Vinny was a decorated D1 collegiate swimmer at the University of Wyoming, with his eyes set on the big leagues. Eventually, he moved out to California, where a surfing accident changed his life forever. Vinny went from an elite athlete to being disabled in a matter of seconds. What followed was almost four years of frantically searching for answers everywhere he could. After finding no relief, he realized only he would be able to help himself. At 23, Vinny went back to school to learn the basics and try to heal his body. Today, he is pain-free, competing in ultramarathons, and helping others find healing through Pain Academy.

In today's episode, Mathew, Chris, and Vinny discuss their experiences with chronic pain, the solutions they have tried, the inevitable addiction issues, and what finally worked. Understanding the physiology of pain is one part of the equation, but Vinny was only able to find relief when he began to understand the emotional side of pain. He tells us he thinks about treating back pain like anxiety or depression by regulating our internal worlds with thoughts and words. Like many of us, Vinny has had to overcome years of suppressing his emotions and has developed practical tools over the years to help himself and others recover.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The craziest (unsuccessful) treatments the guys tried to find relief from their back pain.


• The impact chronic pain has on our relationships


• The emotional factors contributing to chronic pain


• Mistakes to avoid when you are experiencing pain

Resources Mentioned

• PainAcademy.net 


• Pain Academy Instagram  


• Pain Academy Youtube   


• Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Dr. John E. Sarno 

Thank you for listening!

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