Twitter Chat: Conversations on Pain

On September 26, 2019, SAA hosted our third Twitter chat. The chat focused on living with chronic pain, in honor of Pain Awareness Month. We had two special guests: Pain Management Specialist Robb Overbaugh, MD (@OverbaughRobb), and Dawn M. Gibson (@DawnMGibson), founder of Spoonie Chat. The chat focused on managing chronic pain, talking with health care providers about pain, treatments and lifestyle modifications, and personal advocacy.

The feedback and responses were insightful and relatable. Below we share the content of our #SpondyChat with our community, organized by question and answer. Enjoy!

Note: Please email us at programs@spondylitis.org if you’d like to suggest discussion topics for future Twitter chats! We’d love to hear from you. And don’t forget to follow SAA on Twitter @spondylitis for updates on current news and events.

Other related resources and information can be found at the following links:

Webinars

Mind Body Approaches to Pain and a Bonus Guided Meditation with yoga therapist Nancy O’Brien, C-IAYT

https://www.spondylitis.org/Seminars-and-Webinars/mind-body-approaches-to-pain-and-a-bonus-guided-meditation

Putting the Pieces Together: A Comprehensive Approach to Pain Management with Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine Specialist Dr. Robert M. Overbaugh, M.D.

https://www.spondylitis.org/Seminars-and-Webinars/saas-spondylitis-educational-seminar-from-dallas-texas

Spondylitis Plus Articles

Central Sensitization and its Role in Chronic Pain

https://www.spondylitis.org/Spondylitis-Plus/Spondylitis-Plus-Articles/central-sensitization-and-its-role-in-chronic-pain-yu

Tackling Chronic Pain

https://www.spondylitis.org/Spondylitis-Plus/Spondylitis-Plus-Articles/chronic-pain-functional-restoration

Sex Differences in Pain

https://www.spondylitis.org/Spondylitis-Plus/Spondylitis-Plus-Articles/sex-differences-in-ankylosing-spondylitis

Patient Stories

Escaping the Opioid Jungle

https://www.spondylitis.org/Spondylitis-Plus/Spondylitis-Plus-Articles/opioids-for-chronic-pain

The Price of Pain Relief

https://www.spondylitis.org/Spondylitis-Plus/Spondylitis-Plus-Articles/pain-medication-story

SAA Products

Back into Action, Again! Exercise video

https://www.spondylitis.org/Shop/Categories/educational-products

Q1: Intros! Please take a minute to say hi and introduce yourselves. Remember to use #SpondyChat.

Question 1 – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q2: What do people without #spondylitis or other painful conditions (loved ones, friends, colleagues, physicians) often get wrong about #chronicpain? #SpondyChat

Question 2 – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q3: What tips can you share for having productive conversations with health care providers about #pain and the need for pain treatment? #SpondyChat #chronicillness

Question 3 – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q4a: @OverbaughRobb: What are some best practices for treating #chronicpain? Where should physicians start? And what categories or types of treatments should a well-conceived treatment plan include? #SpondyChat

Question A4A – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q4b: To everyone living with #spondylitis: What are your experiences in working with a pain management specialist? #SpondyChat

Question A4b – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q5: @OverbaughRobb: What are some specific treatment modalities you find frequently help those with #spondylitis and #chronicpain? To everyone, what helps you manage and reduce your pain? #SpondyChat

Question 5 – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q6: @OverbaughRobb and @DawnMGibson: What can patients do if physicians don’t believe that they are in pain, or don’t take it seriously? Has anyone had a similar experience? What did you do? #SpondyChat #chronicpain

Question 6 – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q7: What recommendations can you share for reducing nighttime #pain and improving sleep (fighting #painsomnia)? What specific sleeping aids, products, routines or practices work best? #SpondyChat #chronicpain

Question 7 – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q8: How effective have you found #cannabis and its derivatives in treating #pain? (CBD, THC, marijuana, hemp, etc.) #SpondyChat

Question 8 – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q9: How does the stigma around #opioid use impact your experience of living with and treating your pain? @OverbaughRobb, does this impact your treatment plan decisions or options? #spondychat #chronicpain #PainAwarenessMonth

Question 9 – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q10: Certain foods may be linked to #inflammation. Are there any foods that seem to cause flare ups or increase your pain? Any foods that help alleviate inflammation and over time, #pain? #SpondyChat

Question 8 – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q11: What are some things your #pain stops you from doing? #SpondyChat #chronicpain #chronicillness #invisibleillness #spondylitis

Question 11 – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Q12 OK, last question! When you’re having a pain flare, how can people best acknowledge your pain and offer support? What does effective support look like? #SpondyChat

Question 12 – Curated tweets by spondylitis

Concluding Remarks:

Conclusion – Curated tweets by spondylitis