Seeking relief from chronic pain

Veterinarian Dr. Troy Hudnall faced a sharp pain and a snapping sound during a calf delivery in 2022, leading to herniated discs and a pinched nerve in his neck. The injuries caused numbness and severe muscle loss in his right hand, making it difficult for him to perform simple tasks. Multiple surgeries couldn't fully alleviate the pain, which eventually became so intense that Hudnall considered amputating his own arm.

The chronic pain persisted for three years, forcing him to stop working and rely on daily pain medication, including opioids. Pain specialist Dr. Lara Crock stated that chronic pain affects about one in four American adults, with most still suffering a year later. At the Washington University School of Medicine Pain Center in St. Louis, patients undergo various treatments, such as medications, injections, and procedures, but there is no complete understanding of why some people with the same injury continue to feel pain while others heal.

The exact cause of persistent pain in the brain remains unknown. Pain is caused by electrical signals traveling up nerves to the brain, but in some cases, the signal continues even after the injury has healed. Researchers are exploring new non-opioid medications to block pain signals in nerve cells and using biofeedback to train patients to increase certain brain waves that ease pain.

Pain psychologist Sarah Buday conducts hypnosis sessions with Hudnall, aiming to teach him the skill of self-hypnosis to retrain his brain and reduce chronic pain. Despite the ongoing pain, Hudnall remains optimistic, and Buday believes he is already showing improvement.