How the Brain Overreacts and Creates Chronic Pain Syndromes
Pain is the brain’s way of telling the body to get out of the way of a dangerous condition, or to make sure that a body part is protected while the healing process takes care of an already existing problem. In this manner, it works relatively effectively in protecting injured body parts. Over time, as the damaged tissues heal, the pain usually goes away on its own because the brain no longer senses the body part to be in danger of further injury.
Unfortunately, sometimes the pain does not go away. Instead, it becomes chronic. How is it that a sprained ankle can hurt for weeks but then the pain just goes away as the swelling goes down and the muscles and tendons regain their ability to move with a full range of motion? And how is it that, in other circumstances, the body feels like it never heals and the pain lasts far longer than the original injury is expected to last?
First of all, when the brain senses that particular tissues are in danger, it creates a large number of reactions that are designed to protect the body part in question. The brain will scan the endangered area more carefully, looking for further signs of potential harm. It will also use other systems — such as the inflammatory response and the immune system — to help in protection and healing.
Another reaction that will happen when the brain senses danger to a body part is to make that part of the body move differently. People with back pain will often walk with a more rounded back than usual, in an attempt to limit the pain that is felt by the muscles holding up their spines. Also, the brain will lay down more nerves and receptors that react to certain types of stimuli, so that in the future the body part is more sensitive to the type of injury it has endured.
[Albany, NY spinal decompression therapy]
All of these are natural occurrences when the brain feels that a body part is in danger. But if these reactions persist over time, they can lead to chronic pain in a joint or over multiple joints or the entire body, as in some chronic conditions. Thus, the pain response of the body to perceived threats is unsustainable over time. The tissues are given a period of time in which to heal, and preventing further injury is the goal of the pain sensation.
[Boulder, CO back pain doctor]
But if the pain response persists for longer than expected or longer than normal, it can lead to numerous problems. The first is an overreaction on the part of the nerves to stimuli. False alarms are one consequence of the now overly sensitized nervous system, and the brain may create the pain feeling with little or no stimulus. This can overwhelm other systems of the body, which go into action whenever the brain sends the pain message.
An original injury or damage to a body part can lead to chronic pain in almost any case. As one response to the damaged body part, the brain creates new pathways in the nervous system to scan for the same type of injury that was experienced. But this natural response to damage, if it persists, can lead to an increased sensitization of the nerves and false alarms, creating chronic pain throughout the body.
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