Understanding pain
We used to think pain was caused by an injury sending a pain signal to the brain. We now realize that pain is not necessarily related to tissue damage. Some people have a lot of pain, but no significant findings on an x-ray or MRI, and others have significant findings on imaging, but don’t have any pain. Pain is the brain’s response to a perceived threat. It is a warning signal meant to get our attention and change our behavior. This is a good thing, because if we are in danger, we want to move away from that danger quickly. Once the threat is removed (for example, we realize we aren’t seriously hurt after a fall, or our injury has healed), the alarm should turn off. For some people, that alarm system is overactive, and perceives a threat even after the danger has passed. This is why some people have pain long after an injury has healed, and why some people have pain when there isn't any clear cause. It also means that the way we think about an experience really matters, and that if we can change our minds, we can change our relationship to pain.
Pain is exhausting. It is hard to focus on anything else when you have pain, so it affects all areas of your life. It makes it harder to concentrate and to remember things. It affects the quality of your sleep, your mood, and your energy. It even affects your immune system.
The good news is, your nervous system is really smart and you can teach it to be less sensitive. You don't have to be in pain! The first step to reducing pain is understanding it. Explaining pain reduces the perception of threat, which reduces pain. As pain comes down, function improves. The next step is to figure out your triggers, and build up your toolbox to help you manage those triggers. As you balance your life, you will start to balance your pain.
