95. Pain Care Redefined: Non-Drug Therapies for Pain Relief with Heather Tick, MD

Dr. Heather Tick, a leading expert in integrative pain management, discusses non-drug therapies for pain relief, emphasizing the principles of integrative medicine. She advocates for holistic approaches that address overall well-being, incorporating education, nutrition, movement like yoga and Tai Chi, sleep, and psychosocial support. Dr. Tick highlights the role of nutrition, recommending a whole-food, plant-based diet to reduce chronic pain and inflammation. She also emphasizes the importance of understanding pain neuroscience and the impact of habits on movement. Various non-drug modalities such as acupuncture, manual therapies, heat, and cold treatments, are explored as effective pain relief options. She addresses the role of mast cells in the stress response and the importance of managing diet to reduce their activation. Additionally, Dr. Tick touches on the potential of laser therapy and regenerative medicine but cautions about proceeding carefully. Her focus is on evidence-based, safe, and non-pharmacological strategies for comprehensive pain care, advising against the overprescription of medications while suggesting the cautious use of supplements.