3 Common Myths About Chronic Pain- And that could be getting in the way of healing
Myth #1: “Pain is purely physical and it’s all about tissue damage or past injury.”
Truth: Chronic pain often continues even when the original injury has healed. This is because the nervous system can stay sensitized, like a smoke alarm stuck in the "on" position. That’s why addressing the brain-body connection is essential.
The brain’s protective response is helpful in the early days of an injury. But now, continuing to move cautiously actually reinforcing the idea that the injury or site of pain is still injured, therefore slowing full recovery. By gradually reintroducing confident and natural movements, it sends new messages to the brain: “This is safe. I’m strong. I can move freely again.”
This is a clear example of how the mind-body connection can either hinder or support healing, depending on the signals we send. Interestingly our brains don't actually make a strict distinction between emotional and physical pain.
However! What if there is fear involved ? What if you know that too much movement could send you into weeks of pain and suffering? So, better to just stay still . Makes sense to me! But shifting the pain response is counter intuitive and takes patience, and time, and self soothing techniques, so you can begin to Trust your Body again.
Myth #2: “If nothing has worked by now, nothing ever will.”
Truth: Many people have tried medications, surgeries, and treatments and still feel stuck. If pain has been a part of your life for a long time, your brain may have wired it in. Just like a habit, but let’s call it a pattern. This is not saying your pain is not real… it is, but it’s more about what our brain and body has learned - what we have experienced,and also what we have taught it.
Life experiences create how we respond and manage pain. This is unconscious for most of us until we become aware of it and start to shift up our routines and patterns (thinking, physical, and emotional) to bring change to the current moment.
Re-patterning, Re- training, Re-wiring is possible and is what will help you to shift chronic pain through Neuroplacticity , which is the brain’s ability to change and adapt throughout life. It means your brain can rewire itself in response to experiences, learning, injury, or repeated thoughts and behaviors.
This includes forming new connections, strengthening or weakening existing ones, and even creating new brain cells. We can…
Create new pathways
Unlearn pain
Strengthen experiences of comfort, safety, and relief
You are not stuck, even though it feels that way right now. You and your brain are capable of rewiring, it's about replacing what is keeping that information that is no longer serving your body with something that creates a pathway of peace and ease. Our brain strengthens what we practice, and just like reading and writing, the same goes with pain perception.
Myth #3: “I just have to live with it.”
Truth: Chronic pain is complex, but that doesn’t mean it’s hopeless. With the right support integrating body, mind, and lifestyle, many people will experience relief and even transformation.
Saying “you don’t have to live with this” isn’t just a nice phrase , it truly is fact backed by neuroscience and lived experience. Many people reduce and resolve their chronic pain when given the right tools, support, and education. Creating a lifestyle that supports your well being and understanding your relationship to pain is crucial.
If this resonates with you please look at my course “Pathways to Pain Relief: Integrative Solutions for Chronic Pain” This September, I’m launching a live, small-group course to help you with more personalized care and support to reduce and manage your days of chronic pain.