Dr. med. Dipl. Psych. Simone Heymann is an outstanding expert in pain medicine and neurosurgery. With her unique combination of medical and psychological expertise, she pursues a holistic approach to treating acute and chronic pain. Since 2010, she has headed the state-of-the-art and well-established Practice for Neurosurgery and Pain Therapy in Rothrist, where she cares for patients using innovative and interdisciplinary methods at the highest medical level.
What particularly distinguishes Dr. Heymann is her holistic view of the patient. Thanks to her solid education in both neurosurgery and psychology, she overcomes rigid boundaries between disciplines and considers factors in her diagnoses that are often overlooked. This enables her to treat even complex pain syndromes in a targeted manner and to achieve remarkable therapeutic success. Dr. Heymann offers comprehensive pain therapy for a wide range of conditions. She treats the full spectrum of spinal diseases, pain syndromes, nerve disorders, and psychological conditions.
In her practice, Dr. Heymann employs the latest methods of multimodal pain therapy. This includes highly intensive, interdisciplinary treatment strategies that combine classical medicine with alternative and complementary medicine as well as psychological support. Through close cooperation with colleagues from various medical disciplines, she ensures optimal and individually tailored therapy for each patient. Dr. Heymann places great importance on continuous professional development and evidence-based medicine. Her practice works according to international standards and strictly follows the guidelines of the Medical Center for Quality in Medicine.
She is also a member of renowned professional societies, including the German Spine Society, the German Society for Neurosurgery, the German Society for Pain Medicine, the Swiss Society for Interventional Pain Management, the International Association for the Study of Pain, and the Federation of Swiss Psychologists. Dr. Heymann knows that successful pain therapy goes far beyond medical treatment. She values a trusting relationship with her patients, because only in an environment of safety and openness can sustainable healing occur. With her empathy and many years of experience, she offers her patients optimal care – always with the goal of restoring a good quality of life.
The editorial team of Leading Medicine Guide had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Heymann about the holistic approach to pain patients.
Pain is a complex and often distressing phenomenon that can significantly impair quality of life. It occurs in many forms, from acute discomfort to chronic pain syndromes that accompany sufferers for years. Pain patients face not only physical challenges but often also psychological and social burdens. Successful treatment therefore requires a holistic approach that goes beyond merely addressing symptoms. Modern pain therapy relies on interdisciplinary methods that combine medical, psychological, and alternative approaches to meet the individual needs of patients.
Pain can arise from a variety of causes that go far beyond acute injuries or traumatic events.
“Pain is triggered by mechanical, thermal, chemical, or electrical stimuli. When tissue is damaged by these stimuli, it releases signaling substances that bind to special free nerve endings—so-called pain receptors—in the body and then release pain messengers. These are transmitted via electrical signals to the brain. In the brain, the pain signals are processed: the pain is perceived and its origin identified. Thoughts can also trigger a direct physical reaction: high arousal of our nervous system, e.g., through stress, anxiety, or negative thoughts, can cause pain conditions—this is called a somatoform pain disorder. Pain is a warning signal from the body and indicates that something is wrong. That’s why it must be taken seriously—it points to danger, illness, or overexertion. Every person perceives pain differently, which is influenced by their psyche. Pain can be categorized in various ways, depending on how it arises. Nociceptive pain results from tissue damage due to external causes such as inflammation or tumors—for example, wound or tooth pain. Neuropathic pain arises from a dysfunction of peripheral or central nerve fibers, e.g., in polyneuropathy. Reflexive pain occurs due to misregulations or poor posture in the body, such as back pain. Finally, visceral pain originates in the internal organs—these are assigned by the brain to specific skin or muscle areas, e.g., chest pain during a heart attack. It is important to emphasize that pain is not the enemy, but rather a warning signal—a sign that something is not right,” explains Dr. Heymann at the beginning of our conversation.
Acute and chronic pain differ in several important aspects, especially regarding their duration, causes, and the approach to diagnosis and treatment.
“Acute pain occurs suddenly and is limited in time. It lasts seconds to a few weeks at most and is linked to recognizable triggers. It is the result of tissue damage from injuries, e.g., sprains, bone fractures, or burns. Chronic pain recurs over a long period—lasting at least more than three months. It can be the result of a long-term illness (e.g., rheumatism, circulatory disorders) or develop when acute pain is not treated effectively and thus becomes chronic over time: a hypersensitivity to pain develops in the transmitting nerve cells—this is the so-called pain memory. Even mild stimuli, such as gentle touch, heat, or pressure, are then perceived as intense pain, although the physical cause is no longer present. The pain itself has become a disease. Today, chronic pain is regarded in research as an independent illness,” Dr. Heymann points out.
The treatment of acute pain—usually the result of tissue damage—focuses primarily on identifying the cause and quickly relieving the pain, typically through painkillers, physical therapy, or, if necessary, surgical interventions. The treatment of chronic pain is more complex and requires a multimodal approach.
“If a patient has been suffering from pain for more than three months, we are dealing with a chronic pain patient. Naturally, I conduct a comprehensive assessment with all patients. This includes diagnostics involving a detailed medical history, a blood panel, possibly X-rays, and a thorough physical examination. We also ask how many specialists have already been consulted and how long the patient has been seeing their general practitioner. In most cases, I mainly treat chronic pain patients, since those with acute pain typically first visit their GP or a hospital,” says Dr. Heymann and continues:
“In the next step, I discuss all findings in detail with the patient, and together we develop an individual treatment plan in the sense of integrative pain therapy. It typically takes eight to nine months to achieve good results, because psychology always plays a role and pain therapy applications require time. I apply a multimodal pain concept, meaning that several methods are used simultaneously. These include medication plans, infusions, injection treatments, neural therapy, interventional therapy, physiotherapy, orthomolecular measures, and psychological treatments. It is a holistic concept that I implement together with the patients—and that takes time.”
“The psyche has a strong, positive side. It can help us cope better with pain and even relieve it—for example, through hope, inner strength, or relaxation techniques. Our emotional well-being is therefore a key factor in managing pain,” emphasizes Dr. Heymann.
“Many patients are thrilled to finally be treated holistically in our practice—not just, as is often the case, given medication and told to wait for improvement. Often, they experience a lack of a clear diagnosis when relief does not occur and are eventually told they must live with the pain. I see it differently. Pain has many causes and expressions—and I take each one seriously. Patients appreciate this comprehensive approach because they realize: we truly care about them. In our practice, we have access to various methods that we can tailor to the individual situation. I am not only a pain specialist—I also studied psychology and integrate this knowledge into my work. I also apply psychotherapeutic methods such as behavioral and talk therapy, hypnotherapy, and body-centered approaches like laser and magnetic field therapy. These are combined with classical medical procedures such as infusions or infiltrations. This way, we treat body and mind simultaneously—and that is often the key to success. Patients feel taken seriously and accompanied on their journey. Often, this genuine sense of care is already a major step toward improvement,” explains Dr. Heymann.
Pain management is a key element that involves psychological techniques such as relaxation training, mindfulness, and biofeedback. These methods help reduce stress levels and modify the perception of pain.
“Many patients wish for a holistic pain treatment, like those offered in pain clinics using the multimodal concept. The problem, however, is that there are often too few places available. In addition, although various specialists work with the patients at the same time, they must constantly coordinate with each other. This communication takes a lot of time—time that is often lacking in the clinical routine. As a result, misunderstandings can occur. Even if the stay in the clinic is positive, many patients feel left alone after discharge. At home, they no longer have the network of therapists they experienced in the clinic. They don’t know who to turn to or how to continue. That’s why I consider good outpatient care to be particularly important—but it is rare. In the outpatient setting, doctors often don’t collaborate as closely as in a clinic, simply because the exchange is difficult to implement in terms of time. It’s different in my practice: I combine various disciplines in one person. That means I can directly integrate psychological, conventional medical, and complementary approaches—without the need for extra coordination. This leaves more time for what matters most: the patient,” says Dr. Heymann about her successful approach.
Numerous innovative developments and future trends are expected in pain medicine that could fundamentally change the understanding and treatment of pain.
“The trend in pain therapy is clearly moving toward alternative and complementary medicine. Many patients who come to me have already tried such methods—such as naturopathic approaches, orthomolecular medicine, phytotherapy, acupuncture, or meditative movement techniques like Qigong or yoga. What is often missing, however, is the connection to conventional medicine. Alternative methods often stand alone, without being embedded in a holistic concept. Yet this very combination would be particularly effective. At the last pain congress, it became clear that many people desire such integrative approaches. Therefore, the integration of complementary methods into conventional multimodal pain therapy should be further advanced in the future,” says Dr. Heymann, and adds:
“The main problem, however, is that many of these alternative methods are not covered by health insurance, meaning patients often have to bear high costs themselves. About 20 to 25 years ago, I was already a strong advocate of alternative medicine and often worked in combination with conventional treatments. At that time, this approach was ridiculed, and many questioned its purpose. But with the rise of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, attitudes toward these methods have changed significantly. Today, their benefits are much more widely acknowledged. The acceptance of such alternative methods has increased considerably. It is increasingly recognized that they not only benefit patients but also complement conventional treatments and thereby enhance the physician’s effectiveness in patient care.”
Acupuncture and neural therapy are now widely accepted, but there is still skepticism—especially among colleagues—regarding other methods such as laser therapy or orthomolecular therapy.
“Many consider these approaches to be purely profit-driven, without understanding the scientific principles behind them. Orthomolecular therapy, which involves the use of vitamins and trace elements, has a clear scientific basis. It is well documented that deficiencies can lead to pain and other symptoms, yet this therapy is still often ridiculed. Similarly, hypnotherapy is not yet fully accepted in some circles, although it is increasingly being integrated. It is therefore urgently recommended that doctors in certain specialties pursue further training and incorporate such methods into their treatment concepts, provided their time and practice structure allow for it. The problem is that many naturopathic doctors are very skilled in their field but lack conventional medical training. Conversely, conventional doctors often do not have the time and resources for additional training, even though it would greatly benefit patients. Another issue is that such training requires time, which is a challenge in already overloaded practice models. Furthermore, doctors seeking further training must be certified to integrate new methods into their practice. These additional requirements can significantly affect patient management and time planning,” says Dr. Heymann.
In her work, Dr. Heymann uses innovative methods such as VR films (Virtual Reality films), which provide not only visual impressions but also touch on spiritual aspects that help patients develop confidence and a sense of self-efficacy. Effective techniques such as affirmations and meditations with healing stones are used. Dr. Heymann encourages people to believe in their self-healing abilities and to activate them through prevention and mindful self-care.
“I personally already use visual content like VR films in my work. These films are not just documentaries; they also reach into the spiritual realm, which helps many people develop hope and experience self-efficacy. Patients are motivated to participate in these exercises, and they enjoy fulfilling tasks and engaging with their subconscious. Techniques such as affirmations and meditations with healing stones are also used—methods that are very effective. When it comes to self-awareness and healing, I advise people to always believe in their own self-healing powers. Everyone has these powers—an example of this is the healing of a bruise, which fades by itself. These forces are always at work, even if we are not always aware of them. Just as we ensure our car doesn’t run on an empty tank, we should also care for our own bodies through good nutrition, sufficient vitamins, and physical activity. This kind of prevention is key to avoiding chronic pain conditions in the first place. If a pain problem does occur, it is important to explore and use holistic approaches. Even if it may be challenging, this is the path to better quality of life in the long term. The main goal is to reduce pain and achieve a healthy way of living,” says Dr. Heymann, summarizing her mission to improve her patients’ quality of life, concluding our conversation.
Thank you very much, Dr. Heymann, for this fascinating insight into your multimodal approach!
