Pain
Descartes' dream argument remains unsolved after 400 years
Today marks the 400-year anniversary of three dreams that French philosopher René Descartes had, sparking the idea that life could, in fact, be a dream. University of Otago Philosophy Professor… Audio
Student schoolbags cause excessive pressure on young spines
New research by world-leading spinal surgeon Dr Ken Hansraj shows that heavy and overcrowded schoolbags are causing serious danger to children's growing spines. Audio
Back pain should be managed like the common cold
Monash University professor Rachelle Buchbinder has spent decades trying to stop doctors from making bad backs worse. She explains why most people should be treating their back pain like the common… Audio
Gabrielle Jackson - pain and prejudice in women's health
Guardian Journalist, Gabrielle Jackson's book Pain and Prejudice had its catalyst in her writing about her own experience with endometriosis. Her article 'I'm not a hypochondriac. I have a disease… Audio
Understanding chronic pain
We all know what pain means to us specifically - but what actually is it and how can we deal with? Audio
Managing pain through breathing
Chronic pain has become a new epidemic and the man who treats elite athletes and even Elton John when they're suffering has a message; pain is in your brain. Audio
Life with chronic pain
There are calls for New Zealand to have a national pain strategy. A report for the Faculty of Pain Medicine in the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists says we have just 22 full-time… Audio
Our Changing World for 20 December 2018
Salps are a little known but important part of the ocean's plankton, and self-experimenting with the painful stinging nettle, ongaonga. Audio
How effective is cannabis as a medicine?
The debate around medicinal cannabis is passionate, with both sides probably guilty of exaggerating both the dangers and benefits of the drug. So how effective IS cannabis as a pain reliever… Audio
Dr Hem Devan: dealing with chronic pain
A review published in the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, features the work of NZ medical professionals and researchers, exploring how patients with chronic pain can… Audio
Medicinal Cannabis Gives 'False Hope'
A leading pain specialist is warning medicinal cannabis gives ''false hope'' for chronic pain relief. Professor Milton Cohen is a specialist pain medicine physician based in Sydney, and he says… Audio
Healing with the mind
John Dunbar is an orthopaedic surgeon in Dunedin who - despite his initial misgivings over whether the mind can play a part in feeling well again - has seen first hand how much 'training the brain'… Audio
How to manage and prevent migraines and chronic headaches
Stanford University headache expert Robert Cowan with advice for those who experience chronic headaches. It's a problem that afflicts millions of people worldwide. Dr Cowan is the founding director of… Video, Audio
Thinking through pain
The neuropsychology of pain - Katharine Baker is a doctor of psychology candidate from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences at Monash University. She is working on developing… Audio
Guayule: new rubber source
Cade Metz of Wired on the rush to develop alternative rubber sources, and the interest in the shrub guayule. Audio
Science: pain relief and invisibility cloaks
Dr Chris Smith of the Naked Scientists on invisibility cloaks, new approaches to pain relief and combatting Alzheimer's disease. Audio
Science: Pain gene and better robots
Science news with Dr Chris Smith of The Naked Scientists. A gene for pain is discovered, and a robot that can adapt to injury and even walk with a limp! Audio
Unravelling the mystery of chronic pain
Elliot Krane is a Pediatrician and Anesthesiologist and the Chief of Pain Management Service at Packard Children's Hospital at the Stanford School of Medicine. Audio
Switching off pain
We explore new research that claims scientists have found a new way to 'switch off' pain. That's everything from a headache to chronic pain. It could help the development of non-addictive drugs. Paul… Audio
How the health system can best deal with musculoskeletal pain
Musculoskeletal pain was estimated in 2012 to cost the country more than $5.5 billion a year and sends as many as 15% of New Zealanders to the GP each year. It's also responsible for a major chunk of… Audio
