Unlocking the Secrets of Pain Management: An Insightful Conversation with Dr. Debbie Sumner
You ever wake up and something hurts—but you’ve got no clue why? You didn’t pull anything. You didn’t overdo it. But somehow, your body feels like it’s waving a red flag… and you have no idea what it’s trying to say.
So you do what most of us do—you rest, maybe take a prescription, hope it passes. But it doesn’t. And suddenly you’re in this cycle: you’re in too much pain to move, but you need to move to feel better. It’s like being stuck on a hamster wheel your body built without your permission.
That’s where today’s conversation starts.
I’m talking with Dr. Debbie Summer—someone I’ve known for years, but only recently reconnected with after she started sharing her work in Pain Reprocessing Therapy, or PRT. She’s a traditionally trained medical doctor who took a sharp left turn—getting certified in Reiki and diving deep into the mind-body connection.
And listen, I get the skepticism. I felt it too. But I also know what it’s like to ignore pain until it becomes unbearable. After my first hip replacement, I learned the hard way that pain isn’t always about damage—it’s often about perception.
In this episode, we explore how your brain might be holding the key to the pain you’ve been living with. This isn’t about abandoning traditional medicine. It’s about expanding your toolkit—especially if chronic pain, migraines or autoimmune issues have you feeling stuck.
Let’s get into it.
About Debbie
As a certified Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) practitioner and Reiki master, Debbie helps people heal their chronic pain and other conditions without surgical or pharmacological intervention. she has been practicing Reiki since May 2019, after retiring from a 18+ year career as a General Pediatrician at Grady Health System.
Debbie is passionate about evidence-based mind-body medicine, and studied and applied various techniques and modalities to enhance the well-being of herself and her clients. She received her Pain Reprocessing Therapy certification in 2023. Some of the benefits of Debbie’s services include reducing stress, improving sleep, increasing energy, and promoting healing. Her mission is to empower people to take charge of their own health and happiness through natural and holistic methods.
NOTE: None of this is meant to be medical advice and this show doesn’t constitute a provider-patient relationship.
Major Topics Covered
Reiki is a therapeutic touch that promotes healing and wellness. Pain reprocessing therapy offers a new perspective on pain management.
Chronic pain can be influenced by emotional and psychological factors. The pain is real, but it originates in the brain's response.
Degenerative conditions do not always correlate with pain levels.
Alternative medicine can complement traditional Western medicine. Skepticism towards alternative therapies can be healthy but should be balanced with openness.
Understanding the mind-body connection can enhance healing.
There are many free resources available for pain management techniques.
Expectations for therapy should be realistic; it's not a one-time fix.
Quick Takeaways
Debbie: [When talking about the future of pain management] There’s a YouTube video just recently that came out and it's called Pain Science Paradigm Shift. And one of the experts on there said like, she feels like one day we're gonna look back at the way we were treating pain with all these pills and surgery as like equivalent to leeches that, you the way they use leeches to do whatever, the things they do with leeches.
Jill: Chronic stress, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and unprocessed “minor T” traumas are often underlying contributors to autoimmune flares and inflammation. PRT may not “cure” autoimmune diseases, but it can reduce symptom intensity and frequency by helping the brain downregulate the nervous system’s response to stress and discomfort.
Learning to calm the brain and body—through PRT, Reiki, or similar modalities—can break the inflammation-pain cycle. Even if you only improve 30% of your symptoms, it’s still a huge win in managing chronic autoimmune conditions. For people dealing with menopause symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog, and chronic discomfort, PRT may offer a path to relief, not just coping.
“My favorite part of medicine was my relationship with my patients, but I really didn't like the medicine. And then I developed my own chronic pain journey. And I never wanted to be my own doctor, so I didn't want to be defined by my pain.” — Debbie Sumner, MD
Resources Mentioned During the Show
Dan Buglio’s Pain Free Podcast episode
Nicole Sachs and her “BreakAwake” course
Dr. Becca Kennedy talking about treating Long Covid
David Clarke and the Pain Science Paradigm Shift
Curable — Access to their app and podcast
Article from the NYT on chronic pain (this is paywalled) and Debbie’s letter to the editor
Ways to Connect with Debbie
Reach out via email
Ways to Connect with Go Long
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Schedule a complimentary consultation
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Go Long recommends listening to the entire podcast for context, but knows you are all busy people so below you will see timestamps. This episode is also available on YouTube.
Looking for an accountability partner who isn’t going to judge whatever the habit is that you are trying to change?
Timestamps
00:00: Introduction to Debbie and her Journey of Healing
02:46: Exploring Reiki and Its Benefits
05:59: Understanding Chronic Pain and Its Triggers, Including Relationship to Autoimmune Diseases
09:06: Pain Reprocessing Therapy Explained
11:58: Navigating Degenerative Conditions and Pain Management
14:59: The Intersection of Alternative and Western Medicine
18:02: Journaling as a Therapeutic Tool
21:04: Addressing Autoimmune Conditions and Stress Management
23:08: Navigating the Perception of Taking a Step Back
24:24: Integrating Western Medicine with Alternative Treatments
25:51: Debunking Myths Around Pain Reprocessing Therapy and Reiki
28:30: Skepticism and Open-Mindedness in Alternative Therapies
29:29: Addressing Specific Conditions: PCOS and Menopause
30:50: Setting Expectations for Pain Reprocessing Therapy
31:53: Certification and Credibility in Alternative Practices
33:49: The Future of Pain Management
37:39: Resources and Advocacy for Pain Management
[NOTE: There are multiple uses of the phrase ‘woo woo’ in this discussion. Given that I am the least ‘woo woo’ person out there, this may come as a shock to those who know me well. But I’m here to tell you that I’m doing ok. 😂🤷🏻♀️🤪]
