Prioritize and Execute: Managing Overwhelm in Chronic Pain

In this episode of 'It's Not In Your Head' podcast, Dan and Justine discuss strategies to manage feelings of overwhelm often experienced by chronic pain patients. Using their structured pyramid of owning your care, they explain how to prioritize, execute and delegate tasks so you can take control of both medical decisions and daily aspects of managing pain to more effectively deal with complexity and decrease helplessness. Key topics include working through self assessment and monitoring, basic lifestyle habits, mind/body pieces, mainstream diagnostics and treatment, alternative options, and precision medicine. By recognizing their own needs and working closely with their medical teams, patients can improve self-efficacy and overall treatment outcomes. Tune in for practical advice, personal anecdotes, and actionable steps to better manage your chronic pain journey.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:17 Emergency Podcast: Addressing Overwhelm

01:10 Understanding Overwhelm in Patients

03:43 Strategies to Manage Overwhelm

11:24 Personal Stories and Experiences

16:31 Framework for Pain Management

26:40 Recognizing and Managing Catastrophizing

29:15 Self-Assessment and Monitoring Tools

35:25 Mainstream Diagnostics and Treatments

38:05 Exploring Alternative Options

46:22 Precision Medicine and Personalized Care

48:41 Ownership and Self-Efficacy in Pain Management

50:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources

www.iniyh.com/episodes/ep-31-dealing-with-being-overwhelmed

In this episode of 'It's Not In Your Head', Dan and Justine delve into the complex relationship between hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and central sensitization, focusing on hEDS as an example of a metabolic driver. Dan shares personal insights from his practice and elaborates on the common patterns and markers identified in patients with hEDS, how it should be diagnosed and treated, and associated challenges. Justine adds her perspective, particularly on the connection between CRPS and hypermobility, and lifestyle interventions. They explore the underlying mechanisms, preventive strategies and management techniques, emphasizing the importance of protein intake, avoiding certain drugs, and considering genetic predispositions. With expert advice and a touch of humor, this episode provides a comprehensive look at managing the very complicated disorder that is hEDS.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

01:00 Diving into Central Sensitization and hEDS

02:25 Understanding EDS Types

03:39 Dan's Journey with Hypermobile EDS Patients

04:50 Identifying Patterns in Complex Patients

05:25 Exploring the Underlying Disease Process

08:39 Mechanisms Behind Hypermobile EDS

09:52 The Role of Protein Metabolism in EDS

11:13 MMPs and Their Impact

18:42 Inflammatory Responses and Immune System Involvement

26:22 Genetic Predispositions and External Triggers

31:13 Understanding Protein Requirements

32:38 Strategies for Increasing Protein Intake

36:20 Choosing the Right Protein Sources

40:47 Long COVID and Hypermobility

46:17 Preventing Disease Progression

54:42 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

Resources:

www.iniyh.com/episodes/ep-30-making-sense-of-heds

Understanding CRPS, Central Sensitization & Neuromodulation | Q&A with Dan and Justine

In this episode of 'It's Not In Your Head,' Dan and Justine answer your questions around various aspects of complex chronic pain management, focusing on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and central sensitization. They delve into the Budapest criteria for diagnosing CRPS, the overlap with central sensitization, and treatments like spinal cord stimulators (SCS) and their pros and cons. Dan shares insights into managing pocket pain, complications associated with SCS, and innovative treatments like Prolotherapy. They also touch on the role of the sympathetic nervous system in CRPS and potential treatment avenues. It's a comprehensive episode packed with practical advice and cutting-edge information for both patients and providers dealing with complex pain pathologies.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:18 Technical Difficulties and Banter

00:44 Diving into Q&A

01:09 Understanding CRPS and Central Sensitization

09:11 Neuromodulation for CRPS

10:50 Personal Experiences with Neuromodulation

16:30 Risks and Considerations of Neuromodulation

32:47 Device Malfunction and Lead Migration

34:28 Complications with DRG Leads

39:27 Pocket Pain and Treatment Options

43:20 Exploring Prolotherapy for Pain Management

54:08 Sympathetic Nervous System and CRPS

59:12 Concluding Thoughts and Future Topics

Resources:

www.iniyh.com/episodes/ep-29-ask-us-anything-aua-2

www.drdanbates.com.au

www.resilientwarriorcoachingllc.com