David Hanscom, MD, is author of, Back in Control: A Surgeon’s Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain and Do You Really Need Spine Surgery?: Take Control with a Spine Surgeon’s Advice. Dr. Hanscom is an orthopedic complex spinal deformity surgeon who quit his surgical practice in 2019 to focus on teaching people how to break loose from the grip of chronic mental and physical pain – with and without surgery. His insights arose out of escaping from his own 15-year ordeal of suffering with severe chronic pain. As he began to share his approaches with his patients, a predictable sequence of learning evolved. It is reflected in the self-directed action plan that he created, The DOC (Direct your Own Care) Journey. His website is backincontrol.com.

Dr. Hanscom shares that chronic pain has its roots in anxiety. Most surgeries related to chronic pain are being done on anxiety and are unnecessary. All chronic mental and physical disease have the same common origin of inflammation that is caused by an elevated threat response and anxiety. Two-thirds of Americans are raised in traumatic environments that elevate their threat response. He describes his own journey out chronic pain. Resolving pain and anxiety is a multipronged approach that includes meditation, sleeping and eating well, and exercise. Expressive writing is emphasized to alleviate suppressed thoughts and anxiety. Spirituality is ultimately the answer to heal pain and thrive.

New Thinking Allowed Guest Host, Emmy Vadnais, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist and integrative medicine practitioner based in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is the author of Intuitive Development: How to Trust Your Inner Knowing for Guidance With Relationships, Health, and Spirituality. Her website is https://emmyvadnais.com/

(Recorded on May 24, 2022)

Published on June 22, 2022