Chasing Life Beyond Smiley Faces: A New Way to Diagnose Pain
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Aug 8, 2025 Dr. Prasad Shirvalkar, a physician and innovative researcher, dives into groundbreaking techniques to better understand chronic pain by implanting electrodes in patients' brains. He discusses the challenges of diagnosing pain, introducing the idea of identifying biomarkers for more objective assessments. The conversation touches on the evolution of deep brain stimulation therapies, aiming to transform pain management and break free from the historical reliance on opioids. A fascinating blend of neuroscience and patient experiences could revolutionize how we treat pain.
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Ed Mowry's Pain Breakthrough
- Ed Mowry suffered from complex regional pain syndrome since age 15 and underwent 25 surgeries.
- His pain abruptly disappeared during deep brain stimulation testing, marking a turning point in treatment possibilities.
Towards Objective Pain Measurement
- Chronic pain is hard to objectively measure unlike vital signs like temperature or heart rate.
- Implanted brain electrodes help identify neural patterns that could serve as biomarkers for chronic pain severity.
Pain as a Brain Network
- Pain is represented as a complex, distributed brain network, not a single center.
- Machine learning and brain science techniques aim to predict pain flares, similar to weather forecasting.
