In the context of discussing our own pains, it's interesting how instinctively our hand reaches for the painful spot. However, this reflexive action vividly illustrates the misconceptions inherent in the traditional approach to treating chronic pain. In current medical practice, the focus remains largely on the physical aspect, often overlooking the central role of the brain in this intricate process. This imbalance in attention can lead to an ongoing experience of pain for some individuals, with relief eluding them.
The ultimate goal of this blog post is to trigger a shift in perspective so that when discussing personal experiences of pain, one places one hand on the affected body part and the other on the head, symbolizing this newfound awareness. However, before fully internalizing this message, it's essential to delve deeper into the historical perspective of pain and how the Pain-Changer program approaches chronic pain.
The Pain Control Center
Let's start with a hypothetical scenario: you're lying on the couch, tormented by intense pain in your lower back. Now imagine trying to get up from the couch. Even in your imagination, this seems like a challenging task, maybe even impossible due to the pain. Take a moment to visualize this discomfort.
Now let's move forward. Picture yourself on the same couch, still experiencing that same intense lower back pain. But this time, there's a lion chasing you (try to vividly imagine this, no matter how unlikely it may sound). You'll notice that you instinctively start running, and at that moment, the pain seems to fade away. It's only after you're safe that the pain will likely return. These scenarios highlight the same physical discomfort, but with a notably different response from our pain mechanism. This variation is due to the fact that our brain's pain mechanism functions as a control room. Here, all incoming information is assessed, and a decision is made whether to experience pain, including its intensity. In the case of the lion, the control room prioritizes other urgent matters, like escaping danger. This temporarily suppresses the processing of painful signals, making you not feel pain at that moment.
This example underscores the intricate interplay between the brain and the body, as well as the interconnectedness of trauma, pain impulses, and the brain. This perspective shift significantly differs from the conventional pain models that have prevailed for a long time.
Limitations of Traditional Pain Models
Unfortunately, many approaches to pain management continue to adhere to outdated thinking that proves to be less effective or not effective at all. Healthcare providers who employ these traditional methods often view patients as purely physical entities and seek solutions solely within the body, assuming pain is solely a physical matter. Recent research, however, refutes this approach, showing that pain is a layered reality that extends beyond physical damage, and that pain is not necessarily processed solely at the location of perception (Gatchel, Peng, Peters, Fuchs & Turk, 2007).
Compelling evidence of this brain-pain interaction can be found in patients with spinal cord injuries. In some cases, these patients may experience physical injury without painful sensation simply because the spinal cord severs the route for pain impulses to reach the brain (Siddall, McClelland, Rutkowski, S. B., & Cousins, 2003). In other words, without the pain signal reaching the brain, a person with spinal cord injury might not feel pain when their feet are cold or too close to fire. Another intriguing phenomenon is that the brain can generate pain in the absence of physical damage, as seen in phantom pain, where patients feel pain in amputated limbs or healed injuries (Davis, 1993).
The Vital Role of the Brain
In conclusion, the brain is an indispensable partner in creating the actual experience of pain. It's crucial, however, to emphasize that this doesn't imply pain is solely a product of mental imagination. This concept requires a deeper understanding of the complex pain process. Aligned with the perspective of Pain-Changer, every form of pain is legitimate. However, it only becomes perceptible when the brain actually generates the sensation of pain. In other words, whatever pain you've experienced, regardless of its source, intensity, or duration, is authentic since your brain chose to generate the pain.
The brain's control room ultimately determines the intensity of pain production. However, the brain isn't solely burdened with pain processing; it also handles emotions, thoughts, associations, stress levels, hormone levels, sensory stimuli, and more. Research suggests that these factors, especially in chronic pain patients, have more influence on the control room than pain signals originating from physical damage (Gatchel, Peng, Peters, Fuchs & Turk, 2007).
The integration of the brain in pain processing might seem daunting. Nevertheless, at Pain-Changer, we view this involvement as a valuable opportunity. Treating the brain can often be more accessible than addressing physical damage, and with proper guidance, it can lead to regained control.
Implementation of Acquired Insight
In light of the foregoing, it's important to recognize that the recovery from chronic pain isn't solely about the physical aspect or solely about the brain. It's the interplay of both elements that leads to optimal outcomes. Therefore, adhering to physical exercises targeting physical damage is of great importance. Nevertheless, when these efforts don't provide the desired relief, our brain-focused approach at Pain-Changer might be the missing puzzle piece. If this concept resonates with you, don't hesitate to get in touch. Through a personal (online) conversation, we can explore if there's something we can do for each other, completely without obligation.
For healthcare providers interested in treating chronic pain through brain-focused interventions, we're happy to share more information about our approach.
Join the Pain-Changer Journey
With this, we've reached the end of this blog post. Thank you for reading! If this content has provided any value, we encourage you to share it within your network and thus spread our message further. And if you're curious about more insights on pain and the brain, be sure to read our other blogs as well.
Important: This article is intended solely for educational purposes and does not provide personal medical advice.
Sources
Davis, R. W. (1993). Phantom sensation, phantom pain, and stump pain. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 74(1), 79-91.
Gatchel, R. J. (2004). Comorbidity of chronic pain and mental health disorders: the biopsychosocial perspective. American Psychologist, 59(8), 795.
Gatchel, R. J., Peng, Y. B., Peters, M. L., Fuchs, P. N., & Turk, D. C. (2007). The biopsychosocial approach to chronic pain: scientific advances and future directions. Psychological bulletin, 133(4), 581.
Siddall, P. J., McClelland, J. M., Rutkowski, S. B., & Cousins, M. J. (2003). A longitudinal study of the prevalence and characteristics of pain in the first 5 years following spinal cord injury. Pain, 103(3), 249-257.
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