On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I had the honor of welcoming Professor Lorimer Moseley onto the show to answer audience questions regarding persistent pain. Lorimer Moseley’s interests lie in the role of the brain and mind in chronic pain. He is Professor of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of South Australia and a Senior Principal Research Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia.
In this episode, we discuss:
-The Pain Revolution: creating a public discourse about persistent pain
-Misconceptions surrounding the biopsychosocial model and pain
-Confronting medical providers who promote negative pain beliefs
-Is there merit in using placebo treatments for chronic pain?
-How does Lorimer stay critical of his own scientific work?
-And so much more!
Persistent pain needs to be understood not only by clinicians but the general public and policymakers. Lorimer believes, “It’s our most burdensome non-fatal condition facing our species.”
Clinicians need to understand what motivates their patients. Lorimer reminds us that, “When push comes to shove, in the raw moment, you ask a patient with persistent pain or anyone in pain, what do you want most right now? I think most of them would say pain relief.”
Medical providers hold a great deal of sway with patients. This influence can be used to validate what patients are feeling and aid the healing process. Lorimer states, “Nearly all health professionals have a natural tendency and a very slick skill set of legitimizing someone’s suffering.”
Although the biopsychosocial model differs in many ways from the biomedical model, there are many opportunities to share insights and practitioners of both frameworks should be self-critical. Lorimer advices, “It’s tempting for us to cast character judgments on those who are not like us. Actually, I think that people are trying to help their patients a lot of the time. They’re good people. I really think we need to collaborate and just keep open the possibility that we’re wrong. We have to be committed to try and prove ourselves wrong.”
For more information on Lorimer:
Professor Lorimer Moseley is a clinical scientist investigating pain in humans. After posts at The University of Oxford, UK, and the University of Sydney, Lorimer was appointed Foundation Professor of Neuroscience and Chair in Physiotherapy, The Sansom Institute for Health Research at the University of South Australia. He is also Senior Principal Research Fellow at NeuRA and an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow.
He has published over 200 papers, four books and numerous book chapters. He has given over 140 keynote or invited presentations at interdisciplinary meetings in 30 countries and has provided professional education in pain sciences to over 10,000 medical and health practitioners and public lectures to as many again. His YouTube and TEDx talks have been viewed over 200,000 times.
He consults to governmental and industry bodies in Europe and North America on pain-related issues. He was awarded the inaugural Ulf Lindblom Award for the outstanding mid-career clinical scientist working in a pain-related field by the International Association for the Study of Pain, was shortlisted for the 2011 and 2012 Australian Science Minister’s Prize for Life Sciences, and won the 2013 Marshall & Warren Award from the NHMRC, for the Best Innovative and Potentially Transformative Project. He was made Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2011, by original contribution, and an Honoured Member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, their highest honour, in 2014.
Resources discussed on this show:
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Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!
Xo Karen
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