“Treatment of the part should never be attempted without the treatment of the whole. That is the error of our ways, the separation of the body from the soul.”

— Aristotle

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*A transcription of this episode can be found at the bottom of this page

This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed do not constitute medical advice and are general in nature. You should obtain specific advice from a qualified health professional before acting on any information within this podcast.

A Life-Changing Moment

On June 23, 2006, Anjelo's life changed forever in an instant of mistaken identity. While watching TV in his East London share house, a Molotov cocktail was thrown through his window in what would later be revealed as gang-related violence targeting the wrong house. Using his hands to protect his face, Anjelo managed to deflect the burning projectile, but not before suffering severe burns when the petrol showered over him.

The immediate aftermath involved a week in an acute burn unit, followed by six months of outpatient treatment three times a week, including skin grafts and morphine injections. But this traumatic event would become more than just a painful memory - it would transform Anjelo's understanding of pain management and shape his approach to treating others.

From Clinician to Patient

Prior to the incident, Anjelo was already working in pain management, having developed an early interest in why two people with similar injuries could have vastly different outcomes. This professional background, combined with his subsequent personal journey through chronic pain, would offer unique insights that few healthcare providers possess - the lived experience of chronic pain combined with clinical expertise.

The Challenge of Invisible Pain

One of the most significant challenges Anjelo faced was the transition from having visible injuries with bandages to dealing with ongoing pain that others couldn't see. People would just say, “Oh, you look all right, you look normal'" he recalls. This experience highlighted the common struggle many chronic pain sufferers face: the invisibility of their condition and the subsequent feeling of invalidation from both healthcare providers and society at large.

Living Proof of Possibility

When specialists told Anjelo he would never be able to do high-altitude trekking due to his injuries and a previous lung collapse, he didn't accept that limitation. Instead of letting their prognosis define his future, he set his sights on his childhood dream: trekking in the Himalayas.

Four years after his injury, he successfully completed a trek to Everest Base Camp, demonstrating that while health professionals should be realistic about capabilities, they should never put absolute ceilings on patients' goals and aspirations.

"I'm a really firm believer as a therapist that we should never put ceilings on people's goals and aspirations," Anjelo reflects, his own journey serving as living proof of this philosophy.

Key Insights for Pain Management

Throughout the interview, Anjelo emphasizes several crucial points about pain management:

The inseparability of mind and body in pain treatment
The importance of empowerment and taking control of one's pain management journey
The value of setting meaningful, personal goals
The necessity of treating the whole person, not just the injury
The role of lifestyle interventions such as sleep, diet, and stress management

Hope and Control

For those currently struggling with chronic pain, Anjelo offers powerful advice: "You have to take back control”. He emphasises that while a cure for pain is possible, the focus should be on living a fulfilling life despite the pain.

The episode concludes with a reminder that while the path through chronic pain can be challenging, no one has to walk it alone. Success in pain treatment does not always look like eliminating pain entirely but expanding life around pain. As both a healthcare provider and someone who has navigated this journey, Anjelo's story offers hope and practical wisdom for anyone dealing with chronic pain.

Both Sides of chronic Pain: A Physiotherapist's Journey Through Chronic Pain