Pain Education Makes a Difference
Pain education helps manage pain and improve quality of life
Pelvic Pain Education Program (PPEP) VIDEOS
Below you will find a series of videos about a variety of pain conditions.
1) Do the PRE-Test so you know your baseline level of knowledge.
2) Start with the first video to get oriented to the course.
3) Watch one video at a time until you complete the series. Each video is very short, less than 10 minutes. As you progress through the videos, take notes and write down questions that you may want to discuss with your clinician.
4) After you finish a video, try to complete the surveys and recommended activities. They are designed to further your understanding, explore your symptoms and make communication with your clinician easier.
*** Indicates videos that are useful regardless of the cause of the pain. Videos that are not starred are useful only if you have that particular condition.
IMPORTANT PRIVACY AND SECURITY NOTICE: All post- video surveys are anonymous so the surveys do not ask for any personally identifiable information like name, address, email, or phone. However, the survey platform, SurveyMonkey, records IP addresses (your computer's address) in logs and deletes them after 13 months. For more information on how your IP address may be used by SurveyMonkey please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/legal/privacy/.
LIST OF VIDEOS
INTRODUCTION***
Narrator: Dr. Georgine Lamvu
Duration: 2 min 23 seconds
This video gives a brief overview of the pelvic pain education program. The video reviews the objectives, activities and navigation of this website. After you complete this video, please remember to go take the Pre-test to measure your baseline knowledge about pelvic pain.
WHY AND HOW DO WE FEEL PAIN?***
Narrator: Dr. Jessica Feranec
Duration: 2 minutes 25 seconds
This video gives an overview of how humans feel pain. It discusses the difference between peripheral and central pain and it also discusses the role that the brain plays in feeling pain. This video was funded by the National Vulvodynia Association.
Videography by Francisco Chavez at www.Cisco_Photography.com.
WHY AND HOW DOES PAIN BECOME CHRONIC?***
Narrator: Dr. Georgine Lamvu
Duration: 2 minutes 17 seconds
This video discussed the different pathways that can lead to chronic pain. It emphasizes the role of the brain in pain sensation. This video was funded by the National Vulvodynia Association.
Videography by Francisco Chavez at www.Cisco_Photography.com.
WHAT IS CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN?
Narrator: Dr. Georgine Lamvu
Duration: 5 minutes 2 seconds
This video covers the frequency, definition and risk factors for chronic pelvic pain (CPP). This video also reviews the long-term consequences of living with CPP. Please answer a very brief survey after you watch this video: click here to take survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Write down a description of your symptoms and complete the 'Initial Patient Survey' to help you prepare for your first visit with your clinician.
HOW IS PELVIC PAIN MANAGED?
Narrator: Dr. Georgine Lamvu
Duration: 5 minutes and 22 seconds
This video reviews how pelvic pain is diagnosed. It also reviews treatments and focuses on mind-body, whole-health and multi-modal interventions. It briefly discusses goal setting and expectations. Please answer a very brief survey after you watch this video: click here to take the survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Review the FAQ about pelvic pain.
-
Write down goals and expectations from treatment.
-
Review the communication worksheet to help you prepare for visits with your clinicians.
-
Register for symptom and activity monitoring at painguide.com
-
Additional Resources that may be completed: watch video on “Understanding Pain” and read “Explain Pain Patient Leaflet” and “Proactive pain Management: 10 ways to manage your pain”
WHAT IS MENSTRUAL PAIN (DYSMENORRHEA)?
Narrator: Dr. Alexander Wang
Duration: 6 minutes 12 seconds
This video describes the definition, frequency, and symptoms associated with menstrual pain. The video also reviews how dysmenorrhea is diagnosed and treated. Please answer a very brief survey after you watch this video: click here to take the survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Make a calendar of activities that you can do when you experience menstrual pain.
-
Watch video on ‘4 yoga poses to relieve cramps’.
-
Review FAQ about menstrual pain.
WHAT IS ENDOMETRIOSIS?
Narrator: Dr. Jorge Carrillo
Duration: 4 minutes 28 seconds
This video provides an overview of the frequency, causes, and risk factor for endometriosis. It also discusses symptoms that are associated with endometriosis. Please answer a very brief survey after you watch this video: click here to take the survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Write down the symptoms that you have are that are most consistent with endometriosis.
HOW IS ENDOMETRIOSIS DIAGNOSED AND TREATED ?
Narrator: Dr. Jorge Carrillo
Duration: 6 minutes 21 seconds
This video describes the evaluation of endometriosis, including diagnostic tests. The video also reviews treatments, communication with your healthcare team, long-term prognosis and self-management of pain. Please answer a brief survey after you watch this video: click here to take the survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Write down what treatments you tried, what worked and what didn't.
WHAT IS VULVODYNIA AND HOW IS IT TREATED ?
Narrator: Dr. Georgine Lamvu
Duration: 8 minutes 40 seconds
This video reviews the definition, frequency, causes and conditions associated with vulvodynia. It also reviews treatments, vulvar care and self-care. Please answer a very brief survey after you watch the video. Click here to take the survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Write down things that worsen your vaginal pain, like behaviors that you usually do that may contribute to your pain.
-
Read the FAQ about vulvodynia and learn more at www.vulvodyniaeducation.com
-
Read the online patient tutorial on vulvodynia at nva.org.
SEXUAL FUNCTION AND SEXUAL PAIN (DYSPAREUNIA)
Narrator: Dr. Georgine Lamvu
Duration: 7 minutes 0 seconds
This video reviews the female sexual cycle and causes of sexual dysfunction. It also provides an overview of treatments and self-care. Please answer a very brief survey after you watch the video. Click here to take the survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Keep a journal about how your pain affects your sexual life and identity.
-
Review the FAQ about Sexual Pain and Dysfunction.
-
Watch the video ' understanding female sexual dysfunction.'
MENOPAUSE AND VAGINAL PAIN
Narrator: Dr. Chensi Ouyang
Duration: 4 minutes 29 seconds
This video provides an overview of menopause and genitourinary syndrome (GSM). It reviews the frequency of symptoms and provides a brief overview of the relationship between menopause and vaginal pain. The video also reviews treatments and self-management. Please answer a very brief survey after you watch the video. Click here to take the survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
OVERLAPPING PAIN CONDITIONS THAT ARE NOT GYNECOLOGIC
Narrator: Dr. Jorge Carrillo
Duration: 6 minutes 23 seconds
This video gives an overview of non-gynecologic overlapping pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic low back pain. The video reviews how these conditions are diagnosed and treated. Please answer a brief survey after you watch the video. Click here to take the survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Inventory your pain conditions and symptoms.
-
Watch videos about chronic pain conditions and sign up for symptom and activity monitoring.
-
Review additional pain resources and patient self help guide on the chronic pain research alliance webpage.
-
List of potential diet related bladder and bowel irritants.
-
Review Frequently Asked Questions About Overlapping Pain Conditions.
PELVIC FLOOR DYSFUNCTION AND PELVIC PHYSICAL THERAPY
Narrator: Dr. Georgine Lamvu
Duration: 7 minutes 15 seconds
This video describes the structures of the pelvis, their function and what happens in pelvic floor dysfunction. The video also provides an overview of diagnosis, treatment and self-management. Please answer a brief survey after you watch the video. Click here to take the survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Journal the symptoms that you think are caused by your pelvic floor muscles. Review pelvic exercises you can do at home and make a weekly schedule to practice them.
-
Review Frequently Asked Questions About the Pelvic Floor and Physical Therapy
HOW CAN SURGERY HELP PELVIC PAIN ?
Narrator: Dr. Jorge Carrillo
Duration: 9 minutes 14 seconds
This video reviews the surgeries that are available for pelvic pain conditions. It discusses who is a good candidate for surgery and it reviews the risks and benefits of surgery. This video also covers what to expect from surgery, how to prepare, how to manage pain after surgery and what to do if surgery fails. Please answer a brief survey after you watch the video. Click here to take the survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
List 3 things you can do to prepare yourself for surgery.
-
List 3 additional therapies that can be combined with surgery to better improve pelvic pain.
-
Review Frequently Asked Questions About Surgery for Pelvic Pain.
NEUROPATHIC PELVIC PAIN
Narrator: Dr. Jorge Carrillo
Duration: 6 minutes 23 seconds
This reviews the definition, frequency and symptoms of neuropathic pain. It discusses risk factors, diagnosis and treatments including self-care. Please answer a brief survey after you watch the video. Click here to take the survey.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Make a list of day-to-day behaviors you can change to improve neuropathic pain.
-
Make a list the the types of pain you have in your body.
-
Can you differentiate between neuropathic and non-neuropathic?
TRACKING YOUR PROGRESS***
Narrator: Dr. Chensi Ouyang
Duration: 5 minutes 57 seconds
This video explains how to track progress. It emphasizes focusing on positive outcomes, setting goals and shared decision making. This video was funded by the National Vulvodynia Association.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Create an activity plan with goals that can be achieved in 2 weeks.
-
Download an activity tracking app such as the Activity Tracker Pedometer or Google Fit-Activity Tracker.
-
Make a schedule of positive activities such as exercise, meditation and social interactions.
EXPECTATIONS AND COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM***
Narrator: Dr. Chesi Ouyang
Duration: 5 minutes 27 seconds
This video describes expectations from treatment and what is important when communicating with your healthcare team. The video reviews specific communication strategies. This video was developed for persons with vulvodynia, however, the recommendations provided are applicable to all chronic pelvic pain conditions. This video was funded by the National Vulvodynia Association.
Recommended activities after you view this video:
-
Write down your goals and expectations for your pain treatment, describe your priorities.
-
Make an accurate and current list of all your healthcare professionals.
-
Write down how long you expect treatments to take.
-
Write down what side-effects you want to avoid.
ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL VIDEO REFERENCES
After you watch the videos on this page, we recommend viewing these additional videos provided by painguide.com. This will help complete the educational process and provide you more tools for pain management.
Activity and Exercise and Pacing
Mental Health: Relaxation, Reframing, Resilience, Managing Emotions