Michael Porter Jr., Chronic Pain, and the Question Everyone Is Asking

In this solo episode, I’m responding to the flood of questions that came in after a viral Instagram reel shared the story of my work with NBA player Michael Porter Jr. Michael’s recovery is extraordinary, but this episode is not just about Michael. It’s about the question his story awakens in so many people: How can someone have a very real diagnosis, very real imaging, very real pain, and still recover when they begin to understand the brain, the nervous system, and the mind-body connection? After three back surgeries, ongoing pain, and a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease, Michael reached out to me because he was willing to consider that there might be another explanation for what was happening in his body. That willingness changed everything. Today, I’m breaking down the larger teaching behind his story through the three legs of the stool in my work: believe, do the work, and patience and kindness for yourself. I explain why chronic pain is not “in your head,” but why the solution is not in the body, even when there are findings on an MRI, blood work, gut testing, or a scary diagnosis on paper. I talk about degenerative disc disease, back pain, migraines, IBS, autoimmune symptoms, long COVID, pelvic pain, inflammation, neuropathy, and the way the nervous system can keep us safe in the unsafest way. Most importantly, I want you to understand this: your pain is real, your symptoms are real, and your body is not broken. When you understand what sustained fight-or-flight is doing, when you learn how to lower the emotional reservoir through JournalSpeak, and when you begin treating yourself with real self-compassion, healing becomes possible in a way many people have never been told to consider. Join us! xoox n.