Dr. Alex Bekker, a Professor and Chairman of Anaesthesiology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, dives into the transformative potential of psychedelics in treating chronic pain. He discusses the critical differences between chronic and acute pain, emphasizing the role of maladaptive neuroplasticity. Dr. Bekker explains how psychedelics like ketamine and classic hallucinogens can disrupt chronic pain networks and foster new neural pathways. He advocates for a holistic approach, combining psychedelics with psychotherapy to enhance treatment outcomes.
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Understanding Chronic Pain Mechanisms
Chronic pain results from peripheral and central sensitization, causing nerve damage that persists despite injury healing.
This leads to abnormal pain perception like hyperalgesia and allodynia due to disrupted neural pathways.
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Brain Remodeling in Chronic Pain
Chronic pain remodels the brain's default mode network, embedding pain perception into a person's resting mental state.
Psychedelic drugs can disrupt this network, allowing new, non-painful connections to form and reduce pain rumination.
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Limitations of Opioids for Chronic Pain
Opioids are effective for acute pain but ineffective and not recommended for chronic pain.
Chronic pain treatment relies on centrally acting drugs like amitriptyline and gabapentin targeting neural signaling, not peripheral inflammation.
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We deep dive into psychedelics as treatment for chronic pain with Dr. Alex Bekker, Professor and Chairman of Anaesthesiology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
We explore what chronic pain is, how it differs from acute pain, and its connection to maladaptive neuroplasticity. Dr. Bekker unpacks why current treatments often fail and how psychedelicsâthe classical psychedelics as well as ketamineâmay effectively treat otherwise treatment-resistant conditions, as well as some practical advice for chronic pain sufferers.
*** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon! In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Alex F, & Eliz C Special thanks also go to Julie D. for the generous one-time donation
Adventures Through The Mind 