Episode 4 - Medicines and surgeries are often not the answer

You're listening to Professor Cormac Ryan of Teesside University and the Flippin' Pain Team. We're here to flip your understanding of persistent pain.

This is Episode 4 - Medicines and surgeries are often not the answer.

Deepak (Consultant in Pain Medicine) said:

"Pain is influenced by not just biological but also psychological and social factors, which surgery and medications alone cannot address.

"It needs to be managed holistically with attention to many factors including physical activity, education, nutrition, sleep and well-being.

"When it comes to persistent pain, we know that things like medicines and surgery work for only a minority of people, and only for short durations of time. Effective pain management should prioritise longer-term plans, that work for more people.

"It’s also important to be aware that medications and surgery often come with a number of really bad side effects. These can become a bigger problem, and actually make our internal pain-relieving system less effective!

"So, the best way to overcome pain is to use lots of simple strategies starting with first understanding your pain."

For more information and a transcript of this podcast, visit the Flippin' Pain website.