Dr Mick Thacker
PhD MSc Grad Dip Phys Grad Dip MNMSD FCSP
*Only Course in 2018*
Day 1
Session 1 – The Problem of Pain
This session will look at the “folk” perspective of pain as indicative of an unwanted but necessary experience. It will also address pain as a clinical challenge and as a threat to our professional confidence and knowledge base. It will comprise a series of problem statements that the rest of the course will address.
Session 2- Models of Pain
This session assesses and critiques the traditional and existing models of pain and nociception. Including the Pain Gate Theory, Pain Neuromatrix Theory and Homeostatic Emotion models. It will also include an introduction to the Hard Problem, Free Energy Principle and Predictive Processing as a model of Pain.
Session 3 – Top Down before Bottom Up
This session assess the potential for cognitive penetrability on nociception and the emergence of pain. It will focus on how the higher centres are involved in the construction of the perception of nociception and the emergence or not of a pain experience. It will include discussion on
Higher Centre Predictive Modeling
Mature Organism Model Updated
Embodied Cognition and Pain
Session 4 – Somatosensory Error Signalling
This session will concentrate on the nociceptive system from the periphery upwards and propose a re-evaluation of nociception as a source of error rather then as a pure transmission of somatosensory information.
Sessions 3&4 combined introduce the challenge to clinicians that physical testing is never a true reflection of tissue states and the day will close with a discussion of the clinical challenge faced, in light of the topics discussed throughout the day.
Day 2
Session 5 – Precision Weighting
This session will focus on alterations in sensitivity and processing decisions throughout the neuraxis. It will deal directly with central and peripheral sensitization, nociceptive modulation and the analgesic experience.
Session 6 – Clinical Reasoning
Several models of reasoning will be discussed and ultimately I will demonstrate that at present no model is able to fully integrate the ideas from day 1. I will present a new model of reasoning that integrates predictive processing as a theory into clinical decision-making and management.
Session 7 – Thoughts on Management
This session will consider how we should manage pain based on the content of the previous sessions. It will directly deal with constructs such as hands on/off, physiotherapy as pseudo-psychology. Mindfulness and other emerging treatments will also be discussed.
Session 8 – General Discussion and Summary/Feedback
This session will be an open discussion allowing questions, criticism and banter!
Location
Lecture Theatre in the Education Centre of the Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Price: £220 Student Prices (valid ID required) £150
Refreshments provided. Parking available
Contact:
Owen Mc Caughan
01202 704456