From Pain Signals to Brain Signals
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognized chronic pain as a distinct medical condition. This implies that pain should be considered and treated independently of the original cause, often physical damage.
Unfortunately, currently available therapies and pain relievers often prove insufficient in alleviating prolonged pain, mainly because they still focus on the physical damage (the original cause of the pain).
Scientific evidence, however, increasingly demonstrates the crucial role of the brain in perpetuating chronic pain. This is where our expertise lies.
Pain and the Brain
While official guidelines recommend pain education as a crucial early intervention for persistent pain, less than 4% of patients have received this education. We understand that a comprehensive explanation of how the brain perpetuates pain takes time, so we reserve this as a vital part of the treatment process. For now, we share some examples highlighting the crucial role of the brain.
Phantom Pain
At times, after, for example, an amputation, someone may still feel pain as if the missing body part is still there. It illustrates how the brain continues to produce pain even without receiving pain signals from the body part.
Spinal cord paralysis
In the case of a complete spinal cord injury, pain signals may no longer reach the brain, resulting in the person not feeling pain. This demonstrates that the body relies on the brain for the production of pain.
Central Sensitization
The central nervous system (in the brain and spinal cord) can become oversensitive to pain. For instance, someone may experience extreme pain from something that shouldn't be painful. This emphasizes the importance of examining how the brain responds to pain stimuli.
At Pain-Change, we turn no one away
Pain-Changer is ready to assist individuals experiencing various types of persistent pain, such as back pain, neck pain, knee pain, as well as migraine, fibromyalgia, RSI, and other forms of chronic pain.
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Our Contextual Healing approach focuses on the role of the brain. This means that we are here to support everyone, regardless of their background, the type of treatment and/or pain medication they use, and the pain they are experiencing.
Contextual Healing
At Pain-Changer, the brain takes center stage as we operate according to the Contextual Healing method. Developed by the Harvard Medical School, this method integrates the bio-psycho-social model and enriches it with insights into the placebo effects.
Concretely, this means that we focus on four different domains: Emotion, Thoughts, Behavior, and the Body. In shaping the treatment, we also consider the (social) environment. We go so far as to influence biological processes by reprogramming the brain and stimulating the production of natural painkillers, such as endorphins.
Our Pain Assistance Offering
At Pain-Changer, pain assistance goes beyond symptom relief. Our offerings always include pain education, brain exercises, and leverage behavioral psychological knowledge. We believe in empowering individuals with both knowledge and practical tools, enabling them to genuinely experience positive changes in pain management.
"Professional Pain Assistance for Healthcare Providers and Employers
At Pain-Changer, we provide support to healthcare professionals and employers dedicated to enhancing the well-being of their clients or staff.
Our tailor-made programs encompass a wide range of pain management tools, educational resources, and proven behavioral strategies, all designed to have a positive impact on the lives of your clients or employees.
General Practitioner
As a general practitioner, I face the challenge of assisting patients with chronic, difficult-to-treat pain. When all physical interventions have been attempted, I refer my patients to the specialized pain assistance provided by Pain-Changer.
Occupational Health Physicians
As an occupational health physician, I encounter employees who frequently miss workdays due to persistent pain complaints. In cases where traditional interventions fail to yield the desired results, I recommend employers to consider Pain-Changer's Pain Club on-site. This provides employees with direct access to specialized support in the workplace, allowing them to collaboratively work towards improving their pain management.
Physiotherapists
As a physiotherapist, I guide a patient recovering from a severe scooter accident, with no visible somatic damage. By introducing the patient to Pain-Changer's Pain Coaching, I can focus on the body while their brain is being treated. This approach ensures a holistic recovery experience.
Employers
As an employer, I am experiencing the negative consequences of the persistent pain complaints of my staff. Recently, I have decided to engage Pain-Changer's Pain Assistance. My employees have the option to choose either a group program on-site or a personal coaching trajectory. It is an investment in the health of my team, resulting in a positive impact on both their personal lives and workplace productivity.
Evidence-Based Solutions
In all our products and services at Pain-Changer, we exclusively rely on evidence-based solutions. We utilize high-quality, peer-reviewed studies and integrate insights from various scientific disciplines, including medicine, neuropsychology, immunology, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and more.
Training
At Pain-Changer Training, we educate healthcare professionals in the application of the Contextual Healing method. Our focus is on understanding the placebo effect and other brain insights. This training empowers healthcare professionals to effectively integrate holistic approaches into their practice.