March 19, 2025 • 10 mins
Welcome back to The Most Painful Podcast! We're continuing our Live from Invictus series, bringing you exclusive conversations straight from the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver, BC. In this episode, we sit down with Igor Khoeodylo, the medic for the Ukrainian Invictus team. As a former combat medical lead and past Invictus athlete, Igor brings a unique perspective on both the battlefield and the competition. Join us as we discuss his journey, the resilience of Ukrainian athletes, and the vital role of medical support in adaptive sports.Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from Live from Invictus!
For more about the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence visit https://www.veteranschronicpain.ca/
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For more about the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence visit https://www.veteranschronicpain.ca/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/chronicpainCOE
Twitter https://twitter.com/chronicpainCOE
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chronicpain_coe/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is SSN Story Studio Network.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Welcome to this special series of the Most Painful Podcast,
recorded live from the twenty twenty five Victus Games at Vancouver, BC.
I'm your host Tom Hoppey. On this episode, I'm joined
by Iagor Hollidillo, who is a medic for the Ukrainian team.
Egor was also a combat medic and a former Invectus athlete. Igor,
(00:29):
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
First of all, thank you very much for inlightening me,
because as more we tell you about Ukrainian veterans is
better for our country and I think for the world actually,
which is fighting against this absolute evil which we call Russia.
So I'm a veteran and a former combat medic. So
(00:58):
I was participant in this war starting from twenty fourteen,
and in twenty twenty three I was wounded. I had
heavy concussion and mine exposure trauma. And okay, now I'm
(01:19):
here after my rehabilitation.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
So that's my story actually, And how did you get
involved with Invictus.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
I was invited to Invictus well, to be honest, I
participated in Victus one time before and it was very
very impressive, very impressive competition and the project itself. For me,
it's quite valuable and necessary thing because veterans they have
(01:51):
to know each other, they have to they have to
have to communicate with each other, and that's very important
in our world.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
And so for this year and Invictus, your your role
is uh team medical medical.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
That's right, Yeah, yeah, yeah, my role is support my guys,
I mean as a combat metic, you know, watch that
everything goes well. Yeah, and they can fulfill what they
think is necessary.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Yea.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
So how is I mean, like many veterans here, there's
there's lots of injuries both physical.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
And and and.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Are visible and invisible exactly. So how is how are
you managing that with your team?
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Well?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Uh, first of all, I would say that, uh, the
atmosphere which is uh created within the team. I mean
it's a healing it's a healing atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
I understand, and you understand, and every single veteran understands
that pain is.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
A part of our life.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Yeah, for many many years or probably for the whole life.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
So yeah, it exists and we treated.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
But I think main thing is a psychological approach, which
is very very important because anyway we feel it with
our brain, the pain itself. So I think the mindset,
the mindset, and it's not important only for surviving, and
it's important also for how you communicate with your with
(03:30):
your brothers in in in a group and stuff like this.
And for me, the most problematic thing is a phantom pain.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Not not for myself, yeah, but for my guys guys.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, And that's the thing that it's very
difficult to work with.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Maybe you could just explain what that is to our audience.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Many amputes they understand and they know what it is.
So when you when you lose your limb, yeah, you
still time to time or sometimes unfortunately sometimes permanently, you
feel it and it pains so so actually you don't
(04:13):
have it, but but you feel the pain.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
In the limb.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
It's like the limb is still there. Yeah, they're having
pain in their foot, but the foot exactly exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
Which is kind of interesting because you know, you mentioned
about how the brain and chronic pain are connected. So
that's a really good example, right right, right exactly. I
mean I would see that it's not there, but yet
it's still connected.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Connection.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
So how how what are some of the strategies you're
using to help people who are struggling with that.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Well, it depends, it depends because everyone is very unique,
but everyone is very different for some people. For some people,
very useful psychological work. For example EMDR protocol Right, yeah,
we have your protocol which can be very helpful for
(05:03):
some people. They are using very interesting device. It's not
evidence based, but it works. It's like some kind of waves. Yeah, yeah,
which we applied to the certain place and many guys,
many guys you know, kind of very happy, I mean
(05:25):
to not have this phantom pain and stuff like this.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Yeah, So the team here in Canada, what are your
supports if somebody does need medical treatment or if they
have chronic pain or what kind of supports available for
them here in Canada.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Well, okay, let me put it in this way. There's
the medical service in Invictus. So you apply to medical
service and they kind of decide what to do. And
a couple of times, uh, we had to go to
(06:05):
the x ray, for example, to see what the athlete
had fractured. Because fortunately we had the situation when one
guy was high amputation of his of his leg, yeah,
and he falls down. Because not not all hotels they
(06:29):
have everything necessary for for people like like this one
or for guys on wheelchair for example. I was really surprised,
I mean badly surprised that it happened. So and we
applied to this service. They sent us to the clinic.
We did the X ray explanation and stuff like this.
(06:52):
Fortunately everything is fine.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I mean it worked usual way.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
That's it, that's how it works in there. And then
and then of course you're there if anything happens during
the events and stuff like that, then you're you're there
to support support them. But the biggest thing I think
you said is psychologically right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Yeah, yeah, true.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
We have a psychologist with us, and well actually we
have got two psychologists, one psychotherapist and one psychologist, and
I think they play the key role in in.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
What we call mindset.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, so because of mental hells is quite quite important.
I think the future is in this direction to work
to work with mental hells.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
So yeah, yeah, the mindset. And you were saying, like
you've done your rehab in that is there. Do you
receive education on chronic pain? Do you receive like education
on the connection between chronic pain and mental health or.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Well I don't think so. No.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
No, see a lot of things which is going on
right now. It's a result of the war, and it's
a quite new experience. Is in many in many many directions.
So we're kind of learning and practicing, right and try
and to do our best to solve these problems.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Okay, Yeah, and hopefully this podcast and other work that
people are doing will help help you guys as well too, Right,
And that's the INtime. Any final things to say.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
About Well, thank you very much for the support. Yeah,
well that's quite important for us. It's it's and we're
really appreciated. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Well, I'm happy that you're able to take the time
because I know you guys are busy. Were Saturday tomorrow,
Sunday is the last day. Yeah, and then I hear
you guys are leaving Monday back to So. I mean
you see the teams walking around from all the different countries,
you know, and uh, you know, soldiers have different experiences
where they are, but there are a lot of common things.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
That we did.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah, other people do not do, right, So this is
our world. It is, it is, it is. And I
remember when I was a young soldier and I was
in Europe. You know, somebody said it doesn't matter where
you are in the world, if you meet a soldier
in the bar, you got a drinking partner for the night.
Sure you know and support it, Yeah, because it's there. Igor,
(09:19):
thanks so much for being on the show. Thank you,
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
For feedback about the show or more information on chronic pain,
you can visit our website Veterans Chronic Pain dot ca.
And if you want more information on Invictus, you can
go to their website Invictus Games Foundation dot org. Remember
to like, follow, subscribe, and share this podcast. Thanks for
listening to a special Invictus Live series as part of
(09:53):
the Most Painful Podcast. I'm your host, Tom Hoppey. Stay
safe and keep the hope alive.
This is SSN Story Studio Network.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Welcome to this special series of the Most Painful Podcast,
recorded live from the twenty twenty five Victus Games at Vancouver, BC.
I'm your host Tom Hoppey. On this episode, I'm joined
by Iagor Hollidillo, who is a medic for the Ukrainian team.
Egor was also a combat medic and a former Invectus athlete. Igor,
(00:29):
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
First of all, thank you very much for inlightening me,
because as more we tell you about Ukrainian veterans is
better for our country and I think for the world actually,
which is fighting against this absolute evil which we call Russia.
So I'm a veteran and a former combat medic. So
(00:58):
I was participant in this war starting from twenty fourteen,
and in twenty twenty three I was wounded. I had
heavy concussion and mine exposure trauma. And okay, now I'm
(01:19):
here after my rehabilitation.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
So that's my story actually, And how did you get
involved with Invictus.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
I was invited to Invictus well, to be honest, I
participated in Victus one time before and it was very
very impressive, very impressive competition and the project itself. For me,
it's quite valuable and necessary thing because veterans they have
(01:51):
to know each other, they have to they have to
have to communicate with each other, and that's very important
in our world.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
And so for this year and Invictus, your your role
is uh team medical medical.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
That's right, Yeah, yeah, yeah, my role is support my guys,
I mean as a combat metic, you know, watch that
everything goes well. Yeah, and they can fulfill what they
think is necessary.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Yea.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
So how is I mean, like many veterans here, there's
there's lots of injuries both physical.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
And and and.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Are visible and invisible exactly. So how is how are
you managing that with your team?
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Well?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Uh, first of all, I would say that, uh, the
atmosphere which is uh created within the team. I mean
it's a healing it's a healing atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
I understand, and you understand, and every single veteran understands
that pain is.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
A part of our life.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Yeah, for many many years or probably for the whole life.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
So yeah, it exists and we treated.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
But I think main thing is a psychological approach, which
is very very important because anyway we feel it with
our brain, the pain itself. So I think the mindset,
the mindset, and it's not important only for surviving, and
it's important also for how you communicate with your with
(03:30):
your brothers in in in a group and stuff like this.
And for me, the most problematic thing is a phantom pain.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Not not for myself, yeah, but for my guys guys.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, And that's the thing that it's very
difficult to work with.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Maybe you could just explain what that is to our audience.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Many amputes they understand and they know what it is.
So when you when you lose your limb, yeah, you
still time to time or sometimes unfortunately sometimes permanently, you
feel it and it pains so so actually you don't
(04:13):
have it, but but you feel the pain.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
In the limb.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
It's like the limb is still there. Yeah, they're having
pain in their foot, but the foot exactly exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
Which is kind of interesting because you know, you mentioned
about how the brain and chronic pain are connected. So
that's a really good example, right right, right exactly. I
mean I would see that it's not there, but yet
it's still connected.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Connection.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
So how how what are some of the strategies you're
using to help people who are struggling with that.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Well, it depends, it depends because everyone is very unique,
but everyone is very different for some people. For some people,
very useful psychological work. For example EMDR protocol Right, yeah,
we have your protocol which can be very helpful for
(05:03):
some people. They are using very interesting device. It's not
evidence based, but it works. It's like some kind of waves. Yeah, yeah,
which we applied to the certain place and many guys,
many guys you know, kind of very happy, I mean
(05:25):
to not have this phantom pain and stuff like this.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Yeah, So the team here in Canada, what are your
supports if somebody does need medical treatment or if they
have chronic pain or what kind of supports available for
them here in Canada.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Well, okay, let me put it in this way. There's
the medical service in Invictus. So you apply to medical
service and they kind of decide what to do. And
a couple of times, uh, we had to go to
(06:05):
the x ray, for example, to see what the athlete
had fractured. Because fortunately we had the situation when one
guy was high amputation of his of his leg, yeah,
and he falls down. Because not not all hotels they
(06:29):
have everything necessary for for people like like this one
or for guys on wheelchair for example. I was really surprised,
I mean badly surprised that it happened. So and we
applied to this service. They sent us to the clinic.
We did the X ray explanation and stuff like this.
(06:52):
Fortunately everything is fine.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I mean it worked usual way.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
That's it, that's how it works in there. And then
and then of course you're there if anything happens during
the events and stuff like that, then you're you're there
to support support them. But the biggest thing I think
you said is psychologically right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Yeah, yeah, true.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
We have a psychologist with us, and well actually we
have got two psychologists, one psychotherapist and one psychologist, and
I think they play the key role in in.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
What we call mindset.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, so because of mental hells is quite quite important.
I think the future is in this direction to work
to work with mental hells.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
So yeah, yeah, the mindset. And you were saying, like
you've done your rehab in that is there. Do you
receive education on chronic pain? Do you receive like education
on the connection between chronic pain and mental health or.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Well I don't think so. No.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
No, see a lot of things which is going on
right now. It's a result of the war, and it's
a quite new experience. Is in many in many many directions.
So we're kind of learning and practicing, right and try
and to do our best to solve these problems.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Okay, Yeah, and hopefully this podcast and other work that
people are doing will help help you guys as well too, Right,
And that's the INtime. Any final things to say.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
About Well, thank you very much for the support. Yeah,
well that's quite important for us. It's it's and we're
really appreciated. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Well, I'm happy that you're able to take the time
because I know you guys are busy. Were Saturday tomorrow,
Sunday is the last day. Yeah, and then I hear
you guys are leaving Monday back to So. I mean
you see the teams walking around from all the different countries,
you know, and uh, you know, soldiers have different experiences
where they are, but there are a lot of common things.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
That we did.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah, other people do not do, right, So this is
our world. It is, it is, it is. And I
remember when I was a young soldier and I was
in Europe. You know, somebody said it doesn't matter where
you are in the world, if you meet a soldier
in the bar, you got a drinking partner for the night.
Sure you know and support it, Yeah, because it's there. Igor,
(09:19):
thanks so much for being on the show. Thank you,
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
For feedback about the show or more information on chronic pain,
you can visit our website Veterans Chronic Pain dot ca.
And if you want more information on Invictus, you can
go to their website Invictus Games Foundation dot org. Remember
to like, follow, subscribe, and share this podcast. Thanks for
listening to a special Invictus Live series as part of
(09:53):
the Most Painful Podcast. I'm your host, Tom Hoppey. Stay
safe and keep the hope alive.
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