In this raw and revealing episode, Lyndsay Soprano opens up about her own lived experience with chronic pain, including CRPS and Lyme disease, and the harsh reality of seeking help in an emergency medical system that often doesn’t know what to do with people like her. The ER isn’t always a place of comfort—it can be cold, dismissive, and downright dangerous when you’re already at your breaking point.
She’s joined by Dr. Jim Keany, an emergency physician who brings honesty and insight to the conversation. Together, they unpack the disconnect between chronic pain patients and emergency care providers, the emotional toll of pain that goes far beyond the physical, and the desperate need for a healthcare system that sees people as whole humans—not just symptoms.
Lyndsay and Dr. Keany discuss the deeper layers of chronic pain—how trauma can amplify it, how isolation can worsen it, and how the system often misses the mark. They touch on the struggles of medication management, the power of journaling, and how tools like hypnosis can actually help. Most of all, they stress the importance of treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. With empathy, advocacy, and even a little hope, healing becomes more possible.
If you've ever felt dismissed, gaslit, or broken by your pain—or by the people meant to help you, this episode is for you.
Find Dr. Jim Keany Online Here:
LinkedIn: Dr. Jim Keany
Find The Pain Game Podcast Online Here:
Website: thepaingamepodcast.com
Instagram: @thepaingamepodcast
Facebook: The Pain Game Podcast
Episode Highlights:
(00:00) Introduction to Chronic Pain and Trauma
(03:04) Emergency Situations and Pain Management
(05:54) The Role of Emergency Medicine in Chronic Pain
(08:48) Understanding Pain: Psychological and Physical Aspects
(12:00) Navigating the Healthcare System
(14:57) Alternative Pain Management Strategies
(17:51) The Importance of Whole Person Care
(21:00) Supporting Loved Ones in Chronic Pain
(23:54) The Role of Journaling in Pain Management
(26:50) Global Perspectives on Pain and Suffering
(30:03) Hope and Future in Pain Management
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