Dr. Furlan is a pain specialist in Toronto, Canada. She is a physiatrist (specialist in Physical Medicine and rehabilitation) who holds a medical degree from the University of Sao Paulo and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. She has 30 years of experience helping people with chronic pain improve their quality of life.
In the video, Dr. Andrea Furlan explains the distinction between acute and chronic pain. Acute pain serves as a symptom of a condition, whereas chronic pain constitutes the condition itself. Certain interventions effective for acute pain may not be as effective for chronic pain.
In this video, Doctor Furlan explains that the brain is capable of interpreting some sensations as painful when they are not causing harm or injury. This phenomenon is similar to optical or auditory illusions. Some examples of painful illusions are phantom limb pain, allodynia, and hyperalgesia.
Most doctors don’t know that fibromyalgia pain originates in the fascia. Myofascial inflammation and pathologic levels of muscle tension trigger the central sensitization and immune system problems seen in fibromyalgia. Fascia-directed therapies are key to finding effective pain relief.
