Understanding Myofascial Pain, Trigger Points, and Referred Pain with Neurologist Dr. Hannah Park

Episode Details:Many surgeons and proceduralists live with chronic neck, shoulder, jaw, or headache pain without realizing that the true source may lie elsewhere.In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Hannah Park, fellowship-trained headache neurologist and founder of Park Your Headache, to explore the fascinating world of myofascial pain. Hannah shares her deeply personal journey from aspiring concert pianist whose career was ended by repetitive strain injuries to becoming a physician dedicated to helping others with chronic pain.Together, we discuss why so many healthcare professionals struggle to obtain an accurate diagnosis, why imaging is often normal despite severe symptoms, and how understanding trigger points, referred pain, and muscle compensation patterns can transform treatment.Whether you're a surgeon, proceduralist or anyone living with persistent muscle pain, this conversation will help you better understand your body, and why effective treatment often requires looking beyond where it hurts.In this episode, you'll learn:• Why myofascial pain is frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed• How repetitive strain and sustained postures create chronic muscle dysfunction• Why trigger points can produce pain far away from their actual location• The relationship between headaches, neck pain, jaw pain, and trapezius muscle dysfunction• Why normal imaging doesn't rule out significant pain• The importance of finding clinicians with specialized expertise in headache medicine and myofascial pain• How injection therapies fit into a comprehensive treatment approach• Why chronic pain develops over years—and why recovery also requires patience• The surprising similarities between musicians, surgeons, and other high-performance professionalsResources Learn more about Dr. Hannah Park:Website: www.parkyourheadachenj.com LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-l-park-m-d-b555b729bFollow Surgical Ergonomics on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube please reach out to us if you have any suggestions regarding episode ideas and guests or if you'd like to be a guest on the podcastIf you found this episode valuable, please share it with a colleague or your perioperative team to help bring greater awareness to the role of ergonomics in career longevity. If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be grateful if you left a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your reviews help others discover the show and support our mission of improving the health and longevity of surgeons and proceduralists worldwide.