try a free online self-guided MBSR course here.

American Psychological Association (APA) Articles

Pain Resources