Last year, I provided a list with pain and relaxation information for families and doctors in this blog. This is a list of various resources from pain services all over the world.
I reviewed all the links to see if they are still working. For example, some links have changed like the Starship Hospital ‘pain-kete’ PDF file, so I updated it and I could not really find out if the ‘Take A Chill’ and ‘My Calm Breath’ apps are still functional, hence I have removed them from this list. I added two new resources for sleep relaxation, more for younger children, that were recommended to me by parents. I had a look at them and think they are great; I nearly fell asleep myself when listening to them. Have a look at the ‘Bedtime Explorers’ podcast under ‘Mindfulness and relaxation information’ and ‘Moshi Twilight Sleep Stories’ under ‘Apps’.
The links under ‘Mindfulness and relaxation Information’ are also very handy for patients with mental health problems, not only for pain.
If you know another useful resource for this list or become aware of a dysfunctional one, please share with us. Just email your recommendation or comment to the APS Secretariat at aps@apsoc.org.au.
In my next blog, I want to explore the commercial availability of high quality virtual relaxation products … It is a new and emerging market with great potential, so maybe next year I will be able to add some VR applications to this list.
So, here is my personal resource list I use for my parents, caregivers and children and adolescents with Chronic and Persistent Pain for 2020. The list can also be found here.
Apps
Good relaxation apps are “Smiling Mind” (for Android and iOS, Free), “Headspace: Meditation & Sleep” (for Android and iOS, Free but in-App purchases), “Yoga for Kids” (only for Android, Free)
For relaxing into sleep try the “Moshi Twilight Sleep Stories” (subscription required, for Android and iOS), more for younger children
Designed to target anxiety is the ‘MindShift CBT™” app to take control over worries (for Android and iOS)
Books
Two similar yet both excellent books are:
- ‘Conquering Your Child’s Chronic Pain’ by Christina Blackett Schlank and Lonnie K. Zeltzer; and
- ‘Managing Your Child’s Chronic Pain’, by Tonya M. Palermo and Emily F. Law
Websites
Varied general pain information. These websites contain a mix of info material for parents and children and explain what pain is and what they can do about it.
- https://media.starship.org.nz/the-pain-kete/pain-kete.pdf
A printable PDF summary from the Auckland Hospital Paediatric Pain team about what pain is, with many tips and ideas what you can do about. - https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/chronic-or-persistent-pain
The New Zealand Paediatric Society website’s pain site developed by their Special Interest Group Pain in Childhood. Brief general information for families about chronic and persistent pain with book and app recommendations, videos, external links and a downloadable booklet ‘Understanding persistent pain – how to turn down the volume on persistent pain - https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/painbytes
The Australian Pain Management Network offers comprehensive information for everyone, youth and health professionals alike. You will find an abundance of materials about what pain is, and how to better manage it with information about medication, mindful strategies, nutrition, physical activities, sleep. The information for parents and youths is usually in video format while the health professionals’ information links to reading resources and external links. - https://www.zoffness.com/resources
Rachel Zoffness, a Child Psychologist from Northern California created this website for patients. Find many useful links to videos, articles and info sites under ‘Resources’. They cover information about different forms of pain and management strategies to use. - https://www.kidsinpain.ca/
Solutions for Kids In Pain (SKIP), a Canadian website dedicated to knowledge translation with useful videos and printouts - https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/pain
Information on acute and chronic pain from symptom recognition, assessment and diagnosis to treatment and long-term outcomes from The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada. This learning hub is made for patients and families. - https://www.mycarepath.ca
Learn. Plan. Take Charge of Pain. This web resource assists children and parents to understand and manage pain and gives things to try to help feeling good again. - https://ken.childrenshealthcarecanada.ca/xwiki/bin/view/Paediatric+Pain/
A Canadian website with toolkits and resources for acute procedural, acute presenting and chronic pain. The website is more suitable for health professionals than for patients, but you will find useful handouts like the 40 pages ‘My Pain Toolkit’ for young people and teenagers. - https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs
Basic information but covering all aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome and what one can do to improve it. - https://fibroguide.med.umich.edu
From the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center in Michigan comes this symptom management program for patients with fibromyalgia. It consists of learning and management modules. - https://painhealth.csse.uwa.edu.au
Comprehensive information, tips, support and personal stories to help managing musculoskeletal pain. This painHealth website was created by the Department of Health, Western Australia, in collaboration with Curtin University, the University of Western Australia and the Musculoskeletal Health Network.
Mindfulness and relaxation information
These websites offer limited information about pain itself but have many useful self-helping strategies, e.g. relaxation practices and mindfulness tactics
- https://www.kinderling.com.au/music/programs/bedtime-explorers
A podcast from Kinderling with beautiful soothing short stories to help young children to fall asleep. It is free and the Podcast can be played from various sources, e.g. website, Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, the Kinderling App or Spotify - https://www.thecomfortability.com
A comprehensive self-management website developed by Psychologist Dr Rachael Oakley. The website contains an abundance of resources for children in pain and their parents. There are how-to-videos, podcasts and guided exercises to watch and listen to for coping strategies, mindfulness and relaxation exercises like breathing, active muscle relaxation and guided imagery. The Paediatric Pain Blog is full of tips for parents how to help their child in pain, e.g. with attending school and there is a good video collection with coping stories from children and parents. - https://youth.anxietycanada.com/anxiety-101
Not so much about pain but the Anxiety Canada site has cool information about anxiety for youths. Learn how to face your fears, to think right, how to chill and about healthy habits and what to do for common problems with anxiety. - www.calm.auckland.ac.nz
CALM is for Computer Assisted Learning for the Mind. There is no information about pain in general, but the website offers mindfulness and meditation exercises via audio files and a few reading materials.
It is useful to strengthen one’s resilience and the ability to cope with anxiety, stress and finding a meaning in life. Good if you like laying down and listen to guided relaxation exercises - https://keltymentalhealth.ca/mindfulness
On this Canadian website you will find ideas and resources for mindfulness exercises incl. apps, podcasts and videos
YouTube videos
Here you find an overview of various YouTube pain videos. Videos on YouTube might be removed or changed. If the link does not work use the video title for the YouTube search bar.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrCdyuDsg6c&t=1s
Migraine: How it works and how to get it under control! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfYC6zfrV80&t=61s
Understanding pain – and what’s to be done about it in 10 minutes (New Zealand) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6–CMhcCfQ
Elliot Krane: The mystery of chronic pain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVdulzi6oYw&t=2s
Understanding pain – and what’s to be done about it in 10 minutes! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWMKucuejIs&feature=youtu.be
Understanding Pain What to do about it in less than five minutes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr9n1Rypquc
Yoga Progamme for Teens with Recurrent Abdominal Pain – Leora Kuttner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv6RPoVZx9M
Understanding the Complexity of Pain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikUzvSph7Z4
Tame The Beast — It’s time to rethink persistent pain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7wfDenj6CQ
How does your brain respond to pain? – Karen D. Davis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mcuIc5O-DE
How Do Pain Relievers Work? – George Zaidan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF2xhUKxzxY
What Is Pain Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIwn9rC3rOI
Understanding Pain: Brainman chooses - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV_V4jl6zK8&t=80s
Living with Epidermolysis Bullosa – Coping with Pain during Bandage Changes (German with English subtitles)
This is the end of the list for 2020. I am sure you find something useful here. Please don’t forget to send me you own suggestions or let me know about any problems.
Kind regards
Dr Arno Ebner, MD PhD FRACP
Paediatrician in Cairns
I can be contacted via the APS secretariat at aps@apsoc.org.au
Australian Pain Society 