Above: Soula in her workplace sitting on the fitball that burst in 2007
My Health Story founder, Soula Mantalvanos, was recently invited to share her valuable expertise for GP training, once again highlighting the significance of lived experience for chronic pain management education.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) GP training session, ‘An approach to non-cancer pain,’ was hosted by Dr Paul Grinzi on Wednesday, 15 November 2023, in Melbourne.
Soula’s 20-minute presentation included details of her 4.5-year medical odyssey that led to her chronic illness – one she believes could have been completely avoided with educational training sessions such as the one she was presenting at.
Soula began her presentation by stating the vision and mission that have driven her advocacy and to becoming the founder of pudendalnerve.com.au and My Health Story:
Understanding the unique lived experience is critical to tailored care and relieving the global burden of disease.
Continuing the presentation, Soula addressed the complexity of navigating misdiagnosis with rising levels of pain, associated symptoms and the feeling of losing grip on life.
Explaining the effects experienced by chronic pain and being misunderstood by the very people who should have been able to understand and help her, Soula was able to point out that getting the right help as soon as possible makes all the difference between acute and life-long pain.
After explaining her experience and sharing her insights into the complex issue, Soula described her current management plan and offered her ideas about empowering people to manage their health – ‘something so difficult to comprehend let alone action’ but yet critical for the way forward.
In the final part of her presentation, Soula displayed some of her favourite resources for managing and treating chronic illness – all of which encourage patient empowerment and self-efficacy and aspire to tailor care.
Soula presenting some of her most favorite resources for treating and managing chronic pain
The Board of Innovation resource
Soula presenting some of her most favorite resources for treating and managing chronic pain
My Health Story health management for aged care
My Health Story worksheets
My Health Story goal setting
My Health Story diarising in the Personal Space area
Presentations such as these don’t happen without impacting Soula, but they also energise and provide hope for her and people who begin to experience chronic pain.
Soula truly believes with the proper education, the patient’s first port of call – the GP, will be able to guide the patient away from the danger of chronic pain and its life-long impact.
People’s stories are powerful for the management of complex health issues.
Soula’s final screen formed a reminder that people are more than their disease.
