Research shows most chronic neck & back pain is non-structural or nociplastic pain
A recent 2023 study authored by Dr. Howard Schubiner in the Journal of Pain assessed 222 chronic low back and neck pain patients in a primary care clinic. A physician was trained to diagnose for structural…
Stress is a neglected cause of health complaints
The role of mental and emotional stress in medicine has been by and large neglected and un-diagnosed as a primary cause of somatic symptoms and health illness in the body. Most primary health practitioners…
Not knowing what you’re feeling Emotionally can manifest Physically
There's been more and more research emerging on the role of what's called alexithymia and it's role in health complaints in the body. Alexithymia literally means “lack of words for emotions” or is…
Anxiety, Worry, & Somatic Symptoms
There is a bi-directional relationship between anxiety, worry, and functional somatic symptoms (FSS). This 2021 study concluded that:
Previous studies have shown that anxiety and FSS are associated…
Prevalence of chronic back and neck pain- Plus LIVE Q&A Today Dec. 10th!
The worldwide prevalence of back and neck pain is may be higher than you think- It has been found that upwards of 80 percent of all people experience back pain at some point in their lives and almost 25…
Neuroimaging of the Brain in Somatoform Disorders
I posted a few weeks back the prevalence rates of somatization or what's called somatoform disorders is much higher than most know- upwards of 40% seen in general practice. Somatoform disorders comprise…
‘This Might Hurt’ Screening Plus Live Q&A Session
I’m excited to offer and to invite you to a limited time free screening of the documentary feature film This Might Hurt! The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with Jim and film producer Kent…
Stress and its Relationship to Autoimmune Conditions
I get a fair amount of people asking me if stress can cause or contribute to autoimmune conditions. The short answer is yes. This study completed in 2018 found 'that exposure to a stress-related disorder…
Somatization is quite common & should not be overlooked
Somatization is defined as the production of medical symptoms with no discernable organic cause. Another way to describe it is the tendency to experience psychological distress in the form of somatic symptoms…
What A Korean Disorder Can Teach Us About Anger & Somatic Symptoms
Hwabyung is probably not a diagnosis you have ever heard of. In Korea though, it is diagnosable and seen as a valid medical and mental health condition. According to this research paper "the term Hwabyung…
