For episode ten, we speak with Endometriosis warrior, Tiara Jackle, who has been living with stage four endometriosis for many years. Endometriosis is a disease with no cure where the tissue - similar to the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus - grows on the outside which can lead to cyst formation, adhesions, and pain. Chronic pain – typically, pelvic pain - is often associated with endometriosis, along with pain during sexual activity, bowel movements, or menstrual cycles.  

During the episode, Tiara educates us all about Endo, where the gold-standard for diagnosis is a surgical laparoscopic exploration and biopsy. In addition to having two excision surgeries to help manage her endometriosis, Tiara has tried a variety of other techniques to manage her condition such as pelvic floor physiotherapy, and by following an Auto-Immune Wellness protocol diet (see the shows notes for more information). 

Tiara explains the difficult process she went through in order to get diagnosed over a ten year period, and the dismissal and devaluation she felt was a woman dealing not only with chronic pain but a reproductive health issue that was not taken seriously when trying to seek care. She shares some powerful insights about having to be the expert of your own body when on a pain journey, and the importance of educating yourself in order to advocate for the best treatment options and to start feeling well again. 

For anyone wanting to learn more about endometriosis, we suggest visiting the "Endometriosis Network of Canada" website. Endometriosis specialists in Saskatchewan currently reside in Saskatoon (Dr. Laura Weins), and in Regina (Dr. John Thiel & Dr. Darrien Rattray). You can e-mail us for more information at [email protected]
 
Additional Links and Resources
Endometriosis Network Canada
Saskatchewan Pelvic Pain & Endo Warriors Support Group

AutoImmune Wellness Diet
Mickey Trescott Instagram - Recipes & Information!

SaskPain Website
SaskPain Facebook

A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:
 The Saskatchewan Pain Society
 The Community Initiatives Fund
Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions

We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at [email protected], or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved in the podcast. 

For episode nine, we speak to Saskatoon-based physiotherapist, Juliet Sarjeant. Juliet has been specializing in pelvic health treatment through her own physiotherapy practice, as well as at Saskatoon City Hospital, for almost two decades. She has undertaken a great deal of continuing education in pelvic health and pelvic pain, and she has previously been the chair of the Women’s Health Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.

During the episode, Juliet starts us off with a “Pain 101” – she breaks down the differences between acute versus chronic pain to provide a strong educational overview. With this, Juliet also introduces listeners to “pelvic pain” and the various systems involved that may be affected by the pelvic floor muscles (such as the bladder, bowels, and sexual organs). 

Juliet explains the role physiotherapy has in pelvic health to combat chronic or actuate pelvic pain. She reinforces that YOU are the expert on your body, and the role a patient has in educating themselves and putting in the work to help overcome the pain they are dealing with. She also touches on the fear cycle, and the power of visualization and graded exposure therapy in overcoming chronic pain. 
 
We learn throughout the episode that the pelvis, or pelvic pain in general, is not given a great deal of attention due to the sensitive nature of the area, and how there is often a misunderstanding by care providers not specialized in pelvic health about the variety of health improvements patients can have if they attend to their pelvic floor health.

For anyone wanting to connect with Juliet directly, you are welcome to do so via e-mail at [email protected] or by visiting her website at www.prairiepelvichealth.com. She is also on Facebook and Instagram (@PrairiePelvicHealth).

Additional Links and Resources
Prairie Pelvic Health - Facebook
Prairie Pelvic Health - Instagram
www.prairiepelvichealth.com

Visual Depiction of Pelvic Floor Muscles
How Visualization Can Help Pain

SaskPain Website
SaskPain Facebook

A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:
The Saskatchewan Pain Society
The Community Initiatives Fund
Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions

We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at [email protected], or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved in the podcast.

CONTENT WARNING: Suicide, Explicit Language

In episode eight, we speak to Dayna Fesciuc, who is an incredible pain advocate, and research and pain partner in Saskatchewan. Dayna has suffered for over a decade from a variety of diagnoses such as complex regional pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. This episodes details some of her personal experiences as she has found ways to start living well.
 
During the episode, we do delve into some difficult topics such as how mental health, suicide, grief, and negative health care provider and patient interactions can really impact one’s pain management. This may be triggering for some listeners. There is also explicit language mentioned in the last few minutes of the episode.
 
Dayna speaks to the utmost importance of doing “inner work” – addressing things outside of pure physiological therapies - and how finding a suitable care provider who will actively listen and help meet you where you’re at on your pain journey is essential. Dayna is also a proponent of how alternative therapeutic approaches, like art therapy and a vitamin regime, can be essential on someone’s healing journey.

Dayna’s story is very raw and powerful, she provides - in great detail - what it is like to live in pain every day and the struggles that can accompany that. She stresses the importance of patients learning to: fight for themselves within the health care system, using your voice, and how “taking the reigns” and standing up for oneself while pursuing suitable pain management strategies is an absolute must. The episode is incredibly inspiring, and a must listen for anyone who has felt grief or frustration on a pain journey.
 
 
Additional Links and Resources
SaskPain Website
SaskPain Facebook
 
MAC iOPS (As Mentioned in the Episode)
 re: Patient Resource and Chronic Pain Toolkit
Dayna’s Art Therapy Workshop with “Partners in Pain”


We hope you enjoyed this episode, and we encourage you to visit our website at www.saskpain.ca or reach out if you would like to share your own personal story. We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at [email protected], or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information. 

For Episode 7, we get to speak with Saskatoon-based cannabis researcher and educator Dr. Robert Laprairie. Robert is a PhD research expert with numerous titles under his belt: Assistant Professor, CIHR-GSK Research Chair in Drug Discovery and Development, President & Director of Education and Trainee Initiatives, and lead on the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC) - all based out of the University of Saskatchewan!

During the episode, Robert opens with a strong "Cannabis 101" - he breaks down the science behind what is actually happening in our body's endocannabinoid system, explains Type 1 and type 2 cannabinoid receptors, and provides useful differentiations between "THC" and "CBD."

Robert also explains how cannabis works in our system to help combat things like chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, and the positive effect it has on other substance use activities - a topic that's highly relevant given the amount of pain patients who may be concerned about their opioid or other substance use strategies for pain management.

Robert provides information for care providers on educational training, steps in assisting your patients with cannabis use, and policy and research suggestions as cannabis for pain moves forward. Lastly, insight for patients who are considering cannabis use as apart of their medical regiment and the different modes of delivery. In short: start low, go slow!

We learn throughout the episode that cannabis as medicine research is a relatively new and emerging field, and we can't wait to see where Dr. Laprairie and his team go next. For information on his current lab activities, please visit his website, HERE. We hope you enjoyed this episode, and for anyone wanting to connect with Robert directly, you are welcome to do so by e-mailing him at [email protected], or finding him on Twitter or Instagram "@RBLaprairie."

Additional Links and Resources
Cannabinoid Research Initiative of Saskatchewan
Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids
Dr. Laprairie's Academic Profile

CAMH Website - Information on Cannabis Use
Canadian Centre on Substance Use & Addiction - Information on Cannabis Use
The Clinic Network

SaskPain Website
SaskPain Facebook

A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:
The Saskatchewan Pain Society
The Community Initiatives Fund
Our Editor, Chris Enns, of Lemon Productions


We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at [email protected], or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information, or to get involved.  

In episode six, we speak to Andrew Hartman who is currently a doctoral student in Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan, and a Certified Health & Wellness Coach. Also the founder of Saskatoon-based business, Psystem, Andrew and their team run a virtual wellness space to provide support, resources, and services for those on pain journeys - an endeavour that was directly inspired by Andrew's own lived experience of pain!

Andrew has had a lifetime of experience with chronic pain, and currently suffers from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). AS is a global inflammatory disease similar to arthritis that causes pain; over time, it can cause bones in the spine (vertebrae) to fuse, and can spread to additional joints causing damage in other parts of the body.

During our conversation, Andrew shares some inspirational stories and insight on how perseverance and self-advocacy are crucial parts of accepting and managing a chronic pain condition. They also provide some keen takeaways and advice for those struggling with depression and/or physical limitations alongside their pain, the importance of conscious breath work and yoga practices to enable feelings of safety in one's body, and excellent advice to both care providers and patients. 

Lastly, we close with some education on the “The Spoon Theory” of chronic illness, which is a self-pacing strategy that emphasizes the need for chronic pain patients to work within a certain quota as a pain management strategy. Developed by Christine Miserandino to relate to many types of chronic illness, it describes perfectly an idea of each person having limited energy – using the analogy of “spoons” as a unit of energy - on how someone can approach their day and learn to live well.
 
 More information about the Andrew and Psystem can be found on Facebook and Instagram (@MyPsystem – links below), or by e-mailing “[email protected]” We will also post a link about the “The Spoon Theory” on our social media channels for more information following the release of this episode.

Additional Links and Resources
SaskPain Website
SaskPain Facebook
 

Psystem Website

Psystem Facebook
Psystem Instagram

Vangool Wellness Yoga 
Vangool Wellness Podcast - "Awaken To Your Body's Natural Wisdom with Adrianne Vangool"

We hope you enjoyed this episode, and we encourage you to visit our website at www.saskpain.ca or reach out if you would like to share your own personal story. We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at [email protected], or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information. 

For Episode 5, we are speaking to registered nurse, Tracy Fichtner, who is based on the Yorkton area. Tracy not only has her own experiences with chronic pain, but she has 31 years of nursing experience where she currently works in Primary Health Care as a “Healthy Living Facilitator." 

Tracy has participated as a person with lived experience in the 2016 Saskatchewan Provincial Pain Conference, and in 2020, she joined the "Improving Pain Care in Saskatchewan Collaborative Research" (Improving Pain in SK) project, where she sits on the Provincial Advisory Panel as a patient partner. 

During our conversation, Tracy shares some keen insight on the importance of "accept - believe - support" in chronic pain. She also takes time to educate us about what the pain cycle is (an image of this can be found on SaskPain's social media), and how that helped in her own pain journey. Tracy also tells us all about the "Partners in Pain" webinar series - a virtual community support & educational group for people living with chronic pain in Saskatchewan - which provides opportunities for engagement and learning.

Partners in Pain sessions are also recorded and available on YouTube (link below). Each 1-hour session consists of new knowledge from an information session with an expert healthcare provider, new connections through a personal story by someone living with chronic pain, new pain management skills by sharing tools for managing pain through a non-pharmacological activity. The remote environment also facilitates a question and answer people so thought-sharing and support is available.

More information about the IPSK and Partners in Pain events can be found on the www.saskpain.ca website and social media channels, where they are also seeking sponsorship or donations so that they are able to continue to run these incredibly community-based events!

We hope you enjoyed this episode, and for anyone wanting to connect with Tracy directly, you are welcome to do so by e-mailing her at [email protected].

Additional Links and Resources
SaskPain Website
SaskPain Facebook

"Partners in Pain" YouTube Channel

A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:
The Saskatchewan Pain Society
The Community Initiatives Fund
Our Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions



We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at [email protected], or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information, or to get involved. 

For Episode 4, we are speaking to Ross McCreery. Ross is an incredible advocate in the Saskatchewan chronic pain community and abroad where he shares his own experiences of living with complex regional pain syndrome, also known as CRPS. 

Ross is the founder of CRPS Awareness Day in Saskatchewan - which is on November 2nd - he is a board member of the Saskatchewan Pain Society, and he is actively involved as a patient family advisor for various research endeavours. He is a published writer and speaker, has an amazing website and blog called “Painfully Optomistic,” and today he is going to tell us all about his chronic pain journey, and the importance of patience and persistence while learning to manage pain.

We hope you enjoy this episode, and for anyone wanting to connect with Ross directly, you are welcome to do so by visiting his website at https://painfullyoptomistic.com/ or dropping him an e-mail at [email protected]. Ross is also on Twitter at @Rossco006, and has an active Facebook Page which can be found at "Painfully Optomistic."

Additional Links and Resources
SaskPain Website
SaskPain Facebook

A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:
The Saskatchewan Pain Society
The Community Initiatives Fund
Our Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions



We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at [email protected], or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information, or to get involved. 

For our third episode of “Your Partners In Pain," we are speaking with Jessica Jack who is a medical anthropology student and lead research assistant on the “Improving Pain in Saskatchewan” project. 

With their own lived experience of pain, Jessica tells us all about the multi-year IPSK research project in the province and ways for those in the community to get involved. Jessica shares with us some of the surprising findings from the research where she conducted the interviews, future directions for improving pain care in Saskatchewan, and the importance of community and culture in pain research and treatment!
 
We hope you enjoy this episode, and for anyone wanting to connect with Jessica directly, you are welcome to do so by e-mailing at [email protected]



Additional Links and Resources
SaskPain Website
SaskPain Facebook
Improving Pain in Saskatchewan INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/improvingpainsk/
Improving Pain in Saskatchewan FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/Improving-Pain-in-Saskatchewan-105939404538315



A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:
The Saskatchewan Pain Society
The Community Initiatives Fund
Our Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions



We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at [email protected], or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information, or to get involved.

For our second episode of “Your Partners In Pain," we are speaking with Nikki Cooke who is a complex and chronic patient advocate, a current student who lives with psoriatic arthritis, and someone who has recovered from experiencing complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

We speak to Nikki about her personal experience of having pain as a pediatric patient, and the silver linings in her life that came from experiencing arthritis as a young person. We discuss the process of receiving a diagnosis, which often involves experiences of grief and depression, the importance of self-advocacy and social support in pain management, and advice for those experiencing pain or treating pain.

For anyone wanting to connect with Nikki directly, you are welcome to e-mail her at [email protected].

Additional Links and Resources
SaskPain Website
SaskPain Facebook
SaskPain Twitter
SaskPain on LinkedIn

A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:
The Saskatchewan Pain Society
The Community Initiatives Fund
Our Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions

We happily welcome feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at [email protected], or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved

For our first episode and “Your Partners In Pain” podcast launch, we are speaking with Dr. Susan Tupper, who is the co-chair of the Saskatchewan Pain Society and a leading pain researcher in the province.

In this episode, we speak to Susan about her involvement in pain research in the province, the various roles she has with pain care and advocacy, as well as her own lived experience with chronic neck pain and headaches.

We discuss the importance of having a care provider on your team who believes in you and your pain experience, how grief and anger are common experiences along a chronic pain journey, and advice for those new to experiencing chronic pain.

For anyone wanting to connect with Susan directly, you can e-mail her through the www.SaskPain.ca website at [email protected], or if you are active on social media, Susan is on Twitter "@SMTPT" or you can drop her a message through the Improving Pain in SK Instagram or Facebook Pages.

Additional Links and Resources
SaskPain Website
SaskPain Facebook
SaskPain Twitter
SaskPain on LinkedIn

Improving Pain in SK
Improving Pain in SK Facebook
Improving Pain in SK Instagram

A thank you to our sponsors and supporters:
The Saskatchewan Pain Society
The Community Initiatives Fund
Our Editor, Chris Enns of Lemon Productions

We happily feedback on this podcast, and are always looking for guests to speak to! Contact us at [email protected], or message us on our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages if you would like more information or to get involved