#149 The Truth about Pain with Dr Monty Lyman

9 snips

May 11, 2022

In this conversation, Dr. Monty Lyman—an Oxford researcher and author—redefines pain as a protector rather than a mere measure of injury. He shares his own struggles with IBS, highlighting the psycho-emotional aspects of pain. The discussion touches on innovative concepts like neuroplasticity, the effectiveness of hypnotherapy, and the impacts of loneliness on pain perception. Dr. Lyman emphasizes the power of community, education, and visualization techniques in managing pain—showcasing a holistic approach to understanding this complex experience.

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ANECDOTE

Chronic Pain Patient Story

Dr. Monty Lyman recounts a story of a patient with chronic back pain whose MRI results were normal.
The consultant's dismissal of the pain as psychological left the patient feeling misunderstood.

INSIGHT

Pain as a Protector

Pain is a protector, not a detector of tissue damage.
It's a protective mechanism urging us to protect body parts, influenced by the brain's predictions.

INSIGHT

Wisdom Tooth Trial and Expectation Effect

A study on wisdom teeth extraction revealed the expectation effect.
Dentists' confidence in pain relief, even with placebos, influenced patient pain levels.

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We need to revolutionise our understanding of pain. Most of us hold on to the false belief that pain is a measure of tissue damage, a ‘detector’ of physical injury. But I’m speaking to Dr Monty Lyman who argues that pain is a ‘protector’ rather than a ‘detector’.

Dr Monty Lyman is a medical doctor and research fellow at the University of Oxford and his first book, The Remarkable Life of the Skin, was shortlisted for the 2019 Royal Society Science Book Prize, was a Radio 4 ‘Book of the Week’ and a Sunday Times ‘Book of the Year’.

Today, Monty and I discuss:

What is pain really?

His personal journey of dealing with pain from IBS

How hypnotherapy and homoeopathy might work to reduce pain

Why loneliness and lack of community can lead to pain

The concept of neuroplasticity

How movement, visualisation and education can help reduce and rewire our relationship with pain

In his new piece of work “The Painful Truth”, he beautifully presents a collection of patient stories, personal experiences and evidence base for a more nuanced understanding of pain and I highly recommend it as a read.

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On Twitter: @monty_lyman

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On his website: https://www.montylyman.com/books

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