More than 100 million Americans are currently experiencing some form of persistent pain. Persistent pain is associated with increased utilization of healthcare dollars, added burden on healthcare providers and ancillary staff. It is now well established that pain is produced by a persons brain when it perceives there is a threat. Threats come in different forms including injury, surgery, emotional distress and more. New research has shown that by altering the threat the brain perceives, pain can be influenced significantly. One powerful way to alter threat is the information we provide patients. The choice of words used by clinicians, support staff and even office personnel truly have the ability to harm or heal, and that includes the context, tone, and other factors involving the interactions with patients. This lecture, using the latest neuroscience research, provides attendees with the latest understanding of how pain works and showcases current front-office and medical interactions that can harm patients, sometimes unknowingly. On the flip side, the presentation features various strategies that can help patients along their recovery path, starting with the first phone call.
