Full paper: https://t.co/RPii92gnZz

•Some inflammation markers seem more tied to physical pain, while others are linked to fear and emotional distress. This helps researchers better understand chronic pain and may guide future treatments.

•The study suggests that inflammation may play a role in both how much pain teens feel and how pain affects their mood and behavior.

•These inflammation markers did not fully explain why depression leads to trouble with daily activities, but they were still closely related.

•Higher levels of IL-6 were linked to more pain, more stress, and more trouble with daily activities. •Another marker, IL-1β, was linked to feeling more depressed, more worried about pain, and more fear of movement.

What they found: •Teens with chronic pain had higher levels of one inflammation marker called IL-6.

Researchers studied teens with chronic pain and teens without pain. They measured substances in the blood called cytokines, which are part of the body’s inflammation response. They also asked teens about pain, mood, stress, and how much pain affected daily life.

Many teens with chronic pain also feel depressed or stressed. This study looked at whether inflammation in the body might help explain why.

One session. Months of reported improvement. Stanford researchers studied Empowered Relief, a 1-session pain relief skills class, in people with Marfan Syndrome—with promising results. https://t.co/EcBAq3HA99 @BethDarnall @MarfanFdn

Dr. Theresa Lii is studying how ketamine can “reprogram” the brain’s pain pathways for patients whose chronic pain hasn’t responded to other treatments. Her work is helping uncover who benefits most and how relief can last. Read more: https://t.co/RKjDVeQBkb

“I hope this treatment comes out soon, because propofol is powerfully beneficial,” Brunemeier says. “There are people that are suffering terribly who can benefit.”

Though the dreams can feel otherworldly, the purpose of Dr. Chow’s research is therapeutic: to investigate whether anesthesia-induced dreams can aid in healing anxiety, trauma, or depression. Brunemeier also sees the potential beyond his own experience.

For Brunemeier, it wasn’t just a scientific curiosity but a transcendent moment that strengthened his faith.

A physicist with a deep spiritual life, he sees the dream as confirmation of a profound truth: healing can come through metaphysical experiences beyond our understanding.

When he awoke, the feeling stayed with him. “It was infinite joy,” he said. “A picture that God wanted me to have.”

In this reverie, he was driving through brilliant golden fields under a glowing sky, filled with an overwhelming sense of delight and peace.

When Stanford patient Paul Brunemeier underwent shoulder surgery, he agreed to take part in Dr. Harrison Chow’s study exploring anesthesia-induced dreams. He didn’t expect to remember anything, until he found himself in a vivid dream unlike any he’d ever had.

The key message: anesthesia is carefully tailored to you, and your team is focused on keeping you safe and comfortable throughout the process.

Right after anesthesia: Patients often wake up feeling groggy or disoriented, sometimes with mild nausea or a sore throat if a breathing tube was used. Your care team monitors you closely and manages any discomfort, helping you transition safely to recovery.

Before: You may feel a mix of nerves and excitement. Stanford’s Dr. Kelly Fedoruk emphasizes that this is normal—your anesthesia team will be there to guide you, answer questions, and ensure you feel safe/comfortable. Some feel drowsy or relaxed as the medication takes effect.