Chronic Pain

by **Masefield** Mon 19 Sep 2022, 7:47 am

Military veteran living with chronic pain for a
decade says he had to learn to 'push through'

Desmond Brown · CBC News · Posted: Sep 19, 2022

CBC News

by Mercury Thu 17 Aug 2023, 4:35 pm

Military veteran preps for alpine challenge to educate others on chronic pain

Keili Bartlett . Aug 17, 2023

A helicopter will soon carry a dozen military veterans into the Whistler alpine for a challenge unlike any they have faced in their careers: managing chronic pain while transitioning back into civilian life.

Tom Hoppe, a military veteran of 20 years who now lives in Sechelt, helped launch the inaugural Military Veteran Alpine Challenge last summer with the help of Dr. Lindsay Rite of CHANGEpain Clinic. On Aug. 19, he will return to the backcountry and hike at least six kilometres with other veterans, some of whom live with chronic pain. Along the way, they’ll find the power of nature, connection and learn how to manage pain.

Veterans from across Canada have applied to join the challenge, which is organized and sponsored by the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans (CPCoE).

Dr. Ramesh Zacharias, the CEO and medical director of the organization, has worked in the chronic pain field for 19 years. At McMaster University’s Micahel G. DeGroote Pain Clinic, 70 per cent of the people he treats are veterans, Zacharias told Coast Reporter. While 20 per cent of the population has chronic pain, that percentage rises to 40 per cent in male veterans and 50 per cent among women who have served.

“It’s staggering, just absolutely staggering,” Zacharias said of the numbers. He credits the difference, in part, to the military mindset which he describes as a different culture.

“I assess roughly two veterans a week. Most of them have lost hope, because they lost purpose. Part of what we try to do in the chronic pain program is give them hope and purpose,” Zacharias said. That’s where the Military Alpine Challenge comes in.

Before they begin their trek, the participants complete 10 one-hour Zoom sessions run by doctors and clinicians on topics including the science of pain, safe movement, sleep, psychology and breathwork. The education component is key for Hoppe. The participants also work with a physician and physiotherapists to train.

Then the helicopter ride is not only a reminder of their military past, but a goal to work toward. It also helps the group access the alpine quicker.

Veterans leaving military service undergo a transition they may not expect. While some may experience PTSD or chronic pain from injuries, all will have to transition from the military mindset to rejoin civilian life and find a new sense of purpose. Hoppe wants to give participants the space and tools to reflect on how they’ve changed through service.

Hoppe said the military mindset is “Mission first, the regiment second and the self last.That mindset basically sets the person up to push and push and push.” Zacharias said some will not disclose new injuries while serving, because they don’t want to be pulled out of the line of duty. Those who have to leave service for medical reasons — before they’re ready — can become lost, he said.

“If somebody has chronic pain and they’re also struggling with identity, struggling with purpose in life, that can make their pain even worse,” Hoppe said.

Hoppe also hosts The Most Painful Podcast with CPCoE, where he talks to professionals about the most up-to-date research on chronic pain. (A podcast of the same name is also available in French.) Zacharias said the podcasts help the veterans who don’t make it into the chronic pain clinic by letting them know they’re not alone.

Hoppe wants people to know veterans are going through a cultural shift, but that it’s a natural change. And veterans should know more about the mind-body-soul connection, he adds. “You can go to physio and that’s great. It does a wonderful job, but there’s more to it.”

Veterans often suffer in silence after service, Zacharias said, and Canada has fallen short of the moral contract it owes those who serve. After receiving healthcare while serving, many veterans are unable to find a physician after they’re released. Zacharias believes we can do better.

“When I see veterans in the pain clinic, they've, frankly, given up. And so what we've tried to do is to say to them, that just because you cannot serve, doesn't mean you can't have a quality of life. Just because you haven't had a mission overseas. Your mission now is how you can be functional, and have a life with your family as well,” Zacharias said. He added that many veterans are well suited to such goals because they are trained to be disciplined.

“Nobody ever talks about getting rid of the pain,” Zacharias said of the program. “They talk about giving you tools so you can function better, and do the things that you thought you couldn't do again.

Hoppe said he didn’t want the event to just be a one-day hike, but a long-lasting program. After the alpine challenge is complete, they will follow up with the veterans to see how they’re doing. Future events will become a more formal research project, Zacharias said. Hoppe would like to develop the program at a community level and grow it from there.

CPCoE plans to develop a program with athletes and veterans, as the two groups have similar struggles with transitioning from regimented, team-first careers (and prone to injuries) back into regular life. “All the applause, all the awards go. Now you’re back at home by yourself. That’s a complete loss of identity, so the similarities between the two groups are phenomenal,” Zacharias said.

Of seeing the first participants complete the Military Alpine Challenge in 2022, Hoppe said, it “just sent shivers up your spine… It’s great to see that they achieve something.

“If I can get a veteran off the couch and moving out of the house, then maybe they eat better… When you start moving, you feel better,” Hoppe said.

Coast Reporter

by Firestrike Wed 23 Aug 2023, 6:44 am

Military veterans complete 'incredible' hike to
bring awareness, education to chronic pain

Desmond Brown · CBC News · Posted: Aug 23, 2023

CBC News

by Mountaineer Thu 29 Aug 2024, 7:08 am

Third Annual Hiking Event Brings Awareness to Chronic Pain in Canadian Veterans

Published Aug 26, 2024

HAMILTON, Ontario, Aug. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nine Canadian military Veterans living with chronic pain from across Canada completed the third annual Military Veterans Alpine Challenge (Alpine Challenge) on Saturday, August 24, in Whistler, British Columbia. Organized by the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans (CPCoE), this annual alpine hike seeks to raise awareness of Veteran chronic pain and to equip Veterans with the resources they need to manage their condition.

Data shows that 40 percent of Veterans are likely to suffer from chronic pain, compared to 20 percent of the general Canadian population. Research conducted by the CPCoE has also proven the effectiveness of interdisciplinary pain management programs in helping Veterans cope with chronic pain. Similarly, the Alpine Challenge provides Veterans with the mental and physical tools and support that will help them manage their pain long after the event concludes.

“The training and preparation we provide to participants prior to the hike helps give them a renewed sense of purpose and direction, says Tom Hoppe, Military Veteran, former Chair of the Advisory Council of Veterans and host of The Most Painful Podcast. “Our research has shown the impact that the military mindset has on chronic pain. By leveraging knowledge from education sessions while improving their physical fitness, the Alpine Challenge helps Veterans with the transition from active service while improving their quality of life living with chronic pain.”

It can be a struggle for many Veterans to see how their mission and team-oriented outlook applies to life beyond service. The identity-focused education provided during the event draws parallels between life during and after military service, encouraging Veterans to embrace a renewed sense of purpose. The program equips participants with essential strategies to help them navigate their post-service lives with confidence and resilience.

“Year over year, I am amazed at the hope and camaraderie this event brings to the lives of Veterans from across Canada,” says Dr. Ramesh Zacharias, CEO of the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans. “The ongoing success of this event is a testament to the dedication of our participants, the hard work of Tom Hoppe and Dr. Lindsay Rite, as well as the generosity of our event sponsors: ChangePain Vancouver, Summit Lodge Whistler and Hydrathletics Kingston. Without them, none of this would be possible.”

The CPCoE has long been at the forefront of supporting Veterans suffering from chronic pain, and the Alpine Challenge is just one aspect of the work the organization does. Other aspects include a research mandate to improve understanding of Veteran-specific chronic pain, mobilizing findings and recommendations to help Veterans and their families manage their pain and reconnect with life.

Veterans interested in participating in the 2025 Alpine Challenge can be notified when registration opens by subscribing to the CPCoE’s mailing list at www.veteranschronicpain.ca.

About the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans

The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans partners with Veterans and their families across Canada to develop research that genuinely addresses their unique needs and challenges, with the goal of building evidence-based standards and best practices that will improve the lives of Veterans and their families suffering from chronic pain.

Media Contact
Oliveah Numan
onuman@sussex-strategy.com
519-770-2991

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d60c50eb-7a52-4578-b590-c5e977499a37

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