Hope for Healing Chronic Pain: John Stracks, MD and Former Patient Jill Riddell

John Stracks, MD talks with one of his former patients, Jill Riddell, about her inspiring healing journey. Hear Jill's story of recovery from 40 years of migraines, reducing them from 200 per year to only 4 per year, and how she became a strong advocate for mindbody healing.

[@brightstarnight10]

Jill is so articulate and insightful. Spot on about the working hard at solving it can make it worse. I have spent hours obsessing and berating myself for my nerve pain and have so much trouble separating myself from my prefrontal "I must solve this and prevent this yesterday" mode. I also have complex PTSD and I am realising there are SO many paralelles between observing pain (physical and emotional), acceptance, and trying to look at it curiously "what do I need right now". It is so hard when your mind can bash you up more then any human and the irony is just like panic attacks, flashbacks, crying etc sometimes not fighting it but accepting it and riding the waves is what can help but it is SO counter intuitive in todays society as we tought avoid supress dull negative feelings. I find nerve pain honestly terrifying as mobility issues scare me but this video made me realise my amygdala becoming panicked, prefrontal trying to problem solve and be that horrible boss are normal in the sense they are doing what they are designed to do as mammals but they can have their say but i do not have to listen. All of this I am still getting my head around. The logical part says "but how can there be nothing wrong if you are in so much pain you vomit due to migraine or you can barely move your arms due to nerve pain.?" Logically that is not a 100% functioning body, there is some impairment at that time, so in a way objectively there is something "wrong" in that moment. Like a car with a dead battery, if it cannot drive, it cannot drive. Whether this is perceived as wrong or right is one thing but its functioning is decreased, it is not doing normal car things. So in a way I think there is something wrong from that objective stand point. But are you saying when there is nothing wrong, or more that these symptoms which exist are real, eg vomit from migraine, but they are not dangerous?

[@lisabastiaansen7858]

Thank you Jill for your vision and description. Very, very valuable! I coach people with chronic pain and diseases myself, to a healthy life, free of pain. One can never hear enough of other people's stories, to learn how to use this beautifull power that we have. Thank you so much for your words. Lisa

[@dianelewis9458]

Your videos are so helpful and useful. I feel more hope than I have in years. I’d love to see your videos just take off with all of the people who really NEED to see them have the opportunity to find them. ❤️❤️❤️

[@mwentworth57]

Excellent episode. Thank you both so much!!! I think I'll make a little amygdala doll and a cozy bed for her.

[@lori5946]

Okay I have autoimmune. I have Celiacs, mthfr and hashimotos. I almost stroked out in my 40's. I had high blood pressure, pre diabetic and asthma. I had chronic infections ears, sinuses and lungs. I suffered from depression and anxiety. I changed my diet lost 46 lbs. My infection, diabetes and asthma went away. I still struggle with brainfog, fibromyalgia and IBS-C. I did yoga, meditation, exercise and off grains, dairy, legumes, sugar and nightshades. I do have PTSD. I struggle with insomnia with makes my fibromyalgia worse. Only thing I found that works is CBD with THC. My Mom and Dad was Narcissists. I never believed in myself. I have Narcissist tendencies. I healed my relationship with my sister and have set boundries with my Mom. My Dad passed away.