Alice's Story

Conversations About Everyday Pain

What is your mindset about pain as you grow older? Do you believe that the body and the ageing process can be full of joy? Your perspective on life and coping, while keeping your sense of humor can be rewarded.

In today’s episode, we delve into laughter and life experience with our guest, Alice. Alice is in her 80’s and she tells a story about expectations. Shaping expectations can play a major role in how things go and how expectations can have a huge impact on the experiences that follow. We follow her pain experiences from the choice of natural childbirth in the 1960’s to her “deteriorating” body with 5 or so joint replacements today. The stories are all connected through laughter and positive mindset.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Nocebic language - if you believe something is bad for you, it ends up being bad.
• The adverse effects of some drugs on our cognitive or brain functioning.
• The value of elder housing situations where young people are encouraged or incentivized to live alongside the older generation.
• McMaster University senior co-housing - connecting students looking for affordable housing with seniors who have a spare room.
• The correlation between how informed someone is about their body and how well they respond to care.
• Midwifery and the value of birthing center experiences where women can choose natural childbirth with a midwife.
• How labor pain is normal pain that isn’t related to dysfunction.
• How wishes are different from our expectations.
• Spiritual belief systems for not creating a lot of fear associated with pain.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Nocebo - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-is-the-nocebo-effect-5451823/
• List of drugs contraindicated in geriatrics -https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-ca/professional/geriatrics/drug-therapy-in-the-elderly/drug-categories-of-concern-in-the-elderly
• Senior Co-Housing in Ontario - https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/student-senior-university-mcmaster-housing-co-generational-1.4811115?cmp=FB_Post_News
• Grantly Dick-Read – Childbirth Without Fear and Natural Childbirth
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grantly_Dick-Read
  • https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Childbirth-Grantly-Dick-Read/dp/1905177089

• Flagstaff Birth and Women’s Center - https://www.flagstaffbirthcenter.com/
• UW Willed Body Program: - https://www.uwmedicine.org/education/about/willed-body-program
• Hospital Delirium in Geriatric Medicine - https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/when-patients-suddenly-become-confused
• Quaker Meeting - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeting_for_worship

Connect With the Show:

• Facebook Page – Everyday Pain Guide
• Facebook Group – Everyday Pain Forum
• Twitter – @noeverydaypain

Music From This Episode:

• Eric and Magill – https://ericandmagill.bandcamp.com/
• Samuel Vas-Y – https://samyel.bandcamp.com
• Phil Steadman - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Steadman/