TED Talks Daily

How to hack your brain when you're in pain | Amy Baxter

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Sep 5, 2023
Amy Baxter, a researcher and physician, dives into the fascinating connections between pain and the brain. She reveals practical neuroscience hacks to block pain signals without resorting to opioids. Baxter discusses innovative, non-addictive pain management techniques, like vibration and cold therapy. Her insights promote reframing pain from merely an alarm to a learning system, emphasizing the importance of psychological factors. Additionally, she shares groundbreaking advancements in personalized pain measurement for more effective management.
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ANECDOTE

Christopher's Story

  • Amy Baxter's friend's son, Christopher, was prescribed opioids after surgery for a colon disease.
  • He developed an addiction and ultimately passed away, highlighting the dangers of overprescribing these medications.
INSIGHT

Pain as a Learning System

  • Pain is a learning system crucial for survival, not just an alarm to silence.
  • The pursuit of a "pain-free" existence, fueled by marketing, is unrealistic and harmful.
INSIGHT

Pain's Venn Diagram

  • Pain involves physiology, fear, and control.
  • Instead of aiming for 'pain-free', focus on making pain more manageable through work and understanding.
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