Fresh Air How Does Pain Work? Dr. Sanjay Gupta Explains
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Sep 4, 2025 Dr. Sanjay Gupta is CNN’s chief medical correspondent and a renowned neurosurgeon, recently authoring 'It Doesn't Have to Hurt.' He discusses how our brains can misinterpret pain signals and the surprising role of emotional factors in chronic pain. Gupta also highlights alternatives to painkillers, including distraction and meditation. Intriguingly, he shares how a family of circus performers inspired a groundbreaking non-opioid drug. Plus, TV critic David Bianculli offers insights on the new HBO series 'Task' starring Mark Ruffalo.
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Childhood Impalement That Shaped His View
- Sanjay Gupta described being impaled on a wrought-iron fence at age 12 and being stuck until helped.
- He was able to hoist himself off the spike with his mother's support and experienced surprisingly limited pain.
Pain Is Constructed By The Brain
- Gupta explains that pain is the brain's interpretation of peripheral signals rather than a direct readout.
- The brain decides whether signals are noteworthy, real, and what to do about them.
Brain Mistakes Produce Persistent Pain
- The brain can misinterpret signals causing phantom limb pain, referred pain, or persistent chronic pain loops.
- Chronic pain can reflect a brain loop that keeps recycling pain even after injury heals.
