Wallaby star, Rob Horne headlining
national chronic pain roadshow
Rugby Wallaby star, Rob Horne, 29 will kick-off a free, national roadshow today (Tuesday, October 30) tailored to the one-in-five Australians living with chronic pain,1 and their loved ones.
The Australian Pain Management Association's (APMA) 'Taking Back Control of My Chronic Pain' roadshow will run in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Noosa this week (October 30 – November 3). The roadshow will feature five, 1.5 hour-long seminars jam-packed with information and education for the estimated 3.2 million Australians living with chronic pain,2 their families and carers.
The seminars will feature roadshow ambassador, Horne, professional rugby player, husband, and father-of-two young children, who sustained a life-changing injury six months ago, retired US Army Master Sergeant, Justin Minyard, 38, Florida, who has battled chronic pain since serving as a first responder at the Pentagon during the September 11 attacks, and leading pain physicians.
"I have lived with a level 10/10 chronic pain since the day of my injury. But the way I manage and deal with my pain has changed dramatically in the past six months," said Horne.
Horne made a routine tackle while playing for Northampton, in England, which left him with full paralysis in his right arm and chronic pain. Subsequent surgery revealed he had damaged his brachial plexus (network of nerves that conduct signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm and hand) so badly that all five nerves separated from his spinal cord, rendering him with full limb paralysis in his right arm.
"I have lived with a level 10/10 chronic pain since the day of my injury. But the way I manage and deal with my pain has changed dramatically in the past six months," said Horne.
Horne collapsed on-field after making a routine tackle while playing for Northampton, England. Subsequent surgery revealed he had damaged his brachial plexus (network of nerves that conduct signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm and hand) so badly that all five nerves separated from his spinal cord, rendering him with full limb paralysis in his right arm.
"With most nerve injuries, there's constant, chronic pain, but you find ways to deal with that. Part of the process has been speaking with people who have sustained the same injury, both from within, and external to sport," Horne said.
"Sharing common experiences is a way of moving forward, which is why I'm honoured to be the national ambassador for the Taking back control of my chronic pain roadshow."
Minyard, who was crushed by collapsing rubble while acting as a first responder at the Pentagon on September 11, fractured his spine. Following surgery and intensive rehabilitation, Minyard was deployed to Afghanistan, where he broke his back after falling from a Black Hawk helicopter.
"Living with inadequately treated chronic pain controls every aspect of your life," said Minyard.
Justin subsequently plunged into a vicious cycle of dependency on medication, while his pain continued unabated. It wasn't until undergoing life-changing surgery involving the implantation of a spinal cord stimulator, that Justin was able to turn his life around.
"Being able to now effectively manage my chronic pain has given me a second chance to be the husband and father I should be.
"My advice to Australians living with chronic pain is to be your own advocate and educate yourself, which is why I have chosen to support the Taking back control of my chronic pain roadshow. I want to help others on their chronic pain journey because I've been through it, and come out the other side," Minyard said.
The number of Australians living with chronic pain, including children and adolescents, is expected to rise to five million by 2050 as our population ages.3 Chronic pain is also our nation's third most expensive health problem, costing more than $34.3 billion each year, behind the cost of cancer and cardiovascular disease.3
CEO of APMA, Elizabeth Carrigan, location said free information seminars such as the "Taking back control of my chronic pain" roadshow are especially important due to the financial vulnerability of Australians living with chronic pain.
"At least 20 per cent of Australia's population are living with chronic pain.3 Many of these people are unable to work, or their capacity to work is significantly impaired due to their chronic condition.
"As a result, people living with chronic pain are at substantially increased risk of depression, anxiety, physical deconditioning, poor self-esteem, social isolation and relationship breakdown.4
"We are thrilled to be hosting the Taking back control of my chronic pain roadshow, which will allow us to provide information, education and to share experiences with Australians living with chronic pain, and their families and carers," said Carrigan.
Leading pain physicians will outline the various treatment options for managing chronic pain and field questions from seminar attendees.
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