If you are one of the many Osoyoos residents who suffer from chronic pain, you will want to keep the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 19 free and open.

That’s because the Town of Osoyoos will be hosting a Chronic Pain Management information session and seminar from 7-9 p.m. at the Osoyoos Seniors’ Centre.

“Whether you are personally living with chronic pain or are the caregiver of someone living with chronic pain, you will probably want to attend this workshop,” said Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff, who is a member of a rural health sustainability committee that has been meeting on a regular basis over the past several months.

The Joint Standing Committee on Rural Initiatives was formed by the South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice several months ago.

For those who can’t attend the seminar in Osoyoos on Sept. 19, a second workshop will be held in Keremeos at the Legion Hall on Veterans Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 26 from 7-9 p.m.

Local experts with a great deal of experience in dealing with patients with chronic pain will lead the workshop, said McKortoff.

Dr. Peter Entwistle, the former longtime Chief of Staff with the South Okanagan General Hospital and a veteran general practitioner, has agreed to participate in the Osoyoos workshop and will be joined by a local pharmacist and physiotherapist, said McKortoff.

Living with chronic pain can be very difficult and draining as the pain is not visible, but those suffering from it must take steps to ease their symptoms, said McKortoff.

“Chronic pain is a high profile issue in towns like Osoyoos, where there are a lot of older residents,” she said. “This seminar is all about providing information to allow those suffering with chronic pain to be proactive in trying to deal with their physical issues.

“There are things they can do and some things they shouldn’t do and the workshop will be all about sharing information to help people.”

The Osoyoos Times will be running a series of three short articles over the next three weeks that will provide information about dealing with chronic pain and the upcoming workshop.

The rural health committee she belongs to has been discussing a workshop to deal with chronic pain issues for some time and she’s glad local residents will be able to benefit from the workshop, said McKortoff.

For more information about the chronic pain seminars, contact Renate Hayden at 1-778-476-1878.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times