Dr. Andrea Furlan on groundbreaking new treatments for chronic pain

Behind the Breakthrough

We all have a pain system that sets off alarm bells when something is wrong. But what happens when those bells won’t stop ringing? How do you treat a malfunctioning pain system – also known as chronic pain – without automatically resorting to opioids? These are the questions that Dr. Andrea Furlan has dedicated her career to answering since her early days of medical school in São Paulo, Brazil.

Dr. Furlan’s work centers around rewriting the narrative surrounding the treatment of chronic pain. Using what she refers to as the five M’s – movement, mind-body therapy, manual therapies, modalities and medication – she explores the notion of deprescribing opioids and alternative treatments. More than that, she brings joy back to her patients’ lives. Her commitment to accessibility and teaching, including physician education and a YouTube channel with over 400,000 subscribers, is part of her mission to demystify treating chronic pain, day-by-day.