When the body is injured, the brain sends pain signals as a protective warning. However, in cases of neuroplastic pain and chronic symptoms, the brain can misinterpret normal, harmless bodily sensations as threatening, setting off a false alarm.
Even if pain or symptoms began with an injury or illness, the nervous system can get stuck in a heightened state of protection. Our work together focuses on calming these signals and retraining the brain and body to feel safe again—creating the conditions for real, lasting healing.
Understanding the Neuroscience of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is real and it’s complex. It can feel confusing and frustrating, especially when tests don’t show a clear cause. But understanding how the brain and nervous system work can help explain why pain can persist and offer hope for healing.
What Is Chronic Pain / Symptoms?
Pain or symptoms become chronic when they last longer than three months. They may have started after an injury, illness, or surgery, but sometimes they continue even after the body has healed. In some cases, there’s no clear physical cause at all – but the pain / symptoms are still very real
How the Brain and Body Process Pain
All pain is created by the brain, it’s the brains interpretation of what is happening in our body, and it’s created by the brain as a way to protect us. When the brain receives signals from the body that suggest danger, it produces pain or symptoms as a warning.
But sometimes, the brain keeps sending pain signals even when the body is safe. It can get stuck in “protection mode,” keeping the nervous system on high alert.
🔗 Learn more from the Pain and the Brain video by Lorimer Moseley (Tame the Beast)
Why Does Pain Become Chronic?
Over time, the nervous system can become more sensitive. This is called central sensitisation. The brain and spinal cord start reacting to even minor or harmless signals as if they were dangerous. As a result, pain can become more intense and longer lasting.
This doesn’t mean the pain is “all in your head” – it means your nervous system has learned to be overly protective.
🔗 Read: Understanding Pain: What to Do About It in Less Than Five Minutes
🔗 Resource: Neuroscience and chronic pain (Neuro Orthopaedic Institute)
How Emotions and Past Experiences Play a Role
Pain is affected by more than just physical injury. Stress, anxiety, trauma, and emotional pain can also influence the brain’s pain response. When we’ve had difficult or overwhelming experiences, our system can stay in a heightened state, making it harder for the body to “switch off” pain.
Thoughts and emotions don’t cause pain—but they can amplify it if the brain perceives danger.
🔗 Explore: The Mindbody Connection and Chronic Pain – Curable Health (I’m able to provide you with a 6 week free trial if we work together)
The Good News: The Brain Can Change
The nervous system can be retrained. Through a process called neuroplasticity, the brain can learn new patterns and reduce pain over time. This is possible through
• Education about how pain works
• Mind-body therapies and somatic practices
• Gentle movement or graded exercise
• Nervous system regulation
• Emotional processing and support
This approach doesn’t deny pain – it helps you work with your body and brain to reduce its intensity and regain control.
🔗 Book: Explain Pain by David Butler & Lorimer Moseley
🔗 Free Course: Retrain Pain – Online pain education