Rachel Zoffness explores chronic pain and biopsychosocial factors in new book

4 articles · Updated · Scientific American · Apr 17

In Tell Me Where It Hurts, Zoffness highlights that 24% of U.S. adults experienced chronic pain in 2023 and notes only 4% of U.S. medical schools offer dedicated pain education.
She emphasizes that pain is shaped by biological, psychological, and social factors, and critiques the medical field’s focus on the biomedical model while overlooking lifestyle, trauma, and emotional health.
Zoffness aims to destigmatize chronic pain by explaining its neuroscience and advocating for a holistic approach, illustrating her points with case studies and discussing the evolutionary role of pain.

If 96% of US medical schools fail to teach pain science, how can doctors be retrained?

If loneliness is a key driver of chronic pain, can 'social prescriptions' be the new medicine?

With VR and brain-computer interfaces available, is technology the new frontier for conquering pain?

Can the 'pain is brain-made' model risk dismissing patients with clear biological injuries?

As pain costs the U.S. $635 billion annually, will new non-opioid policies actually work?

Beyond pills, are your diet, sleep, and social life the real keys to pain relief?