Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the well-known neurosurgeon and medical journalist, is urging a major shift in how we view and treat chronic pain. In his new work, he highlights the need to move beyond medication-based solutions and instead embrace approaches that focus on the brain’s role in shaping how we feel and process pain.
Pain Is Rooted in the Brain
Gupta emphasizes that pain is not simply the result of physical damage—it is created and interpreted by the brain. Drawing on personal experiences, including caring for his mother after a devastating spinal injury, he explains how pain can dominate not just an individual’s life but also affect families and relationships.
He argues for a biopsychosocial model of pain, one that considers emotional, psychological, and social factors alongside physical symptoms. According to him, dismissing pain as “all in someone’s head” is a harmful misunderstanding. Instead, recognizing pain as a complex brain-centered experience is the key to more effective care.
Alternatives Beyond Pills
Gupta points to research showing that holistic methods can be as powerful as medication. Mindfulness meditation, for example, has been found to reduce pain levels as effectively as common opioid doses by stimulating the brain’s own natural pain-relief systems. Other practices such as foam rolling, acupuncture, and even something as simple as holding a loved one’s hand have measurable effects on reducing pain perception.
These approaches, once dismissed as alternative or unscientific, are now backed by growing medical evidence. They offer hope for millions who want to avoid the risks of long-term medication use, especially opioids.
Putting Patients First
One of Gupta’s strongest messages is the importance of listening to patients. Many conditions, like fibromyalgia or irritable bowel syndrome, cause real suffering even when no clear physical cause appears on scans. By trusting patients’ experiences and acknowledging pain as deeply personal, doctors can offer more compassionate and effective treatment.
A Path Toward Healing
With over 50 million Americans living with chronic pain, Gupta believes it’s time to reframe how we respond. By embracing brain-based and holistic strategies, he hopes to empower people to take control of their healing journey—reducing reliance on medication and focusing instead on resilience, empathy, and the body’s natural ability to relieve pain.
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