Tell Me About Your Pain How Can I Diagnose My Pain Like a Pain Specialist?
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Dec 28, 2020 Dr. Howard Schubiner, a pioneer in mind-body medicine, shares his groundbreaking insights on diagnosing pain. He reveals how to differentiate between neuroplastic pain and structural issues, debunking common myths about injuries. The conversation includes his innovative technique, provocative testing, which empowers patients to assess their own pain sources. They also delve into how environmental factors and past experiences shape pain perception, presenting a holistic approach to understanding chronic pain.
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Fear of Damage Misleads Patients
- Most chronic pain patients fear their pain signals bodily damage, influenced by doctors' alarming diagnoses.
- However, many structural abnormalities on scans are normal and not correlated with pain, making the fear often misplaced.
Rule Out Structural Causes First
- Rule out structural causes by checking if diagnoses preclude body damage like fibromyalgia or IBS.
- If multiple doctors find no structural cause, suspect neuroplastic (brain-based) pain.
MRI Findings Often Incidental
- Most MRI findings like disc bulges are 'normal abnormalities' and don't explain chronic pain.
- Even severe MRI abnormalities can coexist with neuroplastic pain without structural cause.