Dr. Sanjay Gupta discussed evidence-based strategies for managing chronic pain and promoting wellness at the 2026 New Orleans Book Festival [1].
The conversation addresses a critical public health challenge, as chronic pain often resists standard treatment and significantly diminishes quality of life for millions.
Speaking during a C-SPAN "After Words" session at Tulane University, Gupta said insights from his new book on the subject [1]. The neurosurgeon, who has practiced for 25 years [2], focused on how to prevent and manage long-term pain through scientific approaches [1].
Gupta noted the inherent difficulty in treating the condition because of its subjective nature. He said that pain is "nearly impossible to measure, quantify, convey" and described it as a "truly mysterious human sensation" [3].
During the session, Gupta highlighted the prevalence of these issues in clinical practice. "Most of my patients come to me for pain. Head pain, back …" he said [4].
The discussion also touched upon the severe impact chronic pain has on individuals. Ed Mowery described a state of constant suffering that was "24/7, 365," likening the sensation to "lightning bolt razor snakes in my legs and nerve pain in my arms" [5].
Gupta's appearance in New Orleans serves as a platform to move the conversation toward wellness and proactive prevention. By combining his experience as a medical journalist and a surgeon, he aims to provide a framework for patients to better communicate their experiences to providers [1].
“"Most of my patients come to me for pain."”
The focus on evidence-based wellness strategies reflects a broader shift in medicine away from purely pharmacological interventions toward multidisciplinary pain management. By emphasizing the difficulty of quantifying pain, Gupta highlights the need for better diagnostic tools and a more nuanced patient-provider dialogue to treat chronic conditions effectively.
