Pain is a natural and adaptive response that protects the body from actual or potential injury. We touch the stovetop and reflexively remove our hand from it, while the burning pain at the tip of our finger alarms us to evaluate the damage. When this recently happened to me, I observed the burn on my… Full Story>
The National Pain Report Closes its Doors: An Interview with Ed Coghlan
In unfortunate news, The National Pain Report, a mainstay of online pain-related journalism, reported in April that it is closing shop. I greatly enjoyed working with Ed Coghlan and his team to help further our shared missions for pain education, patient-centered care, patient protections for prescription opioids, and pain research. Here’s just one example of… Full Story>
Your childhood matters
Growing up in Palestine, I have always been interested in the role of childhood trauma in impacting emotional and physical health in adulthood. As a pain psychologist and researcher at Stanford, I have the advantage of investigating the role of trauma in a systematic way. I set out to investigate the role of childhood neglect… Full Story>
The tangled web of physical and emotional pain in prescription opioid use disorder
Every year, clinicians in the United States write 250 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers. For the vast majority of patients, these painkillers provide short-term relief and then life goes on. A very small percentage of people prescribed opioids, however, develop a prescription opioid use disorder (POUD), which can have a devastating impact on their life…. Full Story>
COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Clinicians and Patients
Health Care Clinicians: Latest Information and Coping Resources Coronavirus (COVID-19) presents new challenges for everyone. However, health care clinicians are facing unique personal and professional challenges within the context of a rapidly shifting landscape. Such challenges may include: managing patient and personal health/safety risks for COVID-19 exposure adopting technology and shifting patient care to video… Full Story>