Drs' Notes: How can we manage chronic pain?

Chris and Xand van Tulleken continue their conversation with Dr Cathy Stannard, clinical lead of the pain transformation programme at NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board and the clinical lead for the NICE guideline on chronic pain.

Together, they take a closer look at chronic pain, exploring what happens when pain persists beyond the original injury.

The conversation also explores how chronic pain is treated. They discuss why medical treatments that work well for acute pain may be less effective for chronic pain and the evidence for approaches such as psychological therapies and social support. They also tackle some of the misconceptions surrounding pain.

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk

Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken

Guest: Dr Cathy Stannard

Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis

Researcher: Grace Revill

Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar

Editor: Jo Rowntree

Visual Producer: Leon Gower

Technical Lead: Reuben Huxtable

Digital Lead: Richard Berry

Composer: Phoebe McFarlane

Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby

At the BBC:

Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith

Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.