220 - How to Deal with Chronic Pain with Dr. Andrea Furlan

Episode • Mar 8, 2023 • 1h 13m

Our guest today is an award-winning pain specialist with decades of experience helping patients with chronic pain achieve a better quality of life. Dr. Andrea Furlan is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, and a Staff Physician and Senior Scientist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. In her new book, 8 Steps to Conquer Chronic Pain: A Doctor’s Guide to Lifelong Relief, Dr. Furlan shares science-backed solutions to beat pain that she has seen work in her own practice.

So for anyone out there suffering in silence, or for those who have a loved one dealing with chronic pain, this episode is a must-listen!

“We all have pain here and there. Now, if this pain happens in a person that has the amygdala super active, they will respond with an exaggerated fear response. And that fear of pain after the injury heals is related to the perpetuation of the pain itself. So that’s how the pain transitions from acute to chronic, because the injury heals, but the fear of pain continues.” - Dr. Andrea Furlan

What we discuss in this episode:

How Dr. Furlan became interested in pain management
How opioid addiction starts
The difference between acute pain and chronic pain, and how acute pain transitions to chronic pain
How emotions affect pain and regulate what we feel physically
How you can improve your body’s “inner pharmacy” and become more resistant to pain
Natural anti-inflammatory recommendations
Recommendations to cope with different types of headaches