This month we have Lillian Bailey, MS, LMFT, back again! Check out Episode 25 if you haven’t yet. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist whose practice has a large focus in sex therapy. Lillian is back with a Q and A for all your burning questions. We discuss the complexities of sexuality, pleasure and how your mental health and pain can play a role in orgasms! And Lillian never leaves us empty handed-We came away with a ton of resources to share as well. Another fun conversation with Lillian, take a listen!

References:

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information for community education purposes only, and does not take into account your specific comorbidities that your current healthcare provider may be managing. Please contact your care provider with questions regarding anything particular to you.

This month we have Lillian Bailey, MS, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist whose practice has a large focus in sex therapy. She shared with us her personal experiences with persistent pain and how that impacted her desire to help others with pain. She also explains her role as a mental health therapist in the more broad interdisciplinary pain team and we dive into what sex therapy actually entails and how to seek it out. Lillian highlights the problems with our societal expectations of sex and the negative impacts they can have on our mental health. Lillian also tests Erin and Kayla’s sex fact knowledge! We enjoyed our conversation and learned so much this month. We hope you do too! 

References: 

- “American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists |.” AASECT, https://www.aasect.org/. 

- Lillian Bailey, MS, LMFT, https://www.lillianbaileymft.com/. 

- Nagoski, Emily. Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2021. 

- “Our Mission - the Smitten Kitten.” The Smitten Kitten Inc., 24 Nov. 2021, https://www.smittenkittenonline.com/. Pearsall, Paul. 

- The Pleasure Prescription: To Love, to Work, to Play-- Life in the Balance. Hunter House Publishers, 1996. 

- Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist. https://www.psychologytoday.com/. 

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information for community education purposes only, and does not take into account your specific comorbidities that your current healthcare provider may be managing. Please contact your care provider with questions regarding anything particular to you.

This month we’re joined by Dr. Matthew Armfield, an MD who specializes in managing pain in children and adolescents at University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital. We’re talking all things medication management for pain. We discuss the intentions behind medications and the importance of taking an active role in understanding why they are prescribed. Dr. Matt also drops some serious knowledge on the original uses of these medications and how we’ve evolved to use them for the treatment of chronic pain. We had so much fun talking with Dr. Armfield and learned so much. We can’t wait to have him back on, but in the meantime, we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did. 

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information for community education purposes only, and does not take into account your specific comorbidities that your current healthcare provider may be managing. Please contact your care provider with questions regarding anything particular to you.

This month we’re talking about the importance of normalizing 4 areas of your life: sleep, your social life, school/work, and sports/exercise. We discuss how these things done all at once retrain your brain and neurological system to allow improved function and decrease pain. We set expectations for treatment of persistent pain and how PTs measure progress through function. After all, we want you to be empowered to make positive changes and understand the importance of taking ownership over your own life and treatment. We know this process is not easy but there is never a shortcut to getting better. If there was, we would know, and we would give it to you, because we want what you want, a life lived how you want it, doing the things you love. You hold the keys to that life, and we want to help you unlock the tools to achieve it. Plus Erin and Kayla talk about Nobel Prize winners and how laughter helps improve our pain too!

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information for community education purposes only, and does not take into account your specific comorbidities that your current healthcare provider may be managing. Please contact your care provider with questions regarding anything particular to you.

In this months episode we’re introducing Kayla, a pediatric doctor of physical therapy who specializes in chronic pain and the new official cohost for the pod! We explain the roles that PTs play in different settings, how PTs gain their knowledge base, and how to advocate for the right PT for you. We’re promoting PT HARD in this episode because it’s what we do, it’s what we’re passionate about, but because we know it works. And we know that at the end of the day, we want the same things you do. After you listen to this months episode, do yourself a favor and join us in our new tradition by doing something that brings you joy.

- Falvey JR, Burke RE, Malone D, Ridgeway KJ, McManus BM, Stevens-Lapsley JE. Role of Physical Therapists in Reducing Hospital Readmissions: Optimizing Outcomes for Older Adults During Care Transitions From Hospital to Community. Phys Ther. 2016;96(8):1125-1134. doi:10.2522/ptj.20150526 

- Smith, D. (2021, July 6). What to look for in a physical therapist. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/article/physical-therapist-search.html. 

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information for community education purposes only, and does not take into account your specific comorbidities that your current healthcare provider may be managing. Please contact your care provider with questions regarding anything particular to you.

Welcome back from our summer break! While we were off, Body, Brain & Pain celebrated it’s one year anniversary! We want to thank you all for listening over the past year and take a moment today to remind everyone why we started this conversation and why we love being physical therapists.

The United States healthcare system seems to have really missed the mark on pain management and how to treat discomfort - physical or emotional. A large part of this is that we don’t talk about aging and death in a productive or supportive way in America. It’s hard for a lot of us to be vulnerable and realize we are not invincible and this time in life is limited.

But as physical therapists, our goal is to help you realize the amazing things that your body and brain can do! And that you do have control over how you age and live this life. Daily habits matter. Our body needs a plan and consistency and this podcast is here to show you that.

Sad but exciting news, after this episode Body, Brain & Pain will have a new co-host working with Erin! Michelle is moving on to new adventures, but may be back in the future as a guest! We will announce our new co-host (you may recognize her!) at our next episode. It’s still going to be fun and we are still going to have awesome conversations.

References:

- Smith, D. (2021, July 6). What to look for in a physical therapist. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/article/physical-therapist-search.html.

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information for community education purposes only, and does not take into account your specific comorbidities that your current healthcare provider may be managing. Please contact your care provider with questions regarding anything particular to you.

Join Erin and Michelle as they circle back to the topic of low back pain. In particular, acute episodes or sudden onsets of low back pain. That common phrase “I threw my back out” sounds much worse than what’s actually happening in our bodies during an episode of low back pain. Sometimes these episodes can be kind of like a musculoskeletal cold, they come on a time or two every year, last a few days to a week and then they’re gone. Just like all the things we can do to prevent colds, there are also ways to reduce the duration and frequency episodes of low back pain occur!

References:

- Chou, R., Qaseem, A., Owens, D. K., Shekelle, P., & Guidelines, C. (2011). Clinical Guideline Diagnostic Imaging for Low Back Pain : Advice for High-Value Health Care From the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 154 (November 2010), 181–190.

- Fritz, J. M., Childs, J. D., & Flynn, T. W. (2005). Pragmatic application of a clinical prediction rule in primary care to identify patients with low back pain with a good prognosis following a brief spinal manipulation intervention. BMC Family Practice, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-6-29.

- Fritz, J. M., Childs, J. D., Wainner, R. S., & Flynn, T. W. (2012). Primary care referral of patients with low back pain to physical therapy: Impact on future health care utilization and costs. Spine, 37(25), 2114–2121.

- Haas, M., Vavrek, D., Peterson, D., Polissar, N., & Neradilek, M. B. (2014). Dose-response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for care of chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. The Spine Journal, 14(7), 1106–1116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2013.07.468. 

- Interagency Guideline on Prescribing Opioids for Pain. Agency Medical Directors' Group. (2015, June). http://www.agencymeddirectors.wa.gov/Files/2015AMDGOpioidGuideline.pdf.

- Low Back Pain. AAFP Home. (2017, April). https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/clinical-recommendations/all-clinical-recommendations/back-pain.html.

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information for community education purposes only, and does not take into account your specific comorbidities that your current healthcare provider may be managing. Please contact your care provider with questions regarding anything particular to you.

Join Erin and Michelle as they cover another topic contributing to the pain epidemic in our world - osteoarthritis. In this episode, they will talk about the normal age related changes that occur in all of our joints through the passage of time. These are wrinkles on the inside! While it is true that osteoarthritis can cause pain and limited function, there is no correlation between the severity of what is seen on an x-ray and the symptoms a person experiences. A physical therapist won’t be able to change the arthritis, but they can help you develop an exercise and maintenance program to minimize and manage symptoms. Knowing more about pain, what these wrinkles mean, and how to listen to your body are extremely powerful tools to continue aging gracefully!

References:

- Alentorn-Geli, E., Samuelsson, K., Musahl, V., Green, C. L., Bhandari, M., & Karlsson, J. (2017). The Association of Recreational and Competitive Running With Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 47(6), 373–390. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2017.7137

- Running and Osteoarthritis: Does Recreational or Competitive Running Increase the Risk? (2017). Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 47(6), 391–391. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2017.0505

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information for community education purposes only, and does not take into account your specific comorbidities that your current healthcare provider may be managing. Please contact your care provider with questions regarding anything particular to you.

Join Erin and Michelle as they cover another topic contributing to the pain epidemic in our world - medical imaging. We’ve all likely heard a story of someone having an x-ray or MRI and being told, “you have the spine of a 80 year old” or “this is the worst thing I’ve seen, I can’t believe you’re not in more pain”. This type of language is harmful and can actually impact an individual’s progress and prognosis! Imaging is an important tool in healthcare to prevent and diagnose serious disease or pathology, but it can be overused and used in the wrong situations which can sometimes lead to poorer outcomes for someone. Michelle and Erin want you to be aware of when medical imaging is helpful and when it might not be necessary, so that you can continue to be the best advocate for yourself.

References:

- Brinjikji, W., Luetmer, P. H., Comstock, B., Bresnahan, B. W., Chen, L. E., Deyo, R. A., … Jarvik, J. G. (2015). Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 36(4), 811–816. https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A4173

- Deyle, G. The role of MRI in musculoskeletal practice: a clinical perspective. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy 2011;19(3): 152-161.

- Babineau, E. (2018, August 2). Imaging – Does it actually paint a clearer picture? Motion. https://motion.care/imaging-does-it-actually-paint-a-clearer-picture/.

- Fernandez, E. (2021, April 28). Medical Imaging Rates Continue to Rise Despite Push to Reduce Their Use. Medical Imaging Rates Continue to Rise Despite Push to Reduce Their Use | UC San Francisco. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2019/09/415286/medical-imaging-rates-continue-rise-despite-push-reduce-their-use.

- Flynn, T. W., Smith, B., & Chou, R. Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 2011;41(11): 838-846.

- Jensen M.C., Brant-Zawadzki M.N., Obuchowski N., Modic M.T., Malkasian D., Ross J.S. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back pain. New England Journal of Medicine 1994;331:69–73.

- Radiation Dose in X-Ray and CT Exams. (2019, July 1). Radiologyinfo.org. https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/safety-xray#:~:text=Like%20other%20sources%20of%20background,part%20of%20our%20daily%20living.

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information for community education purposes only, and does not take into account your specific comorbidities that your current healthcare provider may be managing. Please contact your care provider with questions regarding anything particular to you.

Join Erin and Michelle as they take on the tough subject of low back pain. There are a lot of misconceptions about low back pain and quite frankly the US and world has over-medicalized it and spent a lot of money managing it. 80% of us will have low back pain at some point in our lives, so it’s important to know where you can find the right support and have accurate information. This episode will help dispel common low back pain misconceptions and reduce common fears that often come with an episode of pain.

Remember, pain is multifactorial and can be caused by many things - this is pain neuroscience 101. If you have an episode of low back pain, find your trusted PT and get on an individualized plan early. There is not a one size fits all for the treatment of low back pain. When we understand what persistent pain is, learn how to nudge and stay active we see positive change!

References:

- Acute low back pain. (2020, May 11). Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/acute-pain/low-back-pain/index.htm

- Chou, R., Qaseem, A., Owens, D. K., Shekelle, P., & Guidelines, C. (2011). Clinical Guideline Diagnostic Imaging for Low Back Pain : Advice for High-Value Health Care From the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 154(November 2010), 181–190. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-154-3-201102010-00008

- Freburger, J., et al. (2009). The Rising Prevalence of Chronic Low Back Pain. Arch Intern Med, 169(3): 251–258. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2008.543

- Fritz, J. M., Childs, J. D., Wainner, R. S., & Flynn, T. W. (2012). Primary care referral of patients with low back pain to physical therapy: Impact on future health care utilization and costs. Spine, 37(25), 2114–2121.

- Hartvigsen, Jan, Hancock, Mark J., Kongsted, Alice, Louw, Quinette, Ferreira, Manuela L,Genevay, Stéphane, Hoy, Damian, Karppinen, Jaro, Pransky, Glenn, Sieper, Joachim et al. (2018) What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention. The Lancet doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30480-X

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information for community education purposes only, and does not take into account your specific comorbidities that your current healthcare provider may be managing. Please contact your care provider with questions regarding anything particular to you.