Huberman Lab

Dr. Sean Mackey: Tools to Reduce & Manage Pain

Jan 15, 2024

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Sean Mackey, Chief of Pain Medicine at Stanford, explores the fascinating duality of pain—both physical and emotional. He discusses innovative pain management strategies like acupuncture, mindfulness, and nutritional approaches, while challenging the misunderstandings surrounding opioids and their role in treatment. Dr. Mackey also sheds light on how stress, memories, and even emotional connections influence pain perception, offering practical tools for individuals to better manage their pain and improve their quality of life.

02:52:39

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Episode guests

Sean Mackey

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Pain perception involves both sensory and emotional components, and the brain actively shapes and interprets pain signals.

Rubbing, shaking, and the use of heat and cold can provide effective relief from pain by altering signals in the spinal cord and activating touch fibers that inhibit pain.

Pain thresholds can vary among individuals due to factors like genetics, context, and beliefs, and can be modified through cognitive training and exercise.

Personalized nutrition platforms can help optimize health markers through personalized recommendations on nutrition, supplements, and behavioral modifications.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction and distraction techniques are effective approaches for managing chronic pain, engaging specific brain networks and fostering non-judgmental acceptance of pain.

The opioid crisis is driven by illicit fentanyl rather than prescribed opioids, and appropriate prescribing practices along with education and alternative pain management techniques can help address this crisis.

Deep dives

The Origins and Nature of Pain

Pain is a complex and subjective experience that serves a crucial role in keeping us away from injury or harm. It involves both sensory and emotional components and is highly individual. Chronic pain is a widespread problem that takes a toll on individuals and society. Understanding the foundations of pain and dispelling misconceptions is essential for effective treatment options.

Over-the-counter Supplements for nerve Pain Management

02:50

Distraction vs Mindful Acceptance of Pain. Both work.

03:16

Gate Control Theory of Pain and Pain Reduction Techniques

03:50

Understanding the Science of Pain

04:17

Intro

2min

Exploring Opioid Use and Pain Management

4min

Understanding Pain: Nature, Management, and Misconceptions

21min

Exploring Pain Management and the Role of Supplements

5min

Innovative Approaches to Pain Management

6min

Understanding Pain Perception

22min

Coping with Chronic Pain: Mindfulness and Distraction Techniques

2min

Holistic Pain Management Approaches

19min

Nutrition's Role in Pain Management

9min

10.

The Complexity of Pain: Visceral, Somatic, and Emotional Connections

19min

11.

Navigating the Opioid Landscape

23min

12.

Navigating Pain Management: Cannabis, Acupuncture, and Beyond

12min

13.

The Manipulation of Patient Ratings in Healthcare

2min

14.

Navigating Pain Management: Integrating Therapies

27min

15.

Understanding Pain: Insights and Management Strategies

4min

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Sean Mackey, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine and Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine and Neurology at Stanford University School of Medicine. His clinical and research efforts focus on using advanced neurosciences, patient outcomes, biomarkers and informatics to treat pain.

We discuss what pain is at the level of the body and mind, pain thresholds, and the various causes of pain. We also discuss effective protocols for controlling and reducing pain, including the use of heat and cold, acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy, nutrition, and supplementation.

We also discuss how pain is influenced by our emotions, stress and memories, and practical tools to control one’s psychological perception of pain.

And we discuss pain medications, including the controversial use of opioids and the opioid crisis.

This episode will help people understand, manage, and control their pain as well as the pain of others.

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.

Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab

Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Sean Mackey

(00:02:28) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:06:13) Pain, Unique Experiences, Chronic Pain

(00:13:05) Pain & the Brain

(00:16:15) Treating Pain, Medications: NSAIDs & Analgesics

(00:22:46) Inflammation, Pain & Recovery; Ibuprofen, Naprosyn & Aspirin

(00:27:51) Sponsor: AG1

(00:30:19) Caffeine, NSAIDs, Tylenol

(00:32:34) Pain & Touch, Gate Control Theory

(00:38:56) Pain Threshold, Gender

(00:44:53) Pain in Children, Pain Modulation (Pain Inhibits Pain)

(00:53:20) Tool: Heat, Cold & Pain; Changing Pain Threshold

(01:00:54) Tools: Psychology, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Catastrophizing

(01:08:29) Tool: Hurt vs. Harmed?, Chronic Pain

(01:12:38) Emotional Pain, Anger, Medication

(01:20:43) Tool: Nutrition & Pain; Food Sensitization & Elimination Diets

(01:28:45) Visceral Pain; Back, Chest & Abdominal Pain

(01:34:02) Referenced Pain, Neuropathic Pain; Stress, Memory & Psychological Pain

(01:40:23) Romantic Love & Pain, Addiction

(01:48:57) Endogenous & Exogenous Opioids, Morphine

(01:53:17) Opioid Crisis, Prescribing Physicians

(02:02:21) Opioids & Fentanyl; Morphine, Oxycontin, Methadone

(02:07:44) Kratom, Cannabis, CBD & Pain; Drug Schedules

(02:18:12) Pain Management Therapies, Acupuncture

(02:22:19) Finding Reliable Physicians, Acupuncturist

(02:26:36) Chiropractic & Pain Treatment; Chronic Pain & Activity

(02:31:35) Physical Therapy & Chronic Pain; Tool: Pacing

(02:36:35) Supplements: Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C, Creatine

(02:42:25) Pain Management, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Biofeedback

(02:48:32) National Pain Strategy, National Pain Care Act

(02:54:05) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

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Huberman Lab

Dr. Sean Mackey: Tools to Reduce & Manage Pain

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Origins and Nature of Pain

The Brain's Role in Pain Perception

Mechanical Interventions for Pain

Factors Affecting Pain Thresholds

The Role of Personalized Nutrition in Health

Exploring Mindfulness Approaches to Pain Management

Understanding the Difference Between Hurt and Harm

The Complexities of Opioid Use

Different opioids and their effects on pain

The role and controversy surrounding Kratom

The effectiveness and controversies surrounding cannabis and CBD for pain management

Over-the-counter Supplements for nerve Pain Management

Distraction vs Mindful Acceptance of Pain. Both work.

Gate Control Theory of Pain and Pain Reduction Techniques

Understanding the Science of Pain

Thank you to our sponsors

Timestamps

Get the Snipd
podcast app

AI-powered
podcast player

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highlights

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podcast player

Discover
highlights

Huberman Lab

Dr. Sean Mackey: Tools to Reduce & Manage Pain

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Origins and Nature of Pain

The Brain's Role in Pain Perception

Mechanical Interventions for Pain

Factors Affecting Pain Thresholds

The Role of Personalized Nutrition in Health

Exploring Mindfulness Approaches to Pain Management

Understanding the Difference Between Hurt and Harm

The Complexities of Opioid Use

Different opioids and their effects on pain

The role and controversy surrounding Kratom

The effectiveness and controversies surrounding cannabis and CBD for pain management

Over-the-counter Supplements for nerve Pain Management

Distraction vs Mindful Acceptance of Pain. Both work.

Gate Control Theory of Pain and Pain Reduction Techniques

Understanding the Science of Pain

Thank you to our sponsors

Timestamps

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Save anymoment

Share& Export

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