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Here's what you need to know.
What exactly is pain, and why do we experience it? While this may seem like a straightforward question, our understanding of pain has transformed dramatically in recent years. Advances in brain imaging have provided deeper insights into how pain is processed and why it can become chronic. However, these discoveries take time to integrate into mainstream healthcare, meaning many people are still relying on outdated information for pain management.
If you experience chronic pain, updating your understanding of how pain works can be a game-changer. Here’s why:
Some traditional beliefs about pain are outdated. If past treatments haven’t worked for you, it might be because they were based on old information.
New pain science is actionable. Research has identified strategies that can help reprogram the nervous system and reduce chronic pain.
Four Major Advancements in Pain Science
Four Major Advancements in Pain Science
1. Pain Is More Than Just a Physical Experience
Pain was once thought to be purely physical—a direct result of injury or illness. Today, scientists use a “biopsychosocial” model, meaning that pain is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Your body, mind, and environment all play a role in your pain experience.
2. Pain Is Processed in the Brain and Nervous System
Pain doesn’t come directly from the site of an injury. Instead, it is processed by your nervous system. Even when tissue damage is involved, the brain decides how much pain to produce and for how long. This explains why two people with identical injuries can experience pain very differently.
3. The Nervous System Can Become Over-Sensitive
Over time, the nervous system can become overly protective, amplifying pain signals even when there is no ongoing harm. This is why chronic pain can persist long after an injury has healed. Brain imaging studies show that these changes in pain processing can actually alter brain structure and function.
4. The Brain and Nervous System Can Be Reprogrammed
The best news? The brain is adaptable and can be retrained. Studies show that cognitive and behavioral techniques—such as mindfulness, meditation, and cognitive reframing—can help “turn down” pain signals, reducing both the intensity and frequency of chronic pain.
How Can You Use This Information?
How Can You Use This Information?
Instead of relying solely on medications or passive treatments, consider incorporating brain-based strategies into your pain management plan. Pain Reprocessing Coaching is one strategy designed to help you apply these insights and retrain your nervous system for pain relief.
If you’re ready to explore a new way of thinking about pain, start by trying simple techniques like mindfulness, breathing exercises, or guided pain reprocessing. The more you understand your pain, the more control you can have over it.
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