Through the Pain Revolution Ride cyclists hoped to ride the message home, arriving at their last stop in Albury yesterday. 

The seven-day ride from Sydney to Albury provided a pedal power educational tour through rural Australia. 

Pain Revolution Ride managing educator David Butler said it was vital to spread the ‘pain revolution’ through regional areas where instances of people with chronic pain were higher.

“It’s the second time we’ve done the ride, this time from Sydney to Albury and at each place we leave behind a local pain educator who is highly trained and can coordinate and make sure we have the new knowledge in rural areas,” he said.

“People are suffering more in rural areas.”

Dr Butler said one in four regional Australians experienced chronic pain, compared to only one in five in cities. 

He said they believe the discrepancy could be related to regional industries people work in, and the fact health professionals have less opportunities for mentors rurally. 

“In one year pain costs Australia more money than the entire NBN roll out,” he said.

For 20 years Albury resident Trevor Barker lived with immense and chronic pain, before he undertook three-week inpatient pain management course at Albury Wodonga Health.

The treatment was inspired by University of South Australia’s pain scientist Professor Lorimer Moseley, who believes that the brain generates body pain and neuroscience is integral to eliminating it.

Now, free of pain medication, Mr Barker said the ‘pain revolution’ was vital regionally.

“Pain treatment services in rural areas are so important,” he said. “People are suffering every day with chronic pain and to have some of the best specialists come to Albury is fantastic.

“It gives people hope there’s an alternative to being stuck in pain and a more effective way to deal with it.”

Mr Barker said now he’s off pain medication he’s thinking more clearly, enjoying life more.

Dr Butler said it was hoped the ride would impart ten target concepts of the ‘pain revolution’, including the idea the body is covered in danger, not pain, sensors, and that learning and understanding pain can help an individual hurt less. 

He said more than 180 members of the public attended a presentation on pain in Albury after the ride, while another session was held for Border health professionals to discuss new concepts in pain treatment.