Classes & Courses.
Learning together can save money, get you more time with a therapist, and build a support network.
Making Sense of Pain
Chronic pain frequently exists in conjunction with other conditions such as chronic diseases, mental health issues, and substance use health concerns. In addition, people living with chronic pain may be disproportionately impacted by trauma, violence, poverty, homelessness, and language and cultural barriers, all of which can affect/limit access to safe and equitable health care.
People living with pain in marginalized conditions face barriers to accessing multi-disciplinary programs that provide the supports required to address pain. Offering health care services that are accessible, non-stigmatizing, trauma and violence-informed and patient-centred is not only best practice, but also provides people who experience marginalization with equal opportunities to learn more about managing pain and improving wellbeing.
***Wednesdays 5:30-7:30. Next Course begins January 17th, 2024.*** See our Facebook page for a detailed breakdown of the dates and course schedule.
The Making Sense of Pain program is held over a span of ten weeks (with a hiatus for spring break) and is led by a Pain BC-trained facilitator. Facilitators provide participants with opportunities to learn about pain, the various factors that can cause or make pain worse, and simple strategies that can help participants better manage pain in everyday life. Attendance at all sessions is encouraged, but not required. Participants may also drop in but attendance at Session 2 is mandatory. Accessibility is a key component of Making Sense of Pain: food/drinks are provided and travel and childcare subsidies, along with ASL interpretation, are available by request.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Program
This spinal stenosis program developed by Dr. Brittney Chisholm is an eight-week program consisting of pain education, specific stretches and exercises, discussion and instruction on conquering difficult activities of daily living, and instruction on self-management techniques to reduce compression to the spinal nerves when standing and walking. This program is heavily based on the concepts presented at Mt. Sinai Hospital by Dr. Carlo Ammendolia but does not include the manual therapy component - which is highly recommended as a complementary therapy and will be discussed in this program.
Next class begins Jan. 16, 2024 on Tuesdays from 9-10am
Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis is caused by wear and tear in the spine that has lead to a type of arthritis which causes narrowing (stenosis) of the spinal canals where the nerves travel through to the back and the legs. These nerves become compressed and can lead to pain, numbness, and weakness of the back and legs and can impact the ability to stand and walk. Spinal stenosis is a leading cause of pain, disability, and loss of independence in people over the age of 65.