Neuroplastic pain

If you have been experiencing chronic pain, therapy can help. More and more research is coming out about “neuroplastic pain.” Neuroplastic pain refers to chronic pain that is influenced by the brain and the nervous system. So how does this work? Once pain becomes chronic (lasting longer than 3-4 months), our brain gets used to being in pain. We develop neural pathways–essentially a brain shortcut–interpreting safe sensations as pain. 

Pain is a danger signal from our brain. Because chronic pain is stressful, scary, and frustrating, our nervous system keeps producing that danger signal. Then we’re in the brain/pain loop. We keep experiencing pain, so we’re scared of the pain. Which produces more pain. And so on and so on. 

your pain is real

This can definitely sound like “the pain is all in your head! It’s not real!” For people who have had their pain dismissed by health professionals, that can feel very frustrating. But the pain is very real! However, the path to reduce pain might not be in the body. Instead, it’s in the mind/body connection. 

Pain reprocessing therapy

Pain reprocessing therapy can help reduce fear around the pain. By gently going towards the pain with curiosity, our brain learns that these sensations are safe again. Our neural pathways rewire, and the pain eventually goes away. 

It sounds wild, but it’s so cool! Pain reprocessing therapy can help with chronic pain like back pain, pelvic pain, and migraines, as well as chronic symptoms like dizziness and IBS. 

On a personal note

I lived with chronic pain for 7 years. I had many symptoms including pelvic pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, hand pain, and back pain. I went to dozens of health professionals including physical therapists, acupuncturists, and chiropractors. Some things would help a bit, but then the pain would come back. I read the book The Way Out by Alan Gordon in 2021, and within 3 weeks almost all of my pain was gone. After that, I became really fun at parties by interjecting into anyone’s conversations to tell them about neuroplastic pain. Everyone loves it! No one is annoyed. Anyway, I completed training for Pain Reprocessing Therapy in 2025, so now I interject with even more conviction!