Pain Relief: New approaches to how we live with pain
Jun 7, 2024
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Equestrian Kat Naud shares her journey towards Olympic dreams. Guests discuss rethinking pain as more than just a symptom and the evolution of pain management. Innovative approaches to pain relief explored, including acupuncture and exercise. Chronic pain challenges and opioid addiction addressed with multi-faceted solutions.
Understanding pain as multifaceted leads to holistic pain management beyond pharmaceuticals.
Personal pain experiences emphasize diverse treatment approaches for chronic pain relief.
Advocating for individualized pain care models to prevent opioid misuse and empower patients.
Deep dives
Kat Nod's Olympic Dream
From a young age, Kat Nod dreamed of representing Canada in the Olympics for horseback riding. Training tirelessly for the 2016 Olympics in three-day eventing, which includes dressage, show jumping, and cross country phases, she led the qualifiers until a tragic fall. Despite breaking her back in the fall and facing intense pain, Kat's resilience drove her to aim for a swift recovery and a return to training for future opportunities.
Challenges in Pain Management
Exploring pain relief beyond opioids, Dr. Amy Baxter emphasizes understanding pain as a holistic experience involving physical, emotional, and psychological factors. Rejecting the 'pain-free' narrative pushed by the pharmaceutical industry, she advocates for multidimensional pain management approaches using methods like cold exposure, vibration, distraction, and education. Dr. Baxter's efforts aim to shift the focus from solely relying on opioids towards empowering individuals with diverse pain management tools.
Chronic Pain and Treatment Innovations
Navigating chronic pain complexities, Kat Nod shares her struggle with ongoing pain post-injury, highlighting a multifaceted journey towards relief. Opting for a nerve cauterization procedure to disrupt pain pathways, she also incorporates natural supplements, physical therapy, and mental strategies. Kat’s proactive approach underscores the dynamic nature of pain treatment, emphasizing a blend of medical interventions, lifestyle adjustments, and mental reframing to manage chronic pain effectively.
Life Care Specialists for Pain Management
Inspired by personal tragedy, Cami Wolf Rice introduces life care specialists to guide patients through pain management, particularly post-surgery. Focusing on opioid education, non-narcotic pain interventions, and mental health support, these specialists offer holistic assistance from hospital to home care, addressing both physical and emotional aspects of pain recovery. By advocating for comprehensive pain care models, Cami aims to prevent opioid misuse and empower patients with diverse pain management resources.
Empowering Pain Management Insights
Overall, the podcast delves into redefining pain management paradigms, emphasizing a shift towards individualized, comprehensive approaches. Encouraging a blend of traditional and innovative pain relief techniques, from vibration therapy to mental reframing, the episode highlights a nuanced view of pain as a multifaceted experience requiring tailored interventions. By sharing personal narratives and expert insights, the podcast advocates for empowering individuals to proactively engage in their pain management journey.
Thirty years into the opioid crisis, we still struggle to find other options for pain relief. This hour, TED speakers explain new understandings of how the brain interprets pain and new ideas to cope. Guests include equestrian Kat Naud, physician and researcher Amy Baxter and opioid reform advocate Cammie Wolf Rice.
TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted.
