Pain Science Education

Episode 314 | Pain & Pleasure: Decoding the Dopamine and Chronic Pain Connection with Anna Lembke, MD

Jun 28, 2023

Dr. Joe Tatta is joined by Dr. Anna Lembke, MD to discuss the connection between dopamine and chronic pain. They explore the role of dopamine in addiction, the addictive nature of exercise, and the effects of our brain's wiring for scarcity and danger. Embracing discomfort and resetting reward pathways are emphasized. Check out Dr. Lembke's book 'Dopamine Nation' for more insights.

35:37

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Episode guests

Anna Lembke, MD

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Quick takeaways

Dopamine plays a role in both pleasurable and painful experiences, affecting our motivation and reinforcing certain actions.

Understanding the balance between exercise and pain can guide practitioners in pain management and physical therapy.

Deep dives

The Role of Dopamine in Addiction and Pleasure

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in pleasure, reward, and motivation. It is the final common pathway for all reinforcing drugs and behaviors. The more dopamine released in the brain, the more likely a substance or behavior is to be reinforcing. Different substances and behaviors can release varying amounts of dopamine, leading to different levels of pleasure and addiction potential. This understanding of dopamine can help inform addiction treatment and interventions.

Understanding Dopamine: Stimulants vs. Exercise

00:54

Replace Addiction with Healthy Alternatives

01:31

Harnessing Shame as a Catalyst for Connection

00:46

Introduction

2min

Exploring Dopamine and Addiction

16min

Anxiety, Running Wheels, and the Addictive Nature of Exercise

4min

The Social Aspect of Exercise and Addiction Recovery

5min

Pain and Pleasure: Understanding Addiction and Disease

6min

Building Strength Through Discomfort and Proper Pain Threshold

2min

Dopamine is a chemical formed in the brain that allows us to experience pleasure, reward, and motivation. The more of it that is released in the synapse, the more likely it can reinforce us to do a specific action all over again. In this episode, Dr. Joe Tatta is joined by Anna Lembke, MD, who discusses how dopamine is not only released through pleasurable activities but also relatively painful ones. She discusses how to achieve a complete pain-pleasure balance in today’s world that keeps bombarding us with dopamine hits left and right – and most of the time, even at our own command. Dr. Anna also explains why pain can become addictive and what must be done to secure a healthy dose of pain in our lives.

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Pain Science Education

Episode 314 | Pain & Pleasure: Decoding the Dopamine and Chronic Pain Connection with Anna Lembke, MD

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Role of Dopamine in Addiction and Pleasure

Exercise and Hormesis

Pleasure-Pain Balance and Addiction

The Effects of Shame, Social Pressure, and AA

Understanding Dopamine: Stimulants vs. Exercise

Replace Addiction with Healthy Alternatives

Harnessing Shame as a Catalyst for Connection

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts