Category: Patients

Winners announced for European patient-driven pain grant

The inaugural Brain, Mind and Pain Grant announced its winners in June, naming three innovative, patient-centred projects:

  • Master Your Pain by Groningen University – an e-health platform to help patients with rheumatic pain self-manage their symptoms
  • ASPERGA Association for their prototype auditory aid that aims to reduce sensory pain in people with autism spectrum disorder
  • MyBrainNet by Dystonia Europe – a central platform for neurological brain diseases, providing information to patient groups and patients to help improve their quality of life.
…

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#LoveYourHealth – Promoting public health and raising the profile of osteopathy

Throughout April, the Institute of Osteopathy has been promoting their #LoveYourHealth social media campaign, showcasing key health and wellbeing messages with the public. The focus of the campaign was to provide practical advice and tips to help people make informed decisions to improve their health.

#LoveYourHealth, which was centred around International Osteopathic Healthcare Week, showcased new patient-facing resource pages that the iO has recently developed around a number of key themes:

  • Getting active
  • Healthy aging
  • Sleeping better
  • Health at work
  • Understanding persistent pain

The focus of the social media campaign was to promote the positive role that osteopathy plays in supporting the health of our patients.…

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Patient survey on MSK self-management apps

EULAR has funded a project aimed at understanding the development, evaluation and implementation of mobile phone applications for self-management in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Following a systematic literature teview, the project task force is now at a stage where it would like to gain insights into the patient’s views, perceptions and current use of health apps for self-management.

EULAR therefore kindly asks you to fill in the following survey:
surveymonkey.com/mHealthAppsSurvey
It takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

New Self-Management Event in Blackpool

Arthritis Action will be holding a new two-day Self-Management Event on 2-3 May 2018 between 2pm–4.30pm at Blackpool Central Library, Queen Street, FY1 1PX

The aim is to help attendees take control of the symptoms of their arthritis, covering topics such as:

  • The impact of physical therapies
  • How you can best manage your pain
  • The benefits of exercise and a healthy diet
  • Ways to work in partnership with healthcare professionals

This event will be free of charge and refreshments will be provided, and is open to all.…

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Hypermobility Management Workshop – a great success

The Hypermobility Syndromes Association, in partnership with Stickman Communications, hosted a Hypermobility Management Workshop on Saturday 25 February, with sections on exercise, pacing, flare-up plans, pain, and communicating about hidden disabilities.
The lecture-format sessions were in Hannah Ensor’s typical style – straightforward, with a dose of humour. The group discussions then provided a valuable opportunity to discuss and apply the information to daily life, sharing and exploring different solutions to the challenges we face.

Of course, being about pacing, what better opportunity to practice what we preach?…

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The Pain Alliance Europe 2018 survey

Pain Alliance Europe are asking for responses to the 2018 edition of the Survey on Chronic Pain, which highlights how pain can affect the work-life of pain patients.

The charities who are members of Pain Alliance Europe (PAE) are inviting people with chronic pain or their carers to fill in this short survey on the effect of their chronic pain on their quality of life, their work situation and about any financial help they receive. The survey starts with some basic questions.…

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HMSA’s February e-news

The HMSA are busy preparing for their ‘Taking Action 2018-2022’ launch, which aims to guide strategy for the next 5 years. Part of that process is ‘The Big Conversation’ Members Consultation survey.

You can read about this and more from the February edition of HMSA’s e-news.
Learn more about:

  • livestream chats from HMSA’s resident occupational therapist;
  • the HSD Ambassador and Youth Patron preparing for the Hypermobility Management Workshop;
  • a consultation on the Call 111 campaign;
  • the helpline;
  • and an update from the CEO, Donna Wicks.
…

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NHSE Consultation on conditions for which over-the-counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care

NHS England is consulting on proposals that will stop routine prescribing in primary care of over the counter treatments for a number of conditions, including the maintenance use of vitamin D. Receiving adequate vitamin D intake is crucial for current and future bone health and NICE Public Health Guideline 562 (PH56) states that a licensed dose of vitamin D, for prevention of vitamin D deficiency, should be widely available to at-risk groups.

The consultation recognises that vitamin D should continue to be prescribed for patients who are deficient and that it can be prescribed in combination with calcium for osteoporosis.…

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Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs – A back-care toolkit

Guest blog by Alison Trewhela, Director of the Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs Institute

Evidence-based exercise for people restricted by back pain, fearful of movement, in considerable pain, or with other illnesses and injuries, ‘Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs’ (YHLB) is a gentle 12-week mind-body exercise programme offering a potentially life-long solution.

Public Health England has recently included YHLB as one of seven evidence-based MSK options in their PHE MSK ROI Return on Investment Interventions report and online tool.…

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Guest blog: Invisible disability at work

by Jane Green BSc. (HONS) Psych., PGCE, Av.Dip. Ed. Child Development, MA Ed.  (Leadership and Management / autism)

Why did I stop working in my professional career?

Two-and-a-half years ago I medically retired. This was after years of pain following full dislocations; half-dislocations; sprains; tears in joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons; and arthritis. I received my diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome 3 (now hEDS) and associated conditions later that year.

As a child, I did have a few problems with joints and did ‘party tricks’.…

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