Back in Control with David Hanscom, MD

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom talks with his step-daughter, Jasmine Yohai, about her journey from dance to being an expressive arts therapist,and working as a housing coordinator for Bay Area Community Services helping homeless individuals find housing in Oakland. She discusses the different sensory modalities of expressive arts therapy which include movement, drawing and speaking, and talks about how these were incorporated into the Omega workshops.  For more information, visit: https://www.backincontrol.com

In this episode, spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom discusses the neurochemical basis of anxiety and how it impacts our experience of chronic pain. He outlines the manner in which our reactions to chronic pain become embedded in our neural circuitry and are reinforced by these stress chemicals. He explains why the typical strategies people use to escape from anxious thoughts - e.g., suppression - won't work. He explores different methods he has used with patients to help them create awareness of how anxiety affects chronic pain, change their reactions to chronic pain, and begin to heal and re-engage with life again. For more information, visit: https://backincontrol.com/anxiety-is-a-symptom-not-a-diagnosis

This episode features Dr. David Hanscom’s interview with Dean Volk, PT, MPT.  He shares an approach to working with his physical therapy patients called Total Motion Release. The approach is based on the idea that whenever a part of the body is experiencing pain or discomfort, the entire body is thrown out of balance as it tries to compensate to protect the injured area.  This prevents the body from moving normally and healing.  His technique, which has achieved excellent results, relies on rebalancing the patient’s total body in order to help his or her brain rewire to allow the affected area to regain normal movement. 

Dean Volk has been transforming his patients’ lives since 1992. He currently owns 3 physical therapy practices, two in Charlotte and a mobile concierge service in Charleston, SC. Most recently, he started an online business, Sciatica Relief Now, LLS, which focuses on those suffering with Sciatica for 6+ months and sciatica is making their lives miserable. (http://www.SciaticaReliefNow.net) 

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This episode features the second of Dr. David Hanscom’s two interviews with Deb Gray PhD, a licensed clinical social worker and owner of a group of substance abuse / mental health clinics, Life by Design.  She discusses how she applied the DOC principles to develop her own personal approach to treating chronic pain. In addition to the recommendations in Back in Control, she also used Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which she now uses with her clients.  Visit: https://backincontrol.com  for more information.

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This episode features the first of Dr. David Hanscom’s two interviews with Deb Gray PhD, a licensed clinical social worker and owner of a group of substance abuse / mental health clinics, Life by Design.  She also attended one of the first of Dr. Hanscom’s annual Omega conferences. She shares her personal story of battling chronic pain, the different approaches she tried and her discovery of the mechanisms that can trigger and exacerbate chronic pain. This understanding led her to a pain-free life.  Visit: https://backincontrol.com  for more information.

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This episode features Dr. David Hanscom’s interview with Kent Bassett and Marion Cunningham, directors of the new film “This Might Hurt” which focuses on the mind-body approach to treating chronic pain.  The film, which is being crowdfunded on Indiegogo, was inspired by Kent’s own battle with chronic pain and the solution he has found in the work of Drs. Sarno, Schubiner, Hanscom and others. During the interview, Kent talks about the steps he took to become pain-free. The film follows Dr. Schubiner’s work with several long term chronic pain patients.  He and Marion discuss the making of the film and share the impact the patient stories featured in the film had on them.

Visit their Indiegogo project at: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/this-might-hurt-film--2/reft/216797/hanscomradio  for more information.

Director Kent Bassett is an Emmy-nominated editor and filmmaker. He recently cut Standing Up, about three unlikely aspiring comedians, and Personal Statement, about youth leaders fighting to expand college access, which premiered at Doc NYC and AFI Docs, respectively. He is currently editing a film about activist Ady Barkan.

Director Marion Cunningham is a filmmaker who has produced series for Netflix, National Geographic, Fusion, Animal Planet, and A&E. She’s currently the Supervising Producer of OZY Studios.

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This episode features part 2 of Dr. David Hanscom’s interview with Dr. Marc Moisi, Chief of Neurosurgery at Detroit Receiving Hospital. Dr. Moisi recalls his training as a resident and later as a spine surgery fellow. He advocates for a more humanistic, mentoring approach to this training. He describes the toll that the “mantra of criticism” and its resulting stress can take on surgical performance and patient outcomes. As evidence for the need for change, he cites the growing problem of burnout and suicide among physicians.  Visit: https://backincontrol.com  for more information.

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This episode features the first of Dr. David Hanscom’s two interviews with Dr. Marc Moisi, Chief of Neurosurgery at Detroit Receiving Hospital.  Dr. Moisi shares the evolution of his views on treating chronic pain. He learned that treating pain effectively requires a multi-dimensional approach involving all the relevant specialties from the outset.  He also talks about the importance of avoiding immediate surgical decisions and focusing more on non-operative care. Visit: https://backincontrol.com for more information.

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This episode features part 3 of Dr. David Hanscom's interview with physiatrist Melvin Belsky. Dr. Belsky talks about how many healthcare providers are pursuing unnecessary and ineffective treatments, procedures and surgeries for chronic pain patients who have high ACEs (adverse childhood experience) scores. This is frequently to the patient's detriment. These providers often do not understand the role of ACEs in exacerbating chronic pain,and the much less risky and more effective ways to address chronic pain. He also cites the reluctance of many physicians to talk with their patients about adverse childhood experiences as one reason for the resistance to this approach. For more information, visit: https://backincontrol.com.

This episode features part 2 of Dr. David Hanscom’s interview with pain specialist Dr. Kevin Cuccaro. Dr. Cuccaro discusses the important roles played by the patient-physician relationship and the patient’s beliefs about their pain, in their healing. He also talks about a highly successful new community based model he has developed for patient and clinician education about pain and its treatment, called the Mid-Valley Pain Alliance.  Visit: https://backincontrol.com  for more information.

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