How to Hack Your Brain When You're in Pain | Amy Baxter | TED

[@Tirani2]

I live in chronic nerve pain. The pushback against opiates has gotten so severe that the people who actually need home care with opiates can't get it. I agree there are a lot of techniques that can help manage pain, and I don't personally ever expect to be completely out of pain. I just would like to be in not enough pain that I can get out of bed and get dressed, instead of curled up in a ball wanting to literally die. The fight against opiate addiction has gone too far, and it's now actively harming people who need access to those medications.

[@raysapaw]

AGREED!

[@LL2-Light]

Yes, it is inhumane what the “war on opiates” did to chronic pain patients. I know through a friend who had advanced rheumatoid arthritis as well as personal experience. I’m so sorry that you were caught in the middle of such a gross miss handling of patient care. I hope that you have been able to find a pain clinic or other doctor to help you.❤

[@rubychurch3466]

Absolutely. I’m in the same position as you. My life quality is shocking due to rheumatoid arthritis and several other conditions. But the medical system denies us.

[@mrlovely2008]

I agree! I have 12 herniated discs and my definition of a good day is “I am upright and breathing” - anything beyond that is a bonus! Getting opiates nowadays is downright impossible- my new pain doctor refuses to give me anymore opiates and wants to take me off the rest of my medications because “they are NOT supposed to be taken long term”. This new attitude about chronic pain treatment is beyond ridiculous - over the last ten years I have never doctor shopped or exceeded my prescribed dosage(didn’t even try to get the maximum dosage). I cannot get OxyContin anymore (20 mg 3X/day allowed me to get out of the house regularly) and rarely leave the house anymore because Lortab just doesn’t cut it, which I can’t get anymore either! What Life I have has become that much more challenging!

[@TeresaWells-y7g]

If you live in a state that allows medical cannabis, try it !!!!! I have fibromyalgia and was on up to 5 narcotics including fentanyl, OxyContin, and morphine. However, when I tried medical cannabis it was like night and day. Under the narcotics I was in a narcotic coma; when I tried medical cannabis I was more like myself. It does not take away all of the pain but it does help; it also helps with my anxiety, depression, sleep, and appetite all in one product!!!! Can Big Pharma say the same??????

[@Kaotiqua]

Achieving "comfortable" for short term, manageable pain issues is one thing. When you're dealing with chronic pain, getting the pain down to a "tolerable" level is often the best that you can do, but in my personal experience, it's the endless, low-grade pain that's "tolerable" but _constant_ that really erodes one emotionally. If there are means to reduce those pains to something that approaches a normal pain-free state at least some of the time, then that can go a long way toward reducing depression and exhaustion of chronic pain sufferers.

[@ajh3301]

As a chronic pain sufferer for over 30 years I find the delivery here a bit flippant. I have five autoimmune diseases that cause severe inflammation, pain and disfigurement. I’ve had 22 surgeries. Without my pain management, using opioids, I wouldn’t want to live. Managing my pain allows me some quality of life. I agree that it’s unrealistic to think any medication will erase your pain without putting you in a coma and that pharma was highly negligent pushing oxy but let’s not swing all the way to the other side. I also find the mocking of certain truths like “staying ahead of your pain“ to be highly disagreeable. I’d like folks to be able to spend a week in my body and experience what it’s like and then see what they have to say. That said, I’m all for new non medication alternatives.

[@rubychurch3466]

Exactly.

[@meglukes]

Yeah this kinda pissed me off tbh. I want good alternatives but are we really supposed to just accept that ibuprofen is as good as an opioid?

[@lourias]

You got me at "chronic pain sufferer", "a bit flippant ", and "autoimmune disease." Really, suffer is a real experience. I get ya, 100% along the way. I will not even bother listening to this video because the actions of addicts have altered the course real chronic pain sufferers must endure.

[@ThePawsOfDeception]

And more than a little patronising too. This woman (I refuse to call her a doctor because she's not acting like one) is clearly only there to flog her product. This belongs on Dragon's Den, not Ted.

[@Arulane]

Understood. I have a chronic pain condition and if the nature of the pain hadn’t changed and caused me to have to find another response to it, I would be still be where you are. Without the option of surgeries since there was nothing overt to fix. She has some good points but I didn’t like the dismissive attitude either. My pain is now controlled a different way than opiates, since the worst of it doesn’t respond to pain meds at all. But my pain isn’t yours and we got into this problem by treating all pain as being the same. I didn’t think these talks were for pushing products.

[@vigneshnr]

This video landed perfectly in my timeline.. Recovering from a surgery. It has empathy written all over it. This is so impactful for many to lead a better life.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you so much for watching! We wish you the best possible recovery.

[@DarkstarAndrew01]

AI algorithms...

[@icejunki]

Hang in there, I hope your recovery goes well.

[@Tonmoy_Sarkar]

​@@BuzzyHelps😮😮😮

[@Daniula02]

Empathy? She's making people laugh after explaining her son's friend death for drug abuse...

[@davetoms1]

Brilliant. Thank you, Amy Baxter. As someone who lives with chronic pain, I am extremely thankful for you sharing this vital information. Hopefully Baxter's TED Talk helps bring about real change in the medical world regarding pain treatment and pain management.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching the video. So glad this information helped. Wishing you strength and relief along your wellness journey.

[@PenelopePitstop888]

God I hope so.

[@shakeyj4523]

Here's the thing. They said pain meds were the miracle, and they lied to us. How do we know that she isn't doing the same to sell her "vibration" bee?

[@davetoms1]

@@shakeyj4523 no one lied. Opiates *are* a miracle specifically with respect to treating severe pain. Leg blown off in war? Inject me with opiates. The unintended consequences were just that: unintended and largely unknown for a while. When it comes to science we never need to _trust_ scientists, because we demand their data be made transparent, for other people to repeat the experiments to confirm the conclusions are legitimate (which is the bare minimum required for science) and then base our decisions on evidence. If a scientist lies, any other scientist (or even you!) can come up with an experiment that, if built well, can attempt to disprove their explanations. It's not about believing or trusting. It's about understanding. If her vibrating product doesn't work, others will demonstrate that fact. And if no one tries to replicate the findings then it's not a legitimate scientific fact.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Amy Baxter here,@@shakeyj4523 . Mmmmm maybe because I very intentionally didn't mention the devices I actually make a profit on? Buzzy is a money loser I keep making reusable, with no disposable "Gillette" model. I neither quit practicing nor took investment for it because greedy capitalists would have hurt children with cancer or diabetes. Even that mention I only added after the TED people asked me to "talk about the bee". The items that could be profitable I refused to mention. We've spent 4 months on our site making resources available for people with pain or opioid use. And, perhaps, because no one ever died from a vibrating pain relieving bee.

[@r8chlletters]

Having opioid pain medication helped me handle my surgical recovery. I didn’t need to take it til I needed to but simply having it on hand meant I had a level of reassurance that was very important for me to get through something excruciatingly painful. I cannot imagine how awful it is for people to suffer chronic pain and have no treatment option today. We shouldn’t allow people to suffer this way and we shouldn’t allow addicts to dictate pain relief for the truly sick and injured who need and deserve pain relief as a patient right. No one is “coaching” patients and no doctor has five minutes to relate anything near what you are describing. Advil isn’t good enough but that’s exactly what people enduring recovery from major surgery are relegated to. I hope one day we have a true solution to pain that is safe and effective regardless of how it works. For now, however, we have drugs and they shouldn’t be withheld just because of a fear of addiction.

[@marks4058]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I came here to say this and you have articulated it perfectly. I have experienced pain relief being withheld and watched others go through this additional unnecessary trauma. Experiences like that stay with you forever and also destroy trust in the medical establishment. New understanding of pain treatment is fantastic but there is a moral and ethical imperative to accompany that message with a warning not to withhold pain relief from people experiencing acute pain. Unfortunately the hysteria around opioid addiction is causing an incredible amount of harm as a by-product.

[@angierox6964]

There’s never a black or white situation, but having more options and education is going to save a lot of lives. I’ve had two spinal surgeries and live in chronic uncomfortableness, and I know from experience that there are numerous options to control my pain.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for watching and for sharing your story. Pain is personal, and different for everyone. The point of Dr. Baxter's talk is to advance pain management techniques to reduce opioids in circulation prescribed after surgery and used to address acute pain. As Dr. Baxter said, “Options Give Power Over Pain”. The intention was to shed light on effective underutilized approaches to pain after surgery. Wishing you comfort, Jen for the team

[@DaniHMcV]

Exactly. I have chronic pain from a genetic collagen disorder and if I could control my pain with an Ibuprofen or acetaminophen and live a life with even a semblance of quality at all, I would. My pain is so severe it requires an opioid and I am so tired of doctors and others outside this situation trying to “convince” me I don’t need it or deserve it. Without this pain control I would have taken myself out a decade ago. It’s hard to take the pain I have that my doctor won’t prescribe an adequate amount of opioids for but I’m thankful for what I have because the pain was so much worse before. I’m sorry there are opioid addicts and overdoses that takes people’s lives but that should not be dictating what is right for me and my pain.

[@TheZeplinfan]

AMEN!!! my pain dr. dropped me6 years ago after seeing him for 8 years. It is nothing bgut cruel and inhumane to not give pain meds to people that have relied on them for years to have a somewhat normal existence. ...and they wonder why people look for relief on the streets. I would never do that, given the fentanyl crap going around, but thankfully i have two friends that have relatives or themselves that are still able to get their scrip every month, and they sell some to me.

[@SunraeSkatimunggr]

This was a great talk. I am 67 and have dealt with pain my entire life. When I was younger, it was from being abused. Older, from stress, PTSD, and poor diet, all undiagnosed. I KNOW I would love opioids, so I have never touched them. I have told my son, that I reserve opioids for when I am ready to die. Every day I learn more about how to deal with this. I wish I had known all this new science when I was younger, but we know what we know and forgive ourselves for what we don't.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Forgiveness is such a good anti-inflammatory

[@mmjlabs]

Ooh, I also recommend to you Building Resilience to Trauma The Trauma and Community Resiliency Models By Elaine Miller-Karas - It's intended for PTSD reversal from wars, violent trauma, etc. and is so useful for uncoupling the autonomic responses to the trauma of pain itself. This is a training book, not self help, but it is very digestible. Not my field but I found it easy to read and understand and apply. Thank you for your kind words.

[@IIIRorschachIII]

Stage 4 lung & liver cancer survivor. The extreme chemo & radiation burnt my nervous system up. Those who don't experience chronic pain on the norm run off at the mouth about controlling pain. I've been through all kinds of studies for pain relief. Everybody is different. What works for one may not work for another. Some of us must take controlled drugs like opioids. If you haven't experienced chronic pain that lasts longer than 1yr, I don't need to hear what you think about the medication we must use.

[@HeatherSmith-ii7mi]

THIS❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@PIXELSURPRISE]

I’ve had random stabbing pains everywhere I have nerves since I was 10. Drugs make me worse and don’t stop this pain. Eating magic mushrooms stops my pain for the whole trip. I wish microdosing helped but it does nothing for me.

[@1leadvocal]

Yeah. I always love it when someone who doesn't have chronic pain tells us all about how to ignore pain. (near fatal accident survivor)

[@BuzzyHelps]

So glad you're a survivor! Believe it or not, Amy has had at least 2 near-death accidents.

[@mmjlabs]

I wrote about it in other responses, but TBH my rotator cuff tears were more a source of "grind you down/I'm not me anymore" pain than either time I broke my neck. If you're not trying magnesium and 10 minutes a day of elevated heartrate to get your BDNF up, I guarantee you can feel more comfortable.

[@MsLilBit8344]

What is bdnf. I don't know medical jargon , can you use the words ? ​@@mmjlabs

[@marel.1766]

@@mmjlabs bite me! Don’t you begin to guarantee me anything!! Guess what, tried those and they don’t work!

[@JoMalby1]

@@mmjlabs interesting, are you talking about brain derived neurotrophic factor? Fellow pain patient here too (systemic CRPS). I hope today is a kinder day. ♥️

[@CconnieJJ]

I am one of those pain patients. Thank you for this. Got tears streaming. Thank you.

[@patrickmickey]

Ten years of chronic pain, every day. One of the most absurd things I was told to do was go to pain management. It's all hype. I have gone for various treatments. Nothing has helped even a little. With each new procedure I am told to come in for consultation. That's a $35 co-pay for each visit. There is never any new information. Just their cash register going clink, clink. My doctor will not discuss pain with me anymore. Go to pain management, she says. I decided to just live with it and stay away from my doctor and pain management. Making that decision hasn't helped my pain but my dignity has returned.

[@ashafenn]

Here i have been writing poetry and prose about being content within agony, thinking it was this spiritual journey and what i was doing was hacking my brain like a professional without realizing it. Thank you.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Where can we follow you to read your poetry and prose? Thank you for watching!

[@philurbaniak1811]

👍👍100% agree that "more comfortable" is a worthy goal! I will probably never experience another pain free day; if I gave up on "more comfortable" I would only have "never comfortable" to fall back on 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@PeyotewayNAC]

Opoids work for full body CRPS. Not 100% pain free, but absolutely help allow ppl with crps to have a life . Let's not deny use of opiods

[@JoMalby1]

I agree, fellow full body CRPS warrior ♥ It is the difference between no function and a degree of function, facilitating all other pain management. This conflation of two completely different demographics in the context of opioids has done such untold harm to so many so many severe chronic and intractable pain patients. It is truly heartbreaking.

[@marel.1766]

Agreed. Without opiates, I would not be able to live on my own. But now after moving to Oregon, I’m on such a minimal dose that I’m questioning whether or not I’ll be able to continue to live alone. It’s either that or move out of state to one of the states that is less controlling of opiate prescriptions.

[@Bluth53]

Best TED Talk in weeks if not months... - and I watch all of them! Thanks for an amazing LifeHack!

[@BuzzyHelps]

You are too kind - thank you! Wishing you comfort, Jen for the team

[@mmjlabs]

Whew! What a lovely breath of fresh air. Thank you!

[@Barredeux]

Absolute WORST TED Talk I have EVER heard! This woman is exactly what is wrong with our medical industry. Not everyone using oxicontin abuses it or becomes a heroin addict.

[@Nachiketa25]

Oh, this talk was so educational as well as entertaining. Loved it. “What you feel is mostly what you expect to feel.” Brilliant!

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching!

[@FlatTireForHire]

This is so much of the information I’ve been needing. Doctors and pain patients alike need to see this.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching!

[@clive0956]

Really good and helpful, thanks. I've endured pain for 44 years and have been battling to get to grips with it in all that time. Your talk will help to unravel the problem and enable me to understand it better. Thank you.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching - we wish you good luck exploring and finding what works for you.

[@carolynrosser1574]

I have suffered from chronic pain most of my 69 years, the only thing that has ever helped was learning about the true source - the brain NOT the body. Understanding leads to control, reliance on pills just helps the pharmaceutical companies. This is a GREAT explanation! Thank you, I hope more people enduring chronic pain would follow your advice.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for watching and for sharing! Sorry you have had so much pain. You already know this: All sensation happens in the brain. All pain is conducted on the same pain nerves. Understanding this may help us treat pain more effectively.

[@Rob_TheOne]

Pain is resistance to feeling emotion. All suffering is resistance to the present moment.

[@jmc8076]

Doesn’t apply to all. Pls read the comments.

[@BeAGurlsGurl]

I have been dealing with intractable pain for 28 years, sometimes being bedridden. I’ve learned on my own how to deal with my pain. It’s interesting that I often will sit and jiggle my leg/legs and/or arm(s) to help myself feel better and I will often go sit outside in the winter (bundled appropriately, of course) in the ungodly cold and jiggle both legs with my forearms resting on them (or with my elbows resting on my knees, my head on my hands) so my whole body vibrates as I breathe in and meditate. I can alternate the pattern of the jiggling as much as I want to reach any part of my body. It helps more than any pill has. Distraction, focus, grounding-so many other things you wouldn’t expect-have wound up helping. I’ve also recently had stellate ganglion blocks (spinal) for ptsd with pain (they do not work for everyone nor are they covered by insurance for everyone either). I do find medical marijuana helps as well. I know some can’t do that, but I was so anti before I started. Now I think I’d have died if I didn’t agree because I was at my breaking point and couldn’t take being bedridden anymore. It added extra pain on top because I couldn’t move. Having the edge taken away helped me move which helped me jiggle which helped me move…lol And finding something-anything-to laugh about has been beyond helpful. I change my perspective whenever I can! I ask others to help me find a different perspective on something if I’m unable to do so. (Not someone who tells me to just get over it. We’ve parted ways long ago.) It helps tremendously. Just keep going. Please. The depression on top is like being kicked over and over when you’re down. It’s- there’s nothing that can describe what it is. So now you’ll need to address the issue of depression as well because chronic pain causes depression and depression can cause/increase pain. But do address it with your doctor. All the people saying they’ve “been depressed” don’t understand depression. Depression is a chemical response in your brain. Being sad or down isn’t the same as having depression-which is a medical condition that affects your brain in insidious ways. In your ability to think clearly, in the way you care for and carry your body, in your relationships, your school or job, your quality of life, and even possibly, your life. It’s a serious health concern. Please take it as such. You matter. ❤

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for watching and for sharing your story. You have developed a plan that works for you and that is quite empowering!

[@mmjlabs]

I'm sure you're activating a number of helpful physiologic and neuroscience pathways. Sounds sort of like a whole body vibration frequency, which has great data too. Jean-Marie Charcot was a neurologist in the mid 1800’s. He noticed that when his Parkinsons patients would come to appointments, they did better when they traveled by carriage from far away - bumpity bumpity bump - and he saw them upon arrival instead of the next day. It turns out that low frequency, irregular vibration can change the threshold of nerves to fire, which is now being studied at Stanford for re-training the brain to reduce Parkinson symptoms. His student Gilles de Tourette made a vibrating helmet for migraines - turned out, um, not so much. Vibration fell from magic cure into disrepute, until the mid-50s. there was a brief flirtation with a vibrating bed to improve pain and bone healing. It did work, but no further work was done. Perhaps it was the growing age of pharmaceuticals, or just that scientists are terrified of supporting an embarrassing solution. I can imagine the difficulty of pitching a vibrating bed to your phd committee. In the early 80’s a Swedish graduate student, perhaps not warned against embarrassing science, found that vibration helped back pain more than electrical stimulation. Importantly, he published the vibration parameters he used that worked. Unfortunately, various follow up studies - which didn’t mention amplitude, frequency, or torque orientation, so undoubtedly weren't using the right physics, didn’t work.

[@joeync75]

There's so much good and of value in what you've said. I'm working on trying to laugh more and on changing my mindset. What you said about asking others to help you find another perspective when you can't to be a great tip that I want to try. Thanks.

[@marel.1766]

@@mmjlabs the only way I can go to sleep is to turn on my adjustable, vibrating bed. Even with that, I find myself twitching and moving my legs and arms to help me go to sleep. Or lay on my side and rock myself to sleep. So I absolutely agree with vibrations and motions to help you sleep. The other thing I like to do is listen to music and, keep count with the rhythm as I tap my feet. That seems to help as well.

[@fairydogmother2752]

I would have liked her to address back pain from spinal degenerative disease, if we're supposed to stop or continue the gardening for example, when we're stiff, inflamed and really hurting do we stop or carry on? because obviously we don't want to cause more damage.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Next TED Talk? I'll ask Amy to share any insights here. Jen for the team

[@derekyosi]

She mentioned some people with chronic pain still require pain medication

[@yukonjack.]

I've been on that roller coaster since 2010 started with a bulging disc then it herniated which required surgery, by 2015 the degenerative spine turned to instability but I continued to carry on @ only 49yrs old,, and take one for the team so to speak, but it was hard to carry on or even walk for that Matter, I also exhausted all my options therapy, injections, ect and after multiple opinions I had spinal fusion, yet it didn't fix the problem long-term and I was forced to retire early, fast forward to 2020 and I had my 2nd fusion only a longer one this time and I'm still not right I'm sure my upcoming MRI will confirm I need a 3rd surgery but I don't want too even though I can't feel my feet among other problems, meanwhile those experts in the medical field cut off my pain meds several years ago (that we're working btw) and I was functioning fine for the many years I was on them along with a stack of documented medical files to backup my pain claims, it ultimately doesn't matter because too many Americans lack the willpower to police themselves and overdosed. So the FDA s solution it's just cut EVERYBODY OFF, and get a speaker to tell you that it's all in your head, but honestly if it gets much worse maybe I'll just quit the game and check out too before I hit 60, after all I'm sure the suicide rate is less than the overdose rate when you crunch the numbers so what's the big loss right? It's all a numbers game to the powers-that-be. Meanwhile all the sheep are force-fed the notion they need a government-sponsored covid shot along with boosters and forced to wear contaminated face diapers, instead of telling Americans to just stop eating junk food and take vitamin D and zinc to boost your own body's immune system but we all know big pharma doesn't get rich that way it's all about the money. How stupid have we become, answer just look at our own president😴 the biggest Pusher of them all allowing open borders and fentanyl to come rushing in like the sea... Dum dum de DUMB. Common sense just isn't too common anymore!! Butt what do I know? I just graduated from the School of hard knocks.🇺🇲✌️

[@RampinRabit]

I was just about to ask this same question. I have scoliosis and it's really painful doing the smallest of tasks. Hope somebody from ted can answer your question as I'd like to know too.

[@PazLeBon]

@@derekyosi of course tey do. this is just silly imo

[@cherylannebarillartist7453]

Sharing this on my social media! What important information!!! Amy Baxter: if you ever have the opportunity to canvas against the way opioids are ALLOWED to be prescribed, I know you’ll jump on it! I had surgery a few years ago. I REFUSED the meds (I planned to and did manage my pain with ibuprofen and mindset… ) BUT the dr INSISTED I take the meds home with me “in case”. I said no thank you, and they still sent me home with 10!!!!!! After my recovery, I returned them to the pharmacy. Yes, I counted them to be sure no one in my household had decided to try anything, they were all there.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you so much for watching our video and sharing with others. We all know someone who can benefit from know about options and learning how to take control of their health. Bravo to you for choosing to return those meds. If more people took this action, there would be fewer circulating among those who truly don't need them & shouldn't have them.

[@mmjlabs]

I am baffled that no one has put me in charge yet, but yup @cherylannebarillartist7453 if they do I'm ON IT

[@doricetimko5403]

Pharmacies do not accept returns. They will destroy discarded meds

[@aandrus2169]

She says opioids became the thing during a "no pain" healthcare phase. But, I've had severe Fibromyalgia pain since I was 24, for 33 years. In that time, I have NEVER had a pain free moment even with opioids. I'm interested in this talk because I started going to a hypnotherapist for pain control. It worked, but only when I was in a trance. Not helpful in the workplace. I've done a lot of these things she talks about. Not everything works for me and what works doesn't take away pain, it only decreases pain. I think these mental tricks are very valuable in the pain control toolbox. BUT, for some of us, we DO STILL NEED an opioid for breakthrough pain at the very least. The other thing is, pain is extremely exhausting. Over these (almost 34) years of severe pain, at age 57, I am now so very tired. I have fought to survive pain and I . am . so . tired. at this point. Thanks for this information review.

[@joeync75]

Yes, pain is very exhausting both when it's happening and when it's worse than the usual baseline of pain, but also in the long run of living with pain everyday.

[@murphygreen8484]

This talk honestly brought tears to my eyes. I am not in chronic pain, but my wife is. After just binge watching Painkiller, this is a must watch

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for watching. We're sorry your wife is in pain. "Painkiller" was quite compelling and challenging to watch - but so important for people to know how devastating the opioid crisis has been.

[@raysapaw]

I'm from the UK. What is "Painkiller" please?

[@cjsmomom]

​@@raysapawIt's a series on Netflix

[@jackrice2770]

I've lived (if you can call it living) with Chronic Myalgic Encephalitis (Yanks call it 'fibromyalgia') for thirty years and this charming lady is talking about acute pain, which to a person with chronic pain is like a shrink talking about depression to someone who is suicidal. And since there are tens of millions of people living with CME, I think we'd appreciate someone who was a little less entertaining and little more inclined to research what's destroyed our lives, instead of 'owies' from an injection or acute pain from surgery. I will say this about chronic pain....injections, venipuncture, and other unpleasant medical procedures are insignificant now. Yes, when I stub a toe or hit my thumb with the proverbial hammer it hurts like a M-F, but I have very little emotional reaction, since it's only a temporary amplification of what is a permanent state of being. Welcome to my world.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for watching and for sharing your story. Pain is personal, and different for everyone. The point of Dr. Baxter's talk is to advance pain management techniques to reduce opioids in circulation prescribed after surgery and used to address acute pain. As Dr. Baxter said, “Options Give Power Over Pain”. The intention was to shed light on effective underutilized approaches to pain after surgery. Wishing you comfort, Jen for the team

[@nicolemarieb.7044]

I have fibro and other nerve pain syndromes. Mind-body techniques have helped me a lot to reduce the pain. It's not a cure though, more like a constant management because our nervous systems are more "spicy" than people without chronic pain

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for the perspective,@@nicolemarieb.7044 - this is exactly the frustration - for pain, there rarely is a cure, it's a management marathon. But if we don't expect a cure, but a balance of better days and accomplishing what we love, it's a win. My chronic pain is all from accidents, and sometimes is exhausting, but I'm sure no where as consuming as from a constant internal attack. That said, don't neglect oral magnesium, topical 10% menthol, turmeric, and other inflammatory modulators that can help!

[@fauxjaux]

I want to try this! I am getting bilateral knee replacements next week! I wish I had seen this sooner, BRAVO! BRAVO! You are an inspiration.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Good luck with your new knees! Thank you for watching.

[@missy1806]

Very interesting to watch from someone who suffers chronic back pain. I totally agree it's a survival method to let us know that something is wrong with a certain area of the body, though sadly that area isn't always found. I hope the work you're doing changes the medical field so opioid use is decreased or not needed and perhaps find a way to stop or decrease the pain signals sent through the nerves. Good luck with Duo Therm and thanks for appearing on TED.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching! Sorry you have chronic back pain, hope you are finding interventions that give you comfort.

[@missy1806]

@@BuzzyHelps Thanks for your kind words, but sadly haven't found anything yet that has helped, after all the scans, different specialists and doctor's, physio & chiro's I've seen plus 2 trial stimulators and it's resorted to me constantly having to take pain medication which I hate doing. I'm hoping one day I'll find something that works.

[@Rob_TheOne]

Pain is caused my resistance to emotions and trauma. All suffering is a resistance to the present moment

[@mem1701movies]

@@Rob_TheOnethat’s pseudo intellectual Mumbo jumbo

[@aanchaallllllll]

0:26: 💡 Pain is not localized to the area of injury, but is a complex process involving nerves, the spine, and the brain. 3:56: 💡 Vibration and cold can block pain during medical procedures. 7:03: 💡 Distraction can reduce the perception of pain, as pain is a complex network of connections in the brain influenced by expectations and context. 10:33: 💡 The speaker shares a personal experience of using unconventional methods to manage pain and highlights the importance of finding alternative ways to cope with pain. 14:29: 🩹 Amy Baxter discusses the importance of redefining pain and how pain scales have impacted its understanding. Recap by Tammy AI

[@McMomfaceplustwo]

I have CRPS and while this seems great for acute and expected pain situations, I can only go through so much of life essentially distracting my brain with sensations and thoughts. I had untreated pain that likely lead to the chronic intense pain. I do believe this is helpful and has a place, but the huge pendulum swing away from reasonable pain treatment with meds is also harmful.

[@luged]

Thing is, opiods have limited evidence for chronic pain management, and they have a high addiction rate. Many other pain management drugs exist, though they all have risks. You and a doctor need to evaluate the risks and the rewards and decide what is worth the risk. Generally, opioids are proven to work for short term pain management with a significant risk of addiction. Past short term, some combination of chronic pain management drugs and non-drug treatments are found, generally, to be most effective with reduced risks. I have chronic pain in my ankles and my shoulder from previous injuries. The most effective way I have found to manage the pain is celebrex (or other NSAIDs) and distraction (keeping to busy to focus on the pain) with acetaminophen as needed when distraction doesn't work (like if I over exert myself by running to much) . That's not to say my method is perfect (NSAIDs carry risk, so does acetaminophen, ignoring pain carries risks too) but that pain management needs to be individualized, and you need to experiment (with your doctor's advice and approval). Zero pain also shouldn't be a goal, managed pain where the level is okay with you personally should be the goal. I hope you find relief from your pain, and I hope you find that balance between risks and reward that we all are searching for.

[@patientzero5685]

I have a friend who was diagnosed with CRPS after a leg fracture in her early teens. I had total foot reconstruction around the same age due to suddenly developing club feet as a 13/14 year old. Despite multiple visits back to my surgeon with complaints of swelling, redness, intense pain, etc, he put in my chart at every visit that I healed perfectly. My friend believes it’s CRPS but I’m nearly 50 now and figure I’ll never know. Ice and cold are my friend now but for years I just had Raynauds and cold was intensely painful.

[@mmjlabs]

We've had children with CRPS place the cold/vibration proximal to extremities and get relief, which must be some kind of gate control override mechanistically (or they have huge placebo effects). Placing directly, of course, would be excruciating. I'm hoping someone studies this more thoroughly but you can probably approximate the concept with stuff you have (freeze a baggie flat with 2 Tbs water, for example and ace wrap proximally with some vibrating thing) and see if it helps any.

[@patientzero5685]

@@mmjlabs I have neuropathy and myopathy of unknown origin. I get severe pain in my lower legs where I cannot hold still or sleep. I have an oscillating car buffer with a foam lambs wool cover and that works great to alleviate pain. I wiggle or rock my legs and sometimes put them in a bucket of cold water - or my favorite is going into a cold creek up to my thighs - especially in the winter. Gabapentin has helped me a lot but the vibration from the car buffer and ice water is the best!

[@BuzzyHelps]

@@patientzero5685 Amy here - thank you for sharing! Have you also tried magnesium? Many chronic pain patients are deficient, and it's an all-around and specific nerve anti-inflammatory. If skin surface is hypersensitive, the 8% capsaicin patches (prescription) may be worth a try?

[@ronnalinzenmeyer5859]

I have had severe nerve pain for six weeks due to a fall. I have been refused proper pain management and have actually become suicidal at times. I would rather be dependent on opiates than live like this

[@lauraon]

I’m so sorry to hear that and truly hope you get relief. Denying pain medication to those who need it inhumane.

[@mericanmade7773]

Look into stem cells. Legit ones under live floroscopy, they do repair and are attracted to inflammation, sooner the better. Will be 5-7 grand if you have a surgeon do it , 4 if just a nurse that does it by anatomy, axis in Bellevue WA , call them. Ask questions, I know it's expensive but my pain started getting better after 8 weeks and has continued to heal the last year from a snapped lumbar ligament, that don't show on MRI but I couldn't bend over, PTSD and fear to a extreme point now I'm also trying to heal from. My husband helped me to physically , I met him after the injury, but do your research on them .... Good luck! I hope you heal fast, sometimes it's also time which is SO hard I know .... Blessings

[@georgiedodson2064]

I have shared this with my chronic pain support group and several other support groups. This makes a lot of sense, I find my purring cat when cuddled up to her helps calm & relax me therefore reduce pain, also doing something to divert ourselves can also reduce pain.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for watching and for sharing with your peers. Cuddling with a purring kitty cat sounds like a great way to focus on something besides pain. ;)

[@Vugen18]

the Egyptians knew that too

[@mmjlabs]

I've heard the cat purr is around 150Hz, getting up to the 180! There is clearly lots to evaluate and learn here.

[@divinefeminineessence]

Ive been suffering for the last 6 years and I have been under medicated since day 1 . To watch this woman who’s probably never spent a day in the kind of pain I go through speak so confidently about a subject she knows nothing about is sickening . Not everyone needs opioids, however to give them like candy to everyone and then now restrict them from those who need them is backwards.

[@divinefeminineessence]

@@gorgthesalty this 💯

[@anb2526]

Agreed. She’s indiscriminately talking about different kinds of pain as if they were comparable. I’m always skeptical when people do these talks about managing pain but my mind was open. Until she used her hot tea example as a good illustration of ways to manage chronic low-back pain. That really made me not take her entire talk seriously. Acute pain from an injury like the hot water on the ankle isn’t the same as debilitating, complex, chronic pain that drains you out of your mental and physical energy every second without knowing when it’s going to end.

[@mmjlabs]

One of our primary goals was to make it clear that it's the acute pain circulating opioids that are the scourge, not people managed on chronic opioids. That said - I've broken my spine once, my neck twice, I know how how having your ET Tube suctioned while you're awake feels (and Buzzy really helps that, actually). I've broken ribs twice, leg once, but the two most chronic painful things have been the rotator cuff biceps, labrum, and supraspinatus tears, impingement, and the periodic spasming of my neck that lasts for days. I understand when "pain wakes and exhausts you every day" and you don't know if you will ever do the things you love to do again that make you "you". I know hacks for chronic and acute pain, and I know they work for ME, but we're all different. I also believe without knowing that sickle cell, Ehlers danlos, and fibromyalgia/long covid would be harder to cope with... but I also do KNOW that we can all be more comfortable. I hope you feel better.

[@mmjlabs]

​@@anb2526 so true! the coffee example was a "you can practice dealing with pain" example - there are LOTS of acute on chronic pain situations where I'll use different techniques, but the neurophysiology underpinning practice is applicable to both. Read the response I wrote below- this stuff helps anyone get more comfortable, but chronic pain from any source is work, and ongoing inflammatory diseases ... well, I don't pretend to have anything but respect for people who cope (Melissa v Fibromyalgia is a hero, as is everyone with SCD) and disdain for those who ignore. On our website I have links to a few articles I've written about how to get an emergency doctor (which I am) to take your chronic pain flare seriously. I am hopeful that the work on long covid, mast cell activation, microthrombi and circulating immune complexes will pay off for other chronic autoimmune and neuroinflammatory conditions.

[@mmjlabs]

@@gorgthesalty Agree. Multiple year long chronic pain situations, pain wakes you every day, always disrupts sleep, you don't know if you'll ever be YOU again pain. I'm grateful I have had and do have it to understand this topic better, and am REALLY grateful it's standing down right this second. I have the advantage of not being afraid of most things being fatal or forever due to my training, which no doubt makes pain more tolerable. With regards to your ENT pain -What you're describing sounds a lot like some pressure on a nerve that may be too small to see on an MRI, but possibly could be found with the right technology? there is something called the S1R (sigma1) "pain chaperone" marker now that can be radiolabeled for PET-CT scans. They are using it to find neuromas in people with phantom limb pain, or clustered locations of pain that could be treated. I found this trial at Stanford that is completed, but I know that's where they're doing this kind of work. NCT03195270 is the Clinicaltrials gov locator to perhaps learn which docs are interested and see if there are any new trials coming up.

[@lisemartino1995]

I suffer from a chronic pain condition. But I’m also a doula, so I also have an profound understanding of the difference between pain versus suffering; the human body has its own pain relieving hormones, neo-endorphins. Gate theory methods, such as TENS, (and Buzzy) work really well in these situations; many pharmaceuticals actually inhibit the body’s natural pain response hormones. Opioids are equally only short term options; not necessarily because they are “addictive” in their own right, but because their impact on pain diminishes over time and use. Unfortunately, gate theory options don’t really work for chronic and prolonged pain - it’s not about cost, addiction, tolerance or acceptance. I don’t strive to be pain free, but pain management in order to be able to function and do my job.

[@Rob_TheOne]

You can be pain "free," but it's more acceptance of the pain. Give it a hug you may be so surprised. It's here to teach you something. The suffering is resistance to the present moment. You're looking for Spirit... look inside and you'll find everything you need

[@Dohyin_]

I love this😊 As someone who gets scared alot I overthink things to the point that my body starts reacting to it. But now ill choose to calm down and ignore it

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching! Having a plan for how you'll deal with pain is very empowering.

[@HelenCamile63]

LOL! There’s no way insurance is going to cover this. But I do appreciate the concept and believe in its power. Vibration has been a part of my pain management since I was a kid and still is. People around me know how badly my back is hurting by seeing the intensity of my leg vibrations. I wish everyone here wellness and comfort.

[@markedis5902]

What about long term chronic pain? I’ve had 3 pain free days since 2016.

[@luged]

A combination of therapy, Ling term pain management drugs, and accepting the goal isn't "pain free" but "managed pain below the level where I am unable to be me" is what appears to be the scientific goal in most cases. Must people aren't risky pain free, they just have learned to live with certain pain, either by limiting motion, ignoring it sll together (if mild enough), using drugs (often OTC), or (most likely) a combination not all 3.

[@davidholaday2817]

There is a guy called Wim Hof. You should check him out.

[@MsLilBit8344]

Try aquatic therapy if you haven't. It helps a lot. This is more for or acute pain. She didn't even touch on massage therapy or aquatic therapy. Very strange ted talk imo.

[@djn1822]

I’m an Osteoapthic Physician and practice Hospital Medicine. I’m the Pain Committee Subchair on pharmaceutical and therapeutic modification and organizing a corporate order set. All this I learned in my osteopathic manual medicine and osteopathic principles and philosophy classes. If you can understand systems and their relationships, it’s much better for the treatment of patients, especially pain.

[@mmjlabs]

So true! I don't know if the studies that evaluated our pain training looked at DO schools... SMH if not. Or maybe they had a point to make and the superior DO pain education (from what you describe) would have thrown off their hypothesis?

[@KBoss19]

I've been using buzzy for five years for blood donations (put it in the front of your arm pit "between the brain and the pain"). My mom is disabled from rheumatoid arthritis and she can avoid taking her non opioid pain meds sometimes because applying buzzy right where it hurts takes the edge off. I'm currently trying to get the dental office I work at to start using it for injections. My boss did a notoriously uncomfortable infection on me while I had buzzy on my cheek. I felt absolutely nothing... Not even pressure! This thing is amazing

[@safaiaryu12]

Oh man. I had dental injections yesterday that were so bad I thought I'd rather die than go through that again. And unfortunately I've dealt with a LOT of injections throughout my life. Would love to see this implemented!!

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for using Buzzy and for sharing all the different ways you (and your mom!) use it. And thank you for being a blood donor! The FDA just cleared Buzzy specifically for dental injections, so we're hopeful that more dentists will offer it with procedures. Wishing you continued good health. Jen for the Pain Care Labs team

[@mmjlabs]

Cool! Thank you for sharing! We just got FDA indications for dental injections, actually. When I had a molar pulled, oh, a decade ago when I was experimenting with frequencies, I wanted to do a split-mouth N of 1 trial to see if one helped. Unbenownst to me, the oral surgeon totaly messed up my cross over trial and shot my "buzzy side" palate injection in twice as fast as the non-Buzzy side. He said, "well, I guess it works, cause that should have sent you through the roof". What a jerk.

[@safaiaryu12]

@@mmjlabs 😱😱😱

[@KBoss19]

@@mmjlabs I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at the dentist. Could you send me some info on the FDA clearance? It would go a long way toward convincing the higher ups to adopt Buzzy. The company I work at has 60 locations so I'd love to see this widely implemented. It's made such a difference in my life in the last 5 years. (I found you through Dr Damania)

[@stopainclinical4154]

Such an important message on reframing pain and the many safe and effective pain relief strategies and alternatives to opioids. Great job Amy!

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching!

[@melissacritchley5838]

Amy Baxter is my new hero. After living 20 years, over SEVEN THOUSAND days in pain, she has given me hope. I seriously cried when watching this.

[@jimbobaggins209]

Any updates?

[@melissacritchley5838]

@@jimbobaggins209 on what?

[@lauraon]

Is your pain gone?

[@melissacritchley5838]

@@lauraon I was referring to her research. Research takes time to develop solutions.

[@blacksheepensemble]

Great talk-practical, useful, funny, smart.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching!

[@digiscrappin]

I have degenerative discs in my neck and low back. The best thing I’ve ever done is learn TRE. It is a technique for reducing tension and trapped emotions. I get fewer headaches, I have better range of motion, and the tremors from activating the autonomic nervous system leave me feeling relaxed like I just got a massage. I feel fewer days of pain as well.

[@winonadavies9201]

This is so amazing, and helps make sense of why alternative practioners such as Reiki or "energy healers" are able to make such a difference for patients. I'm a mental health practitioner who deals often with patients with chronic pain, particularly CRPS. I have also had some experience with drug addictioin treatment, often with patients who began their addiction with a prescription for back injuries, car accidents, and the like. I'm looking forward to learning more about the vibration/cold tool. In the meantime, this is truly one of the most important videos for many of us as practitioners to watch and understand!

[@dr.gregtalley4049]

Great info Dr. Baxter!! As a chiropractor I totally agree with your "prescription". Thank you for providing this valuable information.!!

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching, Dr. Talley!

[@mmjlabs]

Functional chiros absolutely get that movement is medicine, and have for decades. Now we know enough bioscience and neuroscience to know WHY.

[@sarahlouscakes8021]

As a chronic pain sufferer, this lady needs to walk a day in my shoes, she won't think it's funny then! Fuming about how people think it's in my head when they have never suffered themselves. I'm 45 and had those condition since I was 17! It's no joke!

[@noellemorel7280]

This talk is not about chronic pain...

[@shield_maiden_]

Loved this talk! Interesting subject engaging for everyone, not too long, and delivered in a clear way with some funny bits. She was great!

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching the video and so glad you enjoyed it and found it engaging!

[@mmjlabs]

My son studied philosophy and clowning - he helped with the jokes!

[@medic4christ]

Fascinating and challenging. As a doctor of 18 years, I’m grateful to see we are having better, more holistic research into pain. As it happens I’m also recovering from a fracture involving the rotator cuff (shoulder) region. All told this is extremely helpful to understand pain and how we can approach it better. But as many have pointed out, controlling pain won’t remove my fracture, or heal someone’s chronic autoimmune disease etc. being pain-free cannot disminish the severity or seriousness of ongoing conditions. For acute pain, this is fantastic - my 6 year old daughter recently needed stitches after a fall, and had to be sedated because she was so scared. Having options like those mentioned to calm her and help her would have been helpful! Have ordered one of the devices to see if it will help my shoulder, and try it for first aid purposes. We still have more questions than answers - would having better pain control without being sedated by medication alter our views on Euthanasia? Will doctors in places like the US be willing to advise options that perhaps reduce their income? Only time will tell

[@annettegustafson1435]

I fully understand pain treatment after having been prescribed pain drugs for over a year and then getting a new doctor who took a different approach ..... PT. Wow. My whole life changed!

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching and for sharing your story of what worked for you, that's terrific!

[@mmjlabs]

PTs understand where pain comes from and how to fix it SO well! So do really good massage therapists (and any who are trained in CAnada, where it's covered by insurance).

[@TheSleepSteward]

I think it's important to note that this is a researched method of decreasing pain in a lot of instances HOWEVER, if you need opioids for chronic pain from autoimmune diseases to hip displacement to cancer pain; opioids and other drugs may be very useful. It's just important to note the risks as well as benefits of using the drugs and using them for (x) amount of time. Could you maybe substitute this method of pain reduction instead of using a drug whether it's pharmaceutical or recreational? Maybe. Does it have to be one or the other? Not at all. You can use both. But before you make any decision, please talk to your primary healthcare team or your family medicine doctor about what the best course of pain management is for you.

[@shweppes742]

Such a great talk-content wise but also in delivery!

[@natureisallpowerful]

Observe the pain,don't become the pain. I say " I'm not the body I'm not the mind" over and over.

[@TheZeplinfan]

I had a doctor tell me 30 years ago that if I was a horse, they'd take me out back and shoot me my back is so bad. add to that it is a degenerative issue and only gets worse with every passing day. but me, who's been denied disability 3 times when i applies over decade ago, is denied any relief at all. i had a pain dr. for 8 years that provided enough meds for me to be able to function halfway and not be in absolute misery 24/7. he dropped me 6 years ago because a pee test showed a trace amount of weed in my system. how dare i go to an indoor concert 3 days before my appointment. so no new pain dr. will even consider taking me on as a patient, and primary care dr. refuse to prescribe any pain meds. so I'm f-cked. It's nothing less than inhumane and cruel to withhold pain meds from chronic severe long-term pain sufferers. period...and they plain don't give a FK.

[@MsLilBit8344]

Can you take medical marijuana ? I know people with great success. Myself I cannot due to cardiac issues.

[@TheZeplinfan]

@@MsLilBit8344 i partake daily!! thanks :) it does help a little...at least it's a distraction from the constant pain.

[@nolife9853]

are you able to move to a state where thc is legal? switch insurance and dont disclose previous medical history with new docs

[@maggieriley1372]

I hurt to the point I am exhausted everyday. I don’t use opioids but have chronic pain. Kiss my butt with this. I work I have family I don’t have good health insurance. The thing that gets me is she is negating the very real pain someone is in.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for watching and for sharing your story. Pain is personal, and different for everyone. The point of Dr. Baxter's talk is to advance pain management techniques to reduce opioids in circulation prescribed after surgery and used to address acute pain. As Dr. Baxter said, “Options Give Power Over Pain”. The intention was to shed light on effective underutilized approaches to pain after surgery. Wishing you comfort, Jen for the team

[@dolphinschild62]

Thank you Ms Baxter, I have done icing, and vibration but not together. I had emergency Appendectomy and I asked for Ibuprofen for my pain, they said no, it would thin my blood, then shot me up with a blood thinner 15 mins later and gave me Dilaudid for my pain. After surgery they over dosed me. I hope you get them all educated. Thank you so much. Love and blessings.

[@CallMeGailyn]

One of the issues with long- term chronic pain is that people get used to it, not as a desired condition but as a part of their emotional identity. When anyone challenges the experience, the tendency is to defend it. One wants less or no pain, but that's a state that's no longer normal. They don't know themselves without everything that goes into dealing with pain. Instead of rejoicing for new methods to control pain, they fear what isn't familiar. Logically, we want to feel better and get back into normal activities, but what if you've not had a normal life due to lifelong pain inhibiting activities? I started having pain at twelve and only grew. Unsurprisingly, things degenerate when one doesn't catch a break. I'm 70 now. I contend with a list of body issues. I'm now convinced that our attitude and ability to think outside the box helps make pain more manageable. My best tool has been optimism and humor. And ice. And any movement possible from day to day. So this talk made sense. Thank you!❤

[@joeync75]

I think you have very valid points. I've had chronic pain for years...decades. I would love to have my pain gone but I admit that there's resistance there too. It's hard to believe anything could help at this point, but I'm coming to realize that my mindset may be playing a part in that. Also, due to my pain, I no longer work and depend on my VA disability pay for income. If I started to get better, would I lose my income? Could I even find a job after all this time? I've lost all confidence in the idea of me being able to work a typical job and the idea of it makes me really anxious now. And if I got better, who would I be and what would my life look like? The unknowns are scary and so, yes, I think maybe it feels safer to hold onto that identity because it's what I know. I'm trying to work on that, to change my mindset, to try alternative ways of managing my pain. I consider myself lucky that the only time I was on opiods, I had only negative side effects and so I didn't use them for long and wanted to avoid those side effects in the future so I've avoided them since. I know not everyone is that lucky and I know that there are many with pain more severe than mine.

[@dbwkdidwbsof]

she's really funny I appreciate this style of TED talk

[@chamberlain85]

I broke my back T 3, 4, & 5 vertebrae about 12 years ago. I had a fusion surgery and my back is held together with 2 plates and 3 pins. I haven't had any prescribed opioids since about 11 years ago. No urgent care will prescribe them. I have been on a large Tylenol and Ibuprofen binge ever since, and now I am having to go to a liver specialist. Pain can be real, she just hasnt broken her back yet. OTC pain remedies are just as harmful when overused. Im sorry but you cant just think certain types of pain away. Im now 39 and I have let myself go over the past few years and stopped exercising. I have gained about 60 pounds which has made this worse on me. I barely want to get out of bed every morning. I think they need to focus on stop giving pain meds to people who "dont" really need it. She was right about over prescribing and it has started a war on opioids that has stopped me from getting help when I need it.

[@lauraon]

So sorry to hear about your pain. Her condescending attitude is horrible.

[@lfcbpro]

Breathing is unbelievable pain control, along with definite concentration on mind over matter. With a huge tooth abscess, for 8 hours I practiced this, and although I was in pain, it did help enormously.

[@mmjlabs]

So true! Autonomic control and using your parasympathetic/diaphragm breathing to convince your brain you're safe lowers pain in lots of ways. Great advice, I should have mentioned it more.

[@aprilmorris4588]

I honestly wish vibration was an option with occipital neuralgia, but vibration is one thing that blows my pain from 5 to 10 in seconds. I'm not confident it would help my Trigeminal Neuralgia, either. This sounds much better for acute pain, rather than chronic.

[@smaragdiskordi9820]

I'm impressed. Thank you very very much for the valuable information and inspiration. As a nurse and psychologist i will surely be benefited from you innovative ideas . But also as a patient who is suffering from osteoarthritis i got hope from you and i will try to find new ways to relieve pain and improve my health and consequently, my quality of life.

[@toni4729]

Having suffered Urticaria for six years I've also found that distraction can also take your mind off that too. With Urticaria, (hives) you can sit and tear your skin off or, you can get up and make a quick cup of coffee and your mind will go elsewhere. It's happened to me many times.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for sharing! So glad you have found something that works for you - pain is personal, and having a plan is empowering.

[@Ceretrea]

"You feel what you expect to feel" is just one of the very damaging statements in this TED talk. Assumes a level of control that isn't there, whilst placing the blame for pain squarely on the individual. Chronic pain sufferers like myself know we have no control on flare up days. No amount of meditation etc will help us. We just have to endure on those days. This talk should have made a much clearer distinction between acute pain and chronic pain. Not all chronic pain has a treatable/curable cause and needing certain type of medication support shouldn't be a shameful thing for anyone. Also, in what world do people give opiates for vaccination pain to children or spilling some hot coffee on you?

[@changyone]

such a breakthrough even though we know this for all along onnly never really researched, tested and implemented

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for watching! Paraphrasing a rather cynical joke here, "even if we found a cure for death, the system would not adopt it for 10 years."

[@faithhansen9565]

Thank you for this! Need to get some of these for my treatments.

[@priscilla4822]

I had surgery for a badly broken ankle. I observed thay pan comes in waves by watching a clock and timing the waves. It was a lot like timing birthing contractions. While observing this I found the fear of the pain decreased along with the intensity of the pain. I was able to focus my attention on my ankle and kind of show my self that this was uncomfortable but not life threatening. It really helped and I only took a couple if the pain pills. I watched a family member go through opioid addiction so I was more afraid of that.

[@naomihatfield3015]

I battled chronic migraines from the age of 13 through menopause. Given Percocet for a wisdom tooth extraction, and it never felt "amazing." In fact, no pain pill I have ever taken has "felt amazing." They either dull the pain, or make me sleepy, or both, and now I think I understand why I have always been resistant to addiction to narcotics. Whatever "reward" part of my brain that was *supposed* to light up from opioids....didn't? While my mother was just the opposite, heavy duty pain meds made her feel incredible. All this time, I just figured everyone else was lying...but I think the migraines burned out my reward centers. Have any studies been done in regards to chronic migraine and pain med resistance?

[@susmateja]

Great talk indeed!

[@maartenhappel9014]

Wish I had seen this years ago! Would have been a GREAT help! THNX!!!

[@sunitasaini3149]

I m a high school student n have cervical spondylosis . My life's turned upside down coz of it ,i was a beboyi' dancer n a scholar but since this haven't been able to the bare minimum of what i used to do. My body's ability is not keeping up with my mental ability . I have tried almost everything possible in my circumstances .Now i just hope i can ignore it n focus on my studies

[@paullhirondelle1188]

something i do for pain management is i take wild lettuce concentrate= i forage for the plants and process them-I only use when i really need it- it works for me- non addictive- be well ALL.

[@eliznaomistuart]

Thank you for your research and this talk! Given that cold causes the brain to dim pain sensation throughout the entire body, does that mean that for pain in one area of the body we could actually apply cold in another area of the body and it would help? For the vibration, does the same hold true, or should the vibration be done in the area of the pain? I have ongoing hip and nearby pain that may be related to significant osteoarthritis. I would like to see if distraction, vibration, and cold can help. Ibuprofen is great but I don't want to take it often because it increases heart attack risk. Thank you!

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for watching! There are so many science-backed interventions that may help, trial & error to find what works for you. Our devices are designed to be applied locally/on or proximal to the pain.

[@mmjlabs]

You nailed it! Cold in one area can reduce pain somewhat EVERYWHERE. It does it via an area of the brainstem, but one issue is that this "descending inhibitory control" of pain doesn't work as consistently for people with chronic pain. The direct parts of cryotherapy still work, but just locally. Vibration as far as we know is primarily directly where the pain is, or when placed "between the brain and the pain". That said, there is research in Australia that seems to indicate vibration might stop communication between the "switchboard" and memory. Certainly having control over vibration helps - there are kids with ASD who place it against their chest and turn it off and on, and the vibration and control over it help even though it's not local. So... there's still a lot we don't know for sure.

[@amye1642]

What an incredible resource! Grateful for her and this vid

[@imogenveneear1935]

I suffer from fybromyalgia, diseased and degenerative discs in my spine, hypermobility pain and osteoarthritis and I found this very interesting as after taking opioids for years they are no longer effective. I did notice that when I slipped one day with an axe and cut and bruised my knee (no stitches) the pain in the rest of my body subsided for many days. I would be very interested in links to this ladies published papers please and where I can get a grown up buzzy.

[@robinr5337]

There is an all black version on Amazon. I'm still looking for some other format of it.

[@LiezeMiddernacht]

Great video! I am very fascinated by the subject presented in this video. I understood that this device and technique are mainly used with short and intense pain. But it got me thinking - is there a way to deal with chronic pain without relying on painkillers?

[@mmjlabs]

We have a bunch of techniques and evidence based options on our website, with many based around which neurotransmitter you want to stimulate. Also read about Acceptance and Commitment therapy - better data over 6 month periods than gabapentin, for example.

[@christinebravomom5711]

I know a woman whose doctor took her TENS unit because it had only lowered her pain from an 8 to a 2. She had been happy with the success of the unit and was devastated at losing it.

[@peterway7867]

Amy, I think you should try Ice Climbing. Ice climbers experience pain so extreme they refer to it as The Screaming Barffies. It is pain so extreme that you desperately want to Scream and Barff at the same time, but of course it is totally impossible to scream and barff at the same time. So you are left in this desperately pain ridden confliction with no option but to endure. Ice climbers are constantly on ice. Ice climbing involves the constant vibration and banging of your ice tools on the ice. Ice climbing, and high angle climbing of any sort, requires total focus and concentration. Complete focus and concentration is required to control fear. I've been ice and mountain climbing for more that 30 years. Ice, vibration and the control of fear have never stopped the pain I feel. I ice climb because of the sense of mental and physical accomplishment I receive from it. The pain is just a part of it that I have to endure.

[@7of9.]

You were so great! Wonderful speech

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for watching!

[@imperfectly_megan]

There is good information here! Some people are put off by the presenter but as a chronic pain sufferer I will try this method. And you don't need to buy her product, you can find cold + vibration at home. :)

[@grapelike13]

Makes sense, as a child with convulsions we were directed to follow seizure instructions which was submerge in ice bath when symptoms are bad. Even as an adult I seek outdoors in the winter to help maintain episodes. Also my best hangover cure was an icepack on my head and sleep.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching! The powers of ice and vibration are beginning to be understood.

[@mmjlabs]

We know one person who had a traumatic amputation, and lived in the extreme cold for just that reason.

[@1964mcqueen]

This is such valuable information. People have become conditioned to seek a quick fix, usually in pill form, for almost everything. We need more people out there teaching patients and physicians that there are alternatives that don't ruin lives. My only critique, don't throw out your old prescriptions. Take them to the pharmacy to be disposed of properly.

[@mmjlabs]

so true! Although the CDC does include opioids and benzo/barbs on the list as ones that can be flushed, from a societal risk/benefit standpoint I guess?

[@iclerkrun6602]

Hi Amy. I'm 62. Diagnosed with Hypopituitarism & Hypothyroidism. Recently diagnosed with nerve pain. On Trepiline 25MG (Amitriptyline), which causes dry- mouth, throat, skin; causes headache, affects eyes. Which parts should your therapy be applied to? What vibration frequency? Really desperate to get off Trepiline.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for asking! Sorry you're dealing with those lousy side effects - we hope your doc can help you manage them. Our specific mechanical frequency reduces pain. The high frequency, low amplitude, mechanical vibration does not interfere with pacemakers (compared to electrical stimulation devices). Our devices are designed to be applied locally/on or proximal to the pain.

[@mmjlabs]

Vibration works better to stop transmission of pain via normally behaving nerves. If it's superficial nerve pain (like with diabetic neuropathy) look into 8% capsaisin patches, or actually TENS (40-100Hz) can trigger the light same light touch nerves. And Magnesium is a lovely neuro-anti-inflammatory if you're not already on it.

[@iclerkrun6602]

Thanks. I shall actually have to look at capsaicin as the pain seems to be caused by ghost signals from damaged nerves.@@mmjlabs

[@poonyaTara]

I feel compelled to qualify this advice because of my experience with a client I had to fire. She took pride in continuing to strive toward a goal...to such an extent that being successful at trying to be successful became more valuable to her than being successful. Her goals were noble, and she took so much pride at getting back up that when the world didn't knock her down she knocked herself down. She stopped being noble...so I fired her. Don't sabotage yourself.

[@fluffychenille]

I have chronic lower back pain from bone growths touching nerves. It's never a good day for me...I just take an Advil and live with the pain being slightly less for a few hours. It's a 12 hour pill that only last a few hours.........so I have to wonder how many people with daily chronic pain are "over dosing" on OTC pain meds because the relief from pain is very short lived. I don't do that myself, but I dont' know how I will manage if it gets any worse. There has to be a reasonable answer for people like me instead of shutting off all pain meds...they need to find a way for us to use them responsibly. I don't have an addictive personalty so for me it would not be a problem like i think it is for some. But we should not have to suffer for the few.

[@jmc8076]

Long acting in reality is often much less.

[@wesleyfellows8111]

You helped me understand my high tolerance to pain. Strong mind= less pain

[@bobm3477]

I wish that I knew how but I can block pain, I don't acknowledge it and don't feel it. After breaking my kneecap I propped one foot on top of the other to relieve the pressure and quietly waited over an hour for the ambulance. I think that it's a matter of focusing on not feeling it. I've had many bad injuries, seen colors while being stitched up without freezing but not felt the pain. The local hospital has finally realized that if I walk in and am particularly quiet and polite it doesn't mean that I am okay. Try focusing on other things, I can't say that it will help everyone but I hope that it does help some.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thank you for sharing! Pain is personal - your story is proof!

[@shadowfax9177]

You're talking about disassociating. Which I did for a long time. Only problem is, after a while I became so disassociated my memory and cognitive functions started going downhill. But you're right, short term it works!

[@bobm3477]

@@shadowfax9177 You could be right! I have no memory to speak of and cognitive functions are severely lacking. I'll try to remember to think of it the next time I get hurt.

[@MsAsquared]

I was following along until she said that ibuprofen works just as well for tooth pain as opioids. That is wrong! Years ago I got Percocet after my wisdom teeth were out, and that relieved the pain and I could sleep. These days I get ibuprofen, and I suffer for weeks. I wish there was a way that I could make my doctors experience the pain that I'm in, maybe then they'd do something about it.

[@Investigativebean]

Before they loved pushing that oxy in large quantities. Now they do every single thing they can, 4:17 including requiring you to take NSAIDS (and acetaminophen now proven less safe) until you have new symptoms like nausea from the ibuprofen eating away at the lining. It also doesn’t help all kinds of pain. Nothing will work for all pain types and intensities in all people. I understand placebo effects. I know what it’s like to try everything. I just had two large molars extracted after having one crack in half and the other get abscessed. I was taking high doses of ibuprofen prior and then after the extraction I was given a script for 200mg less, and it is not effective for the full 6 hours between doses. I am an expert on anatomy and remedies for all kinds of pain. They’re not created equally. Our country is the worst at that moderation thing, and they can always find enablers. People that cannot get the proper pain relief they require to rest and hopefully recuperate or have some quality of life, will also turn to the street for relief. Neither extreme stance is great. There need to be more alternatives.

[@spiderliliez]

This is exactly why cats purr even when they are in pain. Because those vibrations relieve those pain.

[@jaybingham3711]

This was (mostly) a trainwreck. Absolutely agree, though, that pusuit of becoming pain-free is not necessary nor reasonable. That is easily understood by recognizing that there are people who can't feel pain...a condition known as CIPA. For such people, they have not won the lottery. Rather than leading great lives, these people are in constant danger. It doesn't take great insight to understand and know that achieving a pain-free state isn't an objective worth having. As for what the video fails with, there are several things. But the biggest misstep was a conflation that pain is a known subject matter and that it is a singular thing. That is decidedly not where modern medical science currently operates from. And the world's leading experts in pain certainly don't support such a contention. All the case examples discussed in this video were about issues related to acute pain. Treatments for acute pain are notoriously ineffectual when tried as modalities for treating chronic pain. By not broaching this distinction, the speaker left listeners in a position to come away drawing improper conclusions. That is a disservice. Not only for the listener. But probably more so for a listener's disposition as it might relate to a loved one's pain. "Science says all you need is some distraction whether by a vibrator or solving a challenging problem." No. Again, medical science has not arrived at that point. Pain is still a very challenging medical conundrum. One expert suggests pain is currently at a point of understanding similar to cancer before it was determined our perspective was way off base. It used to believed that cancer was a singular disease. Then modern science made the huge discovery that it was in fact multiple diseases. Cancers. All different and requiring different approaches of treatment. Until pain research achieves a breakthrough, it will be clamoring for its' cancers moment. With that understanding, you are now better equipped to help yourself and those around you when matters of pain are in play.

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching. Pain is personal, and different for everyone. It takes multiple interventions to manage pain, that's part of what Amy emphasizes. The point of Amy's talk is to advance pain management techniques to reduce opioids in circulation prescribed after surgery and used to address acute pain. The intention was to shed light on effective underutilized approaches to pain after surgery.

[@jaybingham3711]

@@BuzzyHelps I am comfortable with believing Amy meant well. It's just the conveyance of the information she provided was done without sufficient nor necessary context. In fact, every medical ailment is personal. Pain is no different. That's an important aspect that wasn't (but should have been) incorporated into the presentation. There hopefully will be a time that we move substantially toward personalized medicine. Once that becomes common, it will undoubtedly be wondered how it was that people ever got better under the scatter shot regime we make use of today.

[@MsLilBit8344]

Well said, ty

[@KennyMkay88]

Very cool Ted talk Im going to give lower back pain a different view now and how to treat it

[@alysmarcus7747]

When my pain went through the roof , i taught myself to tattoo - and tattooed my self. Distraction, vibration, and poky needles . . . focusing on the wonderful colours etc

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching! Distraction, focusing on something that brings you joy - not a perfect fix, but managing pain means trying multiple interventions.

[@powertester5596]

My brother taught me this when I was very young (May be around 10 - 12 years old) :-). He was a basketball player and I have seen him getting injured but he would not cry. That puzzled me. So one day, when I saw him getting injured in front of me but just shrugging it off; I asked how come you don’t cry when you are hurt? He answered. If it would help reduce the pain, I would. But it seems the more I cry, the longer I stay in that pain zone. So I don’t. It was a eureka moment for me since I would usually cry my heart out when I was hurt 😂. I took them message to heart and actually started practicing and found that by not crying the pain duration actually got shorter and shorter, eventually feeling just momentarily pain for most injuries. He taught me how to do this just by using the psychological side of it :-). This talk shows other cool ways too :-).

[@fiducious]

The best TED Talks ever!!!

[@BuzzyHelps]

Thanks for watching!

[@fluffybunny4372]

As a cross country runner, this is an interesting perspective. People don’t realize how much of running is learning to push through pain and there really isn’t a lot of videos like this out there.

[@ambition112]

0:03: 🚨 Pain is an alarm that goes from nerves to the brain, but its exact location is unclear. 1:04: The concept of being pain-free as a goal has led to addiction and destroyed lives. 2:05: Pain is a necessary part of life and should be managed rather than eliminated completely. 6:04: 🧠 Distraction can help reduce pain by occupying the decision switchboard in the brain. 7:22: Distraction works by occupying the decision switchboard in the brain, reducing pain. 8:24: Untreated or intense pain can lead to stronger connections in the brain, resulting in continued pain even after the body is healed. 11:45: 💊 The speaker discusses the misconceptions about opioids and pain management. 12:11: Recovery after surgery can be achieved with coaching and physiologic options instead of opioids. 13:12: Substance-use disorders often start with prescription opioids and can be avoided by exploring other options for pain management. Recap by Tammy AI

[@NaymitMayne]

You guys have so much fun taking pictures your time to learn and sell drugs while we suffer

[@kaceykelly7222]

So impressed with this presentation!

[@bobm3477]

This reminds me of my son's favorite story. When he was young he hurt his foot badly after a fall on the driveway. I knew immediately that there would be no consoling him. I went into emergency measures which had been long planned for. I had set aside a small very wrinkled very unattractive potato for just such an event. When I heard him waling I grabbed it and ran outside, addressed him in a serious manner saying, "I see your foot is really hurt, I need to rub this potato on it." The wailing immediately stopped replaced with a bit of sobbing then chuckling and laughter. " No dad, please don't touch me with that potato" was his response. I can't say if it would have worked again but it did wonders that time. We still reminisce about that.

[@carolbrady2482]

I'm nominating this woman for sainthood! I had an addiction chronic pain group when I lived in California. I wish I had this information. It is abundantly clear that pain control is misunderstood!! I have trigeminal neuralgia in both sides of my face. It is called the "suicide disease. " I have played hacks like these, they work!!

[@jennyparks7110]

Hi! My sister suffers from trigeminal neuralgia every day Please, if you would, share with me how you are able to successfully manage your pain? I would love to help her. Thank you in advance.

[@tangmo956]

Thank you for this new perspective and to the KZbin algorithms for putting it in front of me. This last weekend was the 1 year mark for my headache. Before this video i figured i would need a third pill to manage but now i just need to MacGyver a solution 😊.

[@mmjlabs]

I hope you get a bunch of options that help (and that you've been thoughtfully worked up for cause). One additional technique that makes coping much more bearable and is fast to learn is in Miller-Karas' book Building Resilience to Trauma. It's about natural disasters and such but the steps are very pain-management applicable.