Ted Talks Daily – How to hack your brain when you’re in pain | Amy Baxter

Intro

In this episode of Ted Talks Daily, Amy Baxter explores how to hack your brain when you’re in pain. She discusses the misconceptions surrounding pain and shares strategies to overcome it without relying solely on medication.

Main Takeaways

The Physiology of Pain

• Pain is an alarm that goes on nerves to your spine, where it is translated to your brain and pain actually happens.
• Pain is every organism’s primary learning system for survival.
• Pain free was marketing, and it made physicians think that one pill could solve pain.

Strategies to Manage Pain

• We now know that if you want to move past pain, it takes work.
• Think about pain as a Venn diagram with physiology, fear, and control. Each of these can give you power over pain.
• Vibration plus ice can block pain and reduce opioid use.
• Gate control theory suggests that the right frequency of vibration can decrease pain.
• Cold reduces pain by decreasing sensations coming from everywhere.
• Distraction can cut pain in half by occupying the decision switchboard.
• Pain is mostly what you expect to feel, and experiences lay down more of the same sensation (connectomes).
• Connected areas in the brain can make people feel more pain.
• Untreated pain can lay down heavier connections, causing more pain even after the body is healed.
• Fear and control are the volume knobs for pain.
• Opioids turn on the reward system and do not turn off the pain switch.
• Coaching and physiologic options can be just as effective as opioids for recovery after surgery.
• Faces scales are used in emergency departments to measure pain and determine if medicine is effective.
• Promise scales measure pain intensity and interference, focusing on the impact for the person.
• Busy (do-a-tharm) uses specific frequencies to cancel out pain from the fascia between the skin and muscles.
• Layering heat or cold pressure options and giving people choice engages different areas of the brain from which pain comes.

Summary

The Physiology of Pain

Pain is a complex process that involves the transmission of signals from nerves to the brain. It is a crucial learning system for survival, but the idea of pain-free solutions has led to misconceptions. Understanding the physiology of pain is essential in finding effective strategies to manage it.

Strategies to Manage Pain

There are various strategies to hack your brain and reduce pain. Vibration combined with ice can block pain signals and decrease opioid use. The gate control theory suggests that specific frequencies of vibration can decrease pain perception. Cold therapy is effective in reducing pain by decreasing sensations. Distraction techniques, such as engaging in activities that occupy the decision-making process, can significantly reduce pain. Expectations and experiences play a role in pain perception, and untreated pain can lead to long-term consequences. Fear and control are key factors in managing pain, and coaching and physiologic options can be as effective as opioids for post-surgery recovery. Pain scales, such as face scales and promise scales, help measure pain intensity and interference. Busy (do-a-tharm) is a technique that uses specific frequencies to cancel out pain from the fascia between the skin and muscles. Layering heat or cold pressure options and providing choice to individuals engage different areas of the brain associated with pain.

Conclusion

Pain management goes beyond relying solely on medication. By understanding the physiology of pain and implementing effective strategies, individuals can regain control over their pain and improve their overall well-being. It’s time to shift the focus from pain-free solutions to empowering individuals to overcome pain through a multidimensional approach.