APMA had its first exhibition space at this conference in Darwin last month, and was swamped with requests for consumer centred information by Australian health practitioners working in the field of pain management. The photos show just some of the attendees keen to explore what APMA can offer to assist  their patients. There is a real and growing awareness from health professionals that people with pain are able to mentor others as well as produce and deliver quality information and material that reflects the experience of those of us with this difficult condition… which is what APMA does well.

The Darwin conference was the first time the Australian Pain Society had consumer speakers on pain self-management on the main program. Pete Moore (of Pain Toolkit fame)  didn’t disappoint and made the point that out of 8,736 hours in a year, the average patient with a chronic condition will spend 3 hours with a health professional. Of the 8,733 hours remaining,  the person with a long term condition will be managing the condition on their own. In Australia, of course APMA and Pain Link provides information on self-care and support to live better with pain.

Based on what APMA representatives saw and heard, look out for other conferences or events featuring Professor Lorimer Moseley. His best claim to fame is that he survived being bitten by an Eastern Brown Snake, the world’s deadliest. Listen to this story and learn about how pain becomes locked into the central nervous system.