Welcome to the Annual Scientific Meeting of the New Zealand Pain Society Inc. at The Rutherford Hotel, Nelson from Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th March 2017.

Staying active and maintaining a fulfilling lifestyle despite the pain can be a great challenge for persistent pain sufferers. Our theme this year is “Active and Able - Independent with Pain”. The focus of the conference is two-fold. It looks at ways in which pain patients can be assisted in remaining active despite the pain, be it maintaining work, or continuing with leisure activities, school or sports. It also aims at equipping professionals with up to date skills which can be taken to the clinic and applied straight away to improve patient outcomes.

 
To ensure a successful conference, well-recognised international speakers have been confirmed. Bruno Cayoun will share with us his expertise on using mindfulness in pain management. While, Professor Jo Nijs will provide an overview of the latest research into the process of central sensitization. A half-day primary care forum will aim to tackle the challenges that primary care providers face when managing chronic pain patients and a selection of brief workshops and panel discussions will prove to be engaging and practical.

Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the oldest city in the South Island. It often tops New Zealand sunshine hours. Nelson is known for its beautiful reserves and national parks and there are plenty of hiking, kayaking, cruising and biking options. Nelson city is smart and well developed. Its thriving local arts and craft scene includes some of New Zealand’s best visual artists, potters, glass blowers and wood carvers. For the wine and food lovers there is a superb selection of wineries, cafes and boutique breweries to satisfy any taste.

We would like to invite you to participate in our 2017 meeting and I look forward to the opportunity of meeting you at the conference.

Dr Elena Moran

Convener, Annual Scientific Meeting 2017, New Zealand Pain Society

I would like to warmly welcome you to the 2017 New Zealand Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting.

In choosing ‘Active and Able’ as a conference theme, the conference convening committee recognise the primary tasks of pain management; to optimise pain treatment and to enable people to have the best possible quality of life even if pain persists. The programme includes developments in current scientific knowledge and practical skills and techniques. There is a strong clinical thread, with workshops to discuss techniques, panels to address areas of challenge, and key foundation topics that will be helpful to practitioners new to the field of pain.

The speakers are sourced from a wide range of disciplines and this mirrors the membership of our multi-disciplinary society.  There is a wide spectrum of topics that will have relevance to all attendees.

NZ Pain Society meetings also offer an opportunity to gather with friends and colleagues. As a specialist community of clinicians these relationships are incredibly important.  I look forward to the debates inspired by presentations and to spending time with colleagues who share a determination to offer people with pain the best possible management of their condition.

We are lucky to hold the meeting in beautiful Nelson.  In keeping with the conference theme, I hope you have an opportunity to be active and able in this wonderful region. 

Once again, I would like to thank the organising committee for their efforts in creating this wonderful meeting for us all to enjoy.

Fran James, President New Zealand Pain Society