Pain Articles and Research
This page begins a journey starting with the definition of pain, how we think about pain, why it exists, and what it is really trying to tell us.
**The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as "An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage."
Pain Science
Chronic pain is surprisingly treatable — when patients focus on the brain (Washington Post)
If 'Pain Is an Opinion," there Are Ways to Change Your Mind (NY Times)
Pain is Weird (Includes a great video)
Tame The Beast (Information from a leading pain researcher)
Mind-Body Connection and its History (Now easier to make sense of with a solid grasp on the above Pain Science)
Dr. Sarno helped thousands with their back pain but was dismissed by medical peers - now science appears to be catching up to his theories and treatments from the 60's
Relevant Research/Articles
The Today Show 11/9/23 - Pain Reprocessing Therapy
The time is now for a re-framed approach in treating non-traumatic musculoskeletal pain
Understanding placebo vs. nocebo and the effects on musculoskeletal pain. Another article here.
Recent considerations about Manual Therapy (Info on the latest explanations of why it works). Another article here.
"Muscles always seem to feel tight" -Why is this? (Blog post with cited research)
"No, your pelvis is not out of place" - Blog discussing beliefs about joints being out of alignment
Is "poor" posture really the culprit?
"I just want to feel better. I don't care how I get better" - Blog discussing why it matters to know why a treatment works
Our beliefs drive our success - De-educate to Re-educate: Aging and the Low back
The story of a NY Time writer and his journey healing chronic low back pain
New study (2021) concluding that the "straight back" lifting technique is not necessarily needed to avoid injury - Less fear!
MRI/Imaging facts to be aware of
Central Sensitization - This condition has been mentioned in some of the above articles and is related to persistent pain and other chronic symptoms.
What is it? - Helpful videos within this link.
List of symptoms associated with CS (scroll down to Box 1)
So what effect can learning about our MRI findings have on our nervous systems?
Strategies to manage or reduce the effects of Central Sensitization
Essentially we have to utilize Neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to physically change or heal). Stroke and TBI's actually heal due to this.
Expanding our "Mental Models" is an example of neuroplasticity. This article illustrates the point being made in this info-graphic. ↓ or →
Targeting the "rest and digest" (opposite of "fight or flight") part of our nervous systems
The vast power of the mind and its effect on physical symptoms