Unlocking the Mysteries of Pain: A Dive into the Nervous System

Today, we are going to explore how our nervous system plays a key role in how we experience pain. Before I get into the two big takeaways I have for you today, let’s take a closer look at what the nervous system is really doing behind the scenes.

We all know that nerves run throughout our bodies, right? Many of us have experienced sensations like tingling, numbness, or burning that are associated with nerve function. But our nerves are doing so much more than just delivering these sensations. They coordinate how our body responds to stimuli—like temperature changes, pressure, and even chemical signals. Nerves help us move, react, and adapt to our environment. Whether it’s the pressure of a hand on your skin or the more extreme situation of someone piling on top of you, your nerves are constantly working behind the scenes, interpreting these signals and responding accordingly.

Now, let’s talk about those two key takeaways I mentioned.

1. Pain as an Output, Not an Input

This might surprise you—pain is not just a signal coming into your body from the outside world. Traditionally, we think of pain as something we feel when we touch something hot, sharp, or dangerous. The signal comes in, and we react. However recent advances in pain science show us that pain is actually an output from your nervous system. Yes, we encounter a threat, like a hot surface, but it’s our body that decides how to respond. Pain is more like an alarm system that your body sets off after interpreting the situation.

Here’s a real-life example: Imagine someone gets into a serious accident. They might have a severe injury, like a deep cut or a broken bone, but at the moment, they don’t feel the full extent of the pain. It’s only when they look at the injury or the body processes what’s happened that the pain signals really kick in. This shows that pain can be something your body creates after it assesses the damage or threat.

Why is this important? Well, if pain is something the body produces, it means we can retrain our brain and body to respond differently to certain stimuli. In the world of physiotherapy, this is a game-changer. Through movement and rehabilitation, we can help your body reinterpret pain signals, reducing discomfort and improving function.

2. Pain Thresholds and Sensitivity

The second big takeaway is understanding that each of us has a pain threshold—a point at which our nervous system sets off the alarm of pain. This threshold can change over time. For example, after an injury, your body might become more sensitive to pain. Something that didn’t bother you before might now trigger discomfort or pain because your nervous system is on high alert.

If you’ve experienced chronic pain—pain lasting more than three months—you might know exactly what I’m talking about. In the past, we thought pain was directly linked to tissue damage—something wrong with your disc, muscle, or ligament. But now, we know that it’s often more complex. Chronic pain can be a result of a lowered pain threshold, where your nervous system is overreacting to even minor stimuli.

One of the exciting parts of physiotherapy is helping people retrain their bodies to raise their pain thresholds, reducing that constant state of alarm. We’ll be diving deeper into this in future posts, but for now, think about this: What if your pain isn’t because something is broken or damaged, but because your body is overprotective?

Those are the two key ideas I wanted to share today—pain as an output, and how your pain threshold can be influenced by past injuries or conditions. Understanding these concepts is a huge step forward in managing pain, especially for those who experience chronic or persistent pain.