One of the biggest mistakes pain clinicians can make is assuming their patients experience pain the same way they would. Full Soulture episode: https://bit.ly/4woNNIG

Believe pain patients the first time.

People who walked around 100 minutes per day lowered their risk of chronic low back pain by 23%, one study found. Interestingly, speed mattered less than consistency. You do not need to move perfectly to benefit. Walk when you can. Every bit helps. Source: https://bit.ly/3VVwT2K

Pain without answers is one of the hardest things to live with.

People living with pain deserve compassion from doctors, not skepticism.

Pain that limits your relationships, movement, and daily life is not minor.

Why doctors and patients living with pain need a shared language Full episode: https://bit.ly/3PM86PM

Central sensitization explained, and why it doesn’t mean pain is “all in your head.” As Dr. Alopi Patel notes, central sensitization can play a major role in chronic pain, but it’s not the only possible cause. Whatever the source, pain is real and deserves to be validated.

“If fellows leave fellowship thinking pain medicine is only about doing injections, then I feel like I haven’t done my job as an educator.” Stanford’s Dr. Meredith Barad shares her perspective on the future of pain medicine in a new interview with ASRA Pain Medicine. https://bit.ly/4tODevX

Quality of life should be a medical outcome, not an afterthought.

5 supplements commonly discussed in chronic pain care & their potential benefits: 1. Vitamin D: muscle + immune health 2. Vitamin B12: nerve health + fatigue 3. Magnesium: muscle relaxation + nerve function 4. Zinc: antioxidant support 5. Turmeric: anti-inflammatory support

Closing the chart isn’t the same as helping the patient.

One of the hardest parts of pain is grieving the life you had before it. Chronic pain can take away routines, hobbies, movement, confidence, relationships...pieces of who someone feels they are. Hear the full Soulture podcast with Dr. Sean Mackey: https://bit.ly/4woNNIG

Pain is a message, not just a location. It is created by the brain after the nervous system processes information from the body.

From whole foods to processed snacks, what’s on your plate may help quiet pain—or make it harder to ignore. https://stanford.io/4wmuvnl

“You’re lucky to be alive. Some pain is expected. Suck it up and deal with it.” That’s how post-mastectomy pain has been treated for years, says Dr. Sean Mackey. It remains underrecognized and undertreated. Read more: https://bit.ly/48w8dVT

Pain doesn’t have to be life-threatening to be life-altering.

Surgery is already a big event. For patients with chronic pain, it can feel even more uncertain. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) takes a different approach—one that treats patients as partners, with a shared plan for what to expect before, during, & after surgery. https://stanford.io/48osdK1

Two people can feel the same heat, and report very different pain. New research shows the spinal cord encodes temperature, while the brain shapes the experience of pain.

Are you 18–23 and living with ongoing pain? You may be eligible to join the national PROGRESS study, an online research study focused on teaching pain relief skills—at no cost. • No in-person visits • No medication changes • All pain types welcome See if you qualify: https://stanford.io/41oXjxe

Too many women are taught to live with pain instead of being treated for it.

Minimally invasive spine interventions are expanding options for chronic pain care. This article explores how these procedures work, who they may help, and how they fit into a broader treatment plan. https://stanford.io/411FCnj

For many people, musculoskeletal pain is part of daily life—flaring, easing, and shifting over time. This article explores what’s behind it, and how small changes in movement, sleep, and stress can make a difference. https://stanford.io/4uz8ZdX

In lab studies of short, experimental pain (not chronic pain), tolerance can shift based on context—even who’s watching. Men tolerated more when an attractive woman was present, suggesting social pressure can influence how pain is expressed. Full @hubermanlab.com episode: https://bit.ly/4hmwiS7

Pain may be more than a symptom in breast cancer, a new study says. Nerves that sense pain can release chemicals that help tumors grow and spread. Read on: bit.ly/472BTJA @vivtawfik-mdphd.bsky.social

What people living with chronic pain wish others understood 1. “Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.” 2. “I am in pain all the time. You can’t see it on my face because I hide it.”

Women’s pain is often labeled “stress,” “anxiety,” or “hormones.” Too often, that ends the conversation instead of starting the investigation.

A normal scan doesn’t mean nothing is wrong. It means we need a better explanation for the pain.

5 Things to Know About IV Ketamine for Severe Headaches

When people hear “pain psychology,” they often think... • “Are you saying it’s all in my head?” • “So this is just stress?” • “Does this mean my pain isn’t real?” The science says the opposite. Learn why: https://stanford.io/4ss25FN

Our upcoming Pain Science Lecture on March 2 will focus on exercise and pain. What should we make sure to cover? Share your questions/suggestions below.

Four phases of migraine people often experience: 1. Prodrome – hours or days before the headache: changes in mood, light sensitivity, yawning, food cravings, or neck pain.

Chronic pain is on the rise because people are living longer and surviving injuries and illnesses that once would have been fatal. But survival often comes with new challenges: pain that won’t go away.

What’s something people say about pain that feels dismissive—even if they mean well?

Being believed is part of good pain care.

Love does more than make Valentine’s Day cards sentimental. Brain imaging studies show that thinking about someone you love can reduce how strongly pain is felt, by activating the brain’s reward and safety systems. It’s a reminder that connection isn’t just emotional—it’s biological.

Chronic pain is on the rise because people are living longer and surviving injuries and illnesses that once would have been fatal. But survival often comes with new challenges: pain that won’t go away.

If pain research focused more on one thing patients care about, what should it be?

Gabapentin has been an effective medication for many people living with pain. It is particularly helpful for neuropathic pain when used thoughtfully.

One pain advocate in the room can change an entire conversation. They catch the language doctors miss, flag barriers we don’t see, and remind us where care breaks down in real life. Pain patients and advocates deserve a permanent seat in the national pain conversation.

We’re looking to follow more creators focused on chronic pain, chronic illness, and disability. Who should we be learning from?

Your clothes are touching your skin right now, but you probably are not noticing. That is because your nervous system filters what it pays attention to.

Physical symptoms of depression & anxiety •Fatigue •Muscle tension •Headaches •Digestive issues •Insomnia or oversleeping •Sexual dysfunction

One pain advocate in the room can change an entire conversation. They catch the language doctors miss, flag barriers we don’t see, and remind us where care breaks down in real life. Pain patients and advocates deserve a permanent seat in the national pain conversation.

Lizzie Perez grew up dancing. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome forced her to stop, but pediatric pain care helped her find her way back. https://stanford.io/3UCUsNx

CRPS Symptoms •Pain from light touch or even a breeze •Persistent swelling in the injured limb •Skin that feels very hot or cold •Changes in skin color (red, purple, pale) •Hair and nails growing differently •Muscle spasms, tremor or weakness

Sustainable change happens when we treat pain, not when we shame bodies.

Facet joints are small joints in the spine, and arthritis in these joints is common. Pain from facet joints doesn’t always stay in one spot—it can spread to nearby areas like the neck, shoulders, back, or legs. This map shows where people often feel facet-related pain, which can explain symptoms.

Pain worsens sleep 🔁 Poor sleep worsens pain

6 Things to Know About IV Dihydroergotamine (DHE) for Severe Headaches 1. What it is Dihydroergotamine (DHE) is a medication that’s been used for decades to treat tough headaches. It works by acting on serotonin and other brain chemicals that affect pain signals.