TED Radio Hour
How the brain interprets pain — and new ways to manage it
Mar 28, 2025
Join physician and pain management innovator Amy Baxter and equestrian athlete Kat Naud, who overcame a severe back injury. They dive into the brain's interpretation of pain, exploring revolutionary techniques that challenge opioid reliance. Baxter shares insights on innovative tools like the Buzzy device, while Naud recounts her inspiring journey from injury to recovery in competitive riding. Together, they emphasize the importance of psychological factors in pain perception and highlight new approaches to managing chronic pain.
50:34
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Quick takeaways
- Understanding pain as a critical survival mechanism can empower individuals to adopt more effective long-term management strategies beyond reliance on opioids.
- The podcast highlights innovative alternatives for pain relief, such as cold therapy and distraction techniques, which minimize dependency on traditional pain medications.
Deep dives
Kat Nod's Journey to Overcome Adversity
Kat Nod has pursued her lifelong dream of becoming an Olympic horseback rider, dedicating years to rigorous training for three-day eventing. She experienced a life-altering incident on her 25th birthday during Olympic qualifiers when her horse fell on her, resulting in severe back injuries and chronic pain. The intense pain forced her to reassess her life, leading to a decline in both physical and mental health, reaching a point of depression where she struggled to find hope. Instead of surrendering to despair, Kat decided to challenge herself to move again, gradually improving her condition through consistent effort.
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