The repetitive grind and acute trauma endured by professional athletes often leads to chronic pain and a number of surgeries over the course of an athletic career. How is the practice of pain medicine evolving to minimize the effects of chronic pain for these athletes, and, in particular, what are the opportunities for innovation in delivering long-term results through minimally invasive, non-addictive, and safe methods of pain treatment?
In this episode, host Shravani Durbhakula, MD, is joined by John Michels, MD, a former first-round NFL draft choice and Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers who turned to interventional pain medicine after an injury ended his football career.
Tune in to discover:
- The difference in the approach to care between a traditional clinical patient and a patient who is a professional athlete
- How stress levels and the pressures of performance affect these patients and their proneness to pain and injury
- How noninvasive and alternative medicine practices are increasingly used to reduce inflammation and reduce risks of injury to help players function through constant pain
About the American Academy of Pain Medicine
Founded in 1983 as the American Academy of Algology, the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) has evolved as the primary organization for physicians practicing the specialty of pain medicine in the United States. AAPM is dedicated to advancing multidisciplinary pain care, innovation, education, advocacy, and research to improve the understanding and practice of pain medicine.