Back in Control with David Hanscom, MD

This episode features part 2 of Dr. David Hanscom’s interview with Dr. Marc Moisi, Chief of Neurosurgery at Detroit Receiving Hospital. Dr. Moisi recalls his training as a resident and later as a spine surgery fellow. He advocates for a more humanistic, mentoring approach to this training. He describes the toll that the “mantra of criticism” and its resulting stress can take on surgical performanc...

This episode features the first of Dr. David Hanscom’s two interviews with Dr. Marc Moisi, Chief of Neurosurgery at Detroit Receiving Hospital.  Dr. Moisi shares the evolution of his views on treating chronic pain. He learned that treating pain effectively requires a multi-dimensional approach involving all the relevant specialties from the outset.  He also talks about the importance of avoiding i...

This episode features part 3 of Dr. David Hanscom's interview with physiatrist Melvin Belsky. Dr. Belsky talks about how many healthcare providers are pursuing unnecessary and ineffective treatments, procedures and surgeries for chronic pain patients who have high ACEs (adverse childhood experience) scores. This is frequently to the patient's detriment. These providers often do not understand the...

This episode features part 2 of Dr. David Hanscom’s interview with pain specialist Dr. Kevin Cuccaro. Dr. Cuccaro discusses the important roles played by the patient-physician relationship and the patient’s beliefs about their pain, in their healing. He also talks about a highly successful new community based model he has developed for patient and clinician education about pain and its treatment,...

This episode features the first of Dr. David Hanscom’s two interviews with pain specialist Dr. Kevin Cuccaro.  Dr. Cuccaro discusses the multi-dimensional nature of pain.  He provides a simple tool that he uses to help patients understand how their brain constructs their experience of pain, and allows them to exercise greater control of their pain. Visit: https://backincontrol.com  for more inform...

This episode features part 2 of Dr. David Hanscom’s interview with orthopedic surgeon and researcher Dr. Ian Harris. Dr. Harris discusses the lack of evidence to support performing spine surgery as a way to relieve back pain. He offers hope that spine surgeons will change the practice of routinely performing risky spine surgeries once they become aware of the scientific data about their ineffectiv...

This episode features the first of Dr. David Hanscom’s two interviews with orthopedic surgeon and researcher Dr. Ian Harris.  Dr. Harris, the author of Surgery, The Ultimate Placebo, discusses his evidence-based approach for evaluating the effectiveness of a variety of surgeries, ranging from arthroscopic knee surgery to spine surgery to the implanting of cardiac stents.  His research shows that m...

This episode features part 2 of Dr. David Hanscom’s interview with social psychologist James Pennebaker, PhD. He discusses the relationship between stress and disease, including the sometimes counter-intuitive effects resulting from stress on the immune system. He also focuses on the impact of early trauma on our long-term health. Visit: https://backincontrol.com  for more information. Learn more...

This episode features the first of Dr. David Hanscom’s two interviews with social psychologist James Pennebaker PhD, one of the pioneers in the study of expressive writing.  He details the evolution of his research on expressive writing, how he came to understand the power of this simple tool, and how it can positively impact our physical and mental health. Visit: https://backincontrol.com  for mo...

This episode features part 2 of Dr. David Hanscom’s interview with physiatrist Melvin Belsky. Dr. Belsky shares his experience working with chronic pain patients who had suffered adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the role these can play in delaying or often preventing a patient’s recovery from chronic pain.  He provides a detailed discussion about what constitutes an adverse childhood exper...

This episode features part 3 of Dr. David Hanscom’s interview with Mark Owens, a renowned photographer, ecologist and best-selling author who underwent major spine surgery and struggled for many years with chronic pain before recovering. In this podcast, he shares his thoughts about his difficulties with the healthcare system, its affect on the quality of his life and the impact on his path to rec...

This podcast episode features part 2 of Dr. David Hanscom’s interview with former patient Mark Owens, a renowned photographer, ecologist and best-selling author. In this podcast, Mark talks about his debilitating, nine-year struggle with chronic pain following spine surgery and his recovery to a fully productive life. He discusses how he employs expressive writing and other self-healing techniques...

The episode features an interview with Mark Owens, a renowned photographer, ecologist and best selling author. In the first of a 3 part series, he talks about his early experiences in Africa and the sudden disruption of his life after a serious accident left him with severe spinal injuries and intense chronic pain. For more informaton, visit: https://backincontrol.com. Mark Owens with wife Delia,...

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is the term used to describe all types of abuse, neglect, and other potentially traumatic experiences that occur to people under the age of 18. The number of types of such experiences determines an individual's ACE score. According to the CDC, adverse childhood experiences have been linked to risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, low life potential...

Spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom holds an annual Omega workshop called "Relief from Chronic Pain." In this episode he, his wife Babs and daughter Jasmine talk about the specific design of the workshop and the experience they have designed to help attendees heal from their chronic pain. Through group discussions, guided imagery, and sensorimotor exercises, individuals learn to address all the factor...

Relentless untreated anxiety is the core driver of destructive human behavior. It is the sensation generated by your body’s stress chemicals in response to a mental or physical threat. We hate feeling anxious and will do anything to solve or avoid this sensation. Untreated anxiety is becoming a major social and health issue. Many people in their late teens, twenties and early thirties are sufferin...

In this second interview with spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom, Melissa Cady, DO, a pain specialist and anesthesiologist, talks about the principles that have shaped her patient-centered approach to treating chronic pain. These help patients leverage their body's capacity to heal. She also discusses some of the factors in our current healthcare system that may be preventing physicians from deliveri...

When she first began treating chronic pain patients, pain specialist and anesthesiologist Melissa Cady quickly realized the traditional approaches being used by her colleagues were, for the most part, ineffective and sometimes harmful. In this interview with spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom, she talks about how she developed a more patient-centered approach with much better results. She also talks...

In part two of the litigation interview series, spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom talks with attorney John Layman about how to move forward with your healing process while you are in the  process of litigation. They share insights on how attorneys and physicians can better help their patients / clients continue on their healing journey during litigation. John is an attorney representing victims of s...

The medical literature contains a number of articles showing an increased risk for a negative outcome when litigation is a factor. In this episode, spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom talks with attorney John Layman about the impact that litigation has on the patient's healing process, their relationship with their physician and healthcare team, and the  quality of their lives overall. John is an atto...

Anger - from chronic pain or some other source - can distort our lives, and isolate us from friends and family. In this episode, spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom interviews Fred Luskin, best-selling author of Forgive for Good, about the tools available to help us forgive, move past our anger and move forward with our lives. For more information, visit: http://www.backincontrol.com/the-4-stages/stag...

People who have suffered from some sort of long term vulnerability - e.g., chronic pain - can become angry and build a "grievance story" to justify holding on to their anger. In this episode, spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom talks with Fred Luskin, best-selling author of Forgive for Good, about this process of victimhood, and its power to shape and distort our lives. For more information, visit: ht...

The relationship between a doctor and patient can be a potent force for healing or a barrier to the patient getting better. In addition to providing treatment for a specific condition, the doctor plays an important role in helping guide the patient to tap into their own healing powers. In this episode, spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom talks with world renowned surgeon Bernie Siegel, best-selling au...

Part of healing chronic pain is deciding to move forward and then choosing the tools that will help redirect your brain's response to pain. This can include mindfulness, visualization, re-engaging with family and friends, play, and more. In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom discusses how nurturing the part of your brain that enjoys life is a learned skill. That is why it is so critical what you choo...

Within each of us is a powerful capacity for self-healing. This is especially true when it comes to our experience of chronic pain. Our brains turn sensory inputs and thoughts into chemical processes that can either diminish or amplify our experience of pain. In this episode, spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom talks with world renowned surgeon Bernie Siegel, best-selling author of Love, Medicine & Mi...