Patient Resources

The following resources build a new, holistic understanding of the many physiological, neurological, and psychological factors that construct our experience and perception of pain and other symptoms. And that knowledge is power.

“These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them.” ~Rumi

Pain Neuroscience 101

Neuroscience is changing the paradigm for diagnosing and treating chronic pain.

A New Way to Think About Pain

Lauren Cannell | TEDxHobart
(5:18 min)

Neuroplastic Sensitization & the MindBody Connection

Dr. Schubiner's "What is Pain" Video Series

Intro to What is Pain?

Intro to Dr. Schubiner's "What is Pain" Series
(1:01 min)

What is Pain?

Video #1 in Series
(6:12 min)

The Brain Creates Pain

Video #2 in Series
(6:12 min)

Predictive Coding

Video #3 in Series
(5:28 min)

How to Reverse Chronic Pain

Video #5 in Series
(9:49 min)

All MRI's are Abnormal

Video #6 in Series
(5:28 min)

Dr. John E. Sarno

20/20 Segment
(13:36 min)

Breakthrough with Healing Chronic Pain

Dr. Howard Schubiner | Talks at Google
(53:23 min)

How To Heal Chronic Pain with Dr Howard Schubiner

Feel Better, Live More Podcast
by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee
2 hrs 11 mins

Know Pain, Know Gain

In Search of a Unified Theory for Pain Relief

Howard Schubiner, MD​
(31:04 min)

The Pain Revolution

Professor Lorimer Mosely
(21:10 min)

The Fifth Vital Sign

Can you cure pain with more pain?
The Invisibilia podcast

Psychophysiologic Disorders, Central Sensitization Syndromes, Neuroplastic Pain, Somatic Symptom Disorder, Mindbody Syndrome, Functional Neurological Disorders, Medically Unexplained Symptoms, & Tension Myoneural Syndrome
(hint: they are ALL synonymous 😇🤓)

Acute pain is commonly produced by the brain in response to damage in the body, but chronic symptoms are often due to persistent, overly protective neural circuits in the brain that can amplify, perpetuate, or even cause pain, and they are not closely linked to damage in the body. Over time, these circuits get repeated, sensitized, and, through a process called “classical conditioning” (thank you, Ivan Pavlov), can be associated with triggers. These neuroplastic pathways can be DE-sensitized and RE-processed in the brain and frequently even cured (not just “managed” or coped with).

The following groups have done amazing work compiling evidence and resources for both patients and practitioners, and provide further direction on how to understand and recover from these conditions.

PPD Association

The Psychophysiologic Disorders Association is the most well-organized and clinician- and research-driven group doing this work. This video explains who they are and what they do. They also have a self-directed, online course to lead yourself to recover. Please explore this website, on which CIM’s website is modeled, for further information and help.

Dr. Howard Schubiner’s UnlearnYourPain.com

Acute pain is commonly caused by damage in the body, but chronic pain is often due to protective neural circuits in the brain. Over time, these circuits get repeated, sensitized and can be associated with triggers.
 
Learn more at UnlearnYourPain.com
 
While there, be sure to check out the following:

The TMS Wiki

The TMS Wiki is the product of years of work via the PPD/TMS Peer Network, a non-profit organization seeking to relieve suffering from all these conditions by providing a place to build awareness, understanding, community, and healing. It is literally FULL of links, videos, and even FREE PROGRAMS (Structured and Multimedia) for self-guided pain/symptom recovery.

The Curable App
(and Community)

The preeminent mobile app for learning about and recovering from these conditions is most certainly Curable. The founders themselves recovered from years of chronic symptoms and wanted to bring the help they received to others. The app itself takes a biopsychosocial approach and helps people to understand the role of the brain in protecting and sensitizing their system. The Curable program easily guides users through numerous educational and experiential techniques on their path to recovery. This couples with their whole community of practitioners and users who can also enroll in self-guided or online groups to help on the journey.
 
Besides the app and groups, they host two EXCELLENT podcasts:

Also, for the practitioners in their network who refer patients they’ve provided a perk of 6 free weeks of access to the app for patients who are referred (there are no kickbacks for the referring provider). If that interests you, please scroll to the bottom of this page, message Dr. Matt, and he’ll get you set – no strings attached!

Documentaries

All the Rage:
Saved by Sarno

Through interviews with Dr. John Sarno, esteemed patients, and experts, this film invites viewers to profoundly rethink our approach to healthcare.

This Might Hurt

This Might Hurt is a documentary that offers solutions to cure chronic pain. The film follows three chronic pain patients who have spent years searching for answers.

The Wisdom of Trauma

Dr. Gabor Maté gives us a new vision: a trauma-informed society who are not concerned with fixing behaviors, but seeking to understand the sources from which troubling behaviors and diseases spring in the wounded human soul.

Pain Brain

A documentary about a massive neuroscience study that challenges the medical industry’s approach to chronic pain.

Expressive Writing Exercises

Proprioceptive-Writing

[Doc Download]
"A practice of writing what you hear and listening to what you write."

Other Helpful Resources

Hidden Stress Screening Test [PDF]

The Psychophysiologic Disorders Association
by PPDAssociation.org

Don't Hate Your Guts

The website of Jennifer Franklin, PhD, a skillful & experienced clinician who has specialized in working with chronic gastrointestinal & digestive symptoms

Defeat CRPS

Patient-driven recovery resource for CRPS/RSD

Podcasts

Empowered Beyond Pain

Kevin Wernli, Professor Peter O'Sullivan, Dr JP Caneiro

The Art of NVC

Micah Salaberrios

News You can Use
Relevant Articles proving Pain Science is Brain Science

Solve Mental Pain to Resolve Physical Pain

Psychology Today
by David Hanscom MD
November 2022

It’s Time To Rethink the Origins of Pain

Scientific American
by Haider Warraich
September 2022

‘Good’ posture doesn’t prevent back pain, and ‘bad’ posture doesn’t cause it

The Guardian
by Peter O'Sullivan, Leon Straker and Nic Saraceni
August 2022

What IS the Connection Between Stress and Symptoms?

Being Well
by Anna Holtzman, April 2022

Spine Care in the United States

by Mustafa Farooque, MD, MSEd, 2022

TikTok Tourette's

by David Epstein
November 2021

Internal Family Systems and Chronic Pain - Listening to Inner Parts that Hold the Hurt

Psychotherapy Networker
by Howard Schubiner, Richard Schwartz, Ron Seigel
January/February 2021

Neural Pathway Pain — A Call for More Accurate Diagnoses

Practical Pain Management
by Howard Schubiner, MD, Mark Lumley, PhD, Alan Gordon, LCSW, December 2017

Miracles of Mindbody Medicine [PDF]

Healthcare Counseling & Psychotherapy Journal
by Alan Gordon
January 2010

Anxiety is the Pain

by David Hanscom, MD

Optimizing (Avoiding) Spine Surgery

Back In Control
by David Hanscom, MD

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