Empowering Pain Management

30/05/2025

🧠 New from ARiRA: Master the femoral nerve block with our expert-led, ultrasound-guided tutorial.

🎯 Indications, sonoanatomy, technique, and pro tips — everything you need to boost your regional anaesthesia practice.

🔗 Read more: https://www.arira.co.uk/newsarticle/ultrasound-guided-femoral-nerve-block

Learn how to perform an ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block with expert tips from ARiRA. Enhance your regional anaesthesia skills through step-by-step guidance, clinical indications, and positioning techniques.

12/04/2025

Re**us Sheath Block – ARiRA Pro Tips & FAQs

https://www.arira.co.uk/newsarticle/ultrasound-guided-re**us-sheath-block

Experience Regional Anaesthesia Like Never Before...
Learn ARiRA – Online, On-Demand Course Featuring Augmented Reality, 3D Models, Cadaver Anatomy, Sonoanatomy, and a Virtual Ultrasound Simulator to Practise Probe Movements from Home!

Learn how to perform an ultrasound-guided re**us sheath block with expert insights from ARiRA Pro Tips. Discover indications, anatomy, probe positioning, needle technique, dosing guidance (including paediatric dosing), and safety pearls. Experience interactive learning with Ultra-Slide Probe Control...

19/03/2025

https://www.aruljames.co.uk/post/understanding-chronic-pain-causes-symptoms-and-treatment-options

What is Chronic Pain?Pain is something we all experience at some point—whether it’s from a minor injury, surgery, or an illness. But for some people, pain doesn’t go away even after the body has healed. This is called chronic pain.Chronic pain is different from short-term (acute) pain because ...

24/05/2024

🌙 Struggling with sleep due to chronic pain? 🌙

Getting quality sleep is vital for managing chronic pain.

Here’s why:

Pain Reduction: Good sleep can lower your pain levels.

Healing and Recovery: Sleep aids in tissue repair and immune function.

Emotional Well-being: Adequate rest improves mood and reduces stress.

Energy and Function: Sleep restores energy, reducing fatigue.

Cognitive Function: Better sleep enhances focus and decision-making.

Prioritise your sleep for better pain management.

Establish a calming bedtime routine, avoid screens, and create a comfortable sleep environment.

Sweet dreams! 🛏️💤

04/04/2024

🎉 Thrilled to announce that my latest article on chronic pain management in axial spondyloarthritis has just been published in the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society's magazine!

📖 The ASNews spring/summer edition sheds light on some of the complex challenges individuals living with Axial SpA face, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the spine and other joints.

Effective pain management is crucial not only for improving patients' quality of life but also for enabling them to maintain mobility and engage fully in daily activities. 🌟

I hope this article contributes to the ongoing conversation about innovative and empathetic approaches to managing chronic conditions. A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in this publication. I look forward to engaging with readers and professionals on this topic. 💬💡

National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society

28/03/2024

🌟 **Reflecting on an Enlightening Session on Pain Management** 🌟

I had the tremendous pleasure of engaging with a passionate group of MSK (Musculoskeletal) physiotherapy professionals. Our focus was on exploring the multifaceted world of secondary care pain management options – a subject close to my heart and crucial for our practice.

It wasn't just about sharing knowledge; it was about creating a dialogue. We delved into the seamless integration between primary and secondary care, uncovering strategies that empower patients at every step of their journey. What made this session particularly special was the opportunity to intertwine insights from my book, "Empowering Pain Management," into our discussions. It was invigorating to see the principles of pain self-management strategies come to life, resonating with so many dedicated practitioners.

A highlight for me was the spirited conversation around the holistic approaches to pain management, underscoring the pivotal role of patient empowerment and self-care strategies.

Let's continue to push the boundaries of what we can achieve in pain management, fostering environments that empower both practitioners and patients alike.

I'm immensely grateful for the opportunity to lead this session. Thanks to Spire Little Aston Hospital Samuel Johnson Community Hospital



Empowering Pain Management: A Comprehensive Practical Guide to Mastering Life with Chronic Pain https://amzn.eu/d/2mwm9lO

08/03/2024

Revolutionizing Chronic Pain Management: The Power of Augmented Reality!

Thanks to The Vesey Private Hospital where I was able to Conduct Groundbreaking Ultrasound-Guided Chronic Pain Relief Procedure with Apple Vision Pro Augmented Reality Goggles.

In a groundbreaking advancement for chronic pain treatment, the integration of Apple Vision Pro augmented reality (AR) goggles into ultrasound-guided pain relief procedures marks a significant leap forward in patient care. This innovative approach has not only enhanced the precision and efficiency of interventions but also significantly improved patient comfort and experience.

Understanding Chronic Pain and Its Challenges

Chronic pain is a complex condition that affects millions worldwide, significantly impacting their quality of life. While medical, holistic, and self-management strategies offer some relief, they often fall short of fully addressing the pain. In these cases, targeted interventions like joint injections, nerve blocks, trigger point injections, and deep muscle plane injections become crucial. Traditionally, these procedures relied heavily on the clinician's skill in manipulating the ultrasound probe and needle while alternating their gaze between the patient and the ultrasound screen—a method that posed limitations on precision and comfort.

Augmented Reality: A Game Changer in Pain Management

The introduction of AR goggles has transformed this scenario by allowing clinicians to simultaneously view a virtual ultrasound screen within their field of vision and the actual procedure site. This dual visibility ensures uninterrupted focus on both the sonoanatomy displayed by the ultrasound and the precise manipulation of the probe and needle. 🎯

Enhanced Procedure Efficiency

Utilizing AR technology can potentially lead to a noticeable reduction in the duration of procedures and the number of attempts required to accurately position the needle. This improvement not only speeds up the treatment process but also minimizes patient discomfort, making the experience more bearable and less daunting. ⏱️➡️🛌

Improved Patient Comfort and Experience

The ability to adjust the virtual ultrasound screen's location, size, and proximity according to the operator's preference can significantly enhance the comfort and accuracy of procedures. This customization can ensure the best possible patient outcomes, making the entire process smoother and more comfortable. 👩‍⚕️🔍➕👨‍🔬

20/12/2023

"🌟 Reflecting on an Incredible Journey with the Professional Curiosity Scheme! 🌟

Thanks to George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust for this opportunity!

I recently had the amazing opportunity to be part of this programme. I had the unique opportunity to observe our primary care colleagues in action up close, gaining valuable insights into their daily challenges and triumphs. In turn, the GP visited my pain clinic, getting a firsthand look at the specialised care we provide. This reciprocal exchange deepened our mutual understanding and collaboration in patient care.

Here's a snapshot of what I learned:

🏥 From GP to Specialist: Witnessed firsthand how referrals and consultations work.

💉 Treatment & Care: Saw the impact of quality treatment on patient recovery.

🔄 The Full Circle: Observed the discharge process and how care transitions back to the GP.

🔍 A few key takeaways:

- The importance of seamless communication in patient care.
- The potential for continuous improvement in our practices.

This experience has been a valuable insight into the patient journey. It's motivated me to keep up the excellent work and find ways to enhance patient care even further.

Have you had a similar experience or insights into patient care? Let's share and learn together!

08/09/2023

Sharing feedback of my book https://amzn.eu/d/aSMPr5O

"When asked to review this book I was concerned it might be another book designed for patients but written in a medical style. Not so. This turns out to be a clear and well-constructed book on how to live an easier life of chronic pain which should be understood by most chronic pain sufferers.

It starts with the basics describing the science of pain but not losing the reader in overly complicated scientific jargon. There is a great use of analogies throughout the book which really help connect the non-medically educated reader with the explanations. For instance comparing acute and chronic pain using the anaology of a car alarm really helps the reader understand the difference.

For me personally, one sentence makes the book worth buying and reading. “Every person’s encounter with persistent (pain) is distinctive, and strategies that are effective for one individual may not be for someone else.” It is my pet hate that blanket policies of pain management are ubiquitous and take no account of the supposed “person-centric” treatment demanded by politicians and promised by clinicians particularly when it comes to pain-killers. Again, the analogy “Pain management is like gardening. Every plant needs a different type of soil, sunlight, and water to thrive.”

There is a section devoted to Alternative and Complementary Therapies which is pleasing to see. Usually when books are written by scientists anything that doesn’t have the phrase “scientific evidence” attached is deemed unworthy. Those of us who have lived a life of chronic pain know full well that modern science just doesn’t have the answers.

The author has included useful practical tips on how to best use the book to manage the reader’s chronic pain including asking you to take time to reflect on your own pain management goals. Again, the importance of recognising each chronic pain sufferer has different needs makes the book well worth being part of your arsenal for coping with chronic pain.

Living with chronic pain for more than four decades means you pick up endless pieces of information - some more use than others. It’s very useful to have information that isn’t fanciful or downright dangerous in one book. One chapter intrigued me as I had no knowledge of it previously – Somatic Exercises to Ease Chronic Pain. Somatic exercises re-educates the body’s movement and increases your awareness of your body. You learn to listen to your body’s signals and take action to respond to them. This is definitely something I’m going to incorporate more into my own arsenal. There’s enough in this chapter alone to run a series of therapeutic classes – something that my own pain charity would find useful.

My only criticism of the book is the use of cursive text in the chapter headings. A purely pedantic point that doesn’t really detract from the impressive collection of useful information on coping with chronic pain."

Chris Bridgeford, Founder and Chairman, Scottish Chronic Pain Support Charity – ‘Affa Sair’ – Scot’s dialect for ‘Awfully Sore’.