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Clinical Misfits: Why Is Chronic Pain So Common in Neurodivergent People?
Season 9, Ep. 8
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Why does pain sometimes continue long after an injury has healed — and why can chronic pain be such a significant part of neurodivergent life?
In this episode of Clinical Misfits, Dr Mary explores chronic pain and its relationship with the neurodivergent nervous system. She breaks down different types of pain, from superficial and deep pain to visceral and nerve pain, and considers the role of interoception and the autonomic nervous system in how pain is experienced and processed.
Dr Mary also explores why pain can persist after the original injury has healed, and how ongoing autonomic dysregulation might contribute to a much wider collection of symptoms. Drawing on her experience as a neurologist, she then discusses approaches to managing chronic pain, with a particular focus on her clinical experience using buprenorphine.
Alongside medication, Dr Mary looks at other approaches to pain management and nervous-system regulation, including physical and occupational therapy, movement, massage, meditation and other non-pharmacological options — while considering what it means to treat chronic pain as a genuine neurological experience rather than something a person should simply be able to push through.
Produced for the Autistic Culture Podcast Network.
🎧 Clinical Misfits is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com
🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcastnetwork.com
📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast
🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.
🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.
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