Steve Nairn, MSc PT.
As Physiotherapists, the chief complaint we hear from our clients is pain. It is somewhat surprising that even with new medications, advanced surgical techniques and the wealth of health information available that we experience more pain today than ever before. 8 million Canadians or 1 in 5 experience chronic pain. It leads us to wonder what we are missing and how we can be more effective in treating clients with persistent pain.
I believe the primary answer relates to stress. The modern age with all the conveniences has exposed us to more stress, pressure and distraction than ever before. Notifications, social media and constant access to work has bombarded our nervous systems with the sense that there is too much to do, not enough time and that we’re not okay. To the primitive brain, this is interpreted as a threat and in contrast to years past, these threatening, stressful messages often last for days, weeks and years without letting up. The result over time is a nervous system that is on high alert or in a fight or flight state through a subconscious process designed to keep us alive. While this is sustainable for short periods, if it persists long term can lead to burnout and increased likelihood that we will experience pain.
This is where Pain Reprocessing Therapy can help. Pain reprocessing therapy involves a series of psychological techniques which are used to train our brain to diminish chronic pain and symptoms. It is based on the fact that persistent pain and symptoms are influenced by our beliefs, emotions, experiences and trauma history and that by reframing our pain, we can use the brain’s ability to change to diminish these symptoms.
It hinges on the fact that through neuroplasticity our brains have a wonderful ability to rewire and adapt. Just as we may have conditioned our brain to be on high alert, we can train the brain to adjust to a state of safety and ease. I speak on this subject as one who has experienced and overcome persistent pain and a nervous system locked in a high alert state. In the past, I unknowingly put myself under excessive pressure. Pressure to perform in my career, at sports, and as a husband, father, and friend. While this was motivated by a desire to be and do my best, it led to me being susceptible to pain. My pain journey eventually forced me to take 4 extended periods away from work and regular activities while I sought treatment. I discovered that treatment such as
conventional Physiotherapy and medication alone weren’t enough for me to recover.
My journey expanded to learning techniques to regulate the nervous system and to foster a genuine sense of calm and safety in my body. This idea of promoting messages of safety in my body was brand new to me. Thankfully, this was exactly what my nervous system was asking for and it allowed my brain to rewire and for my nervous system to regulate. As I reintroduced movement again while respecting my limits and viewing my symptoms through a lens of ease rather than danger, I began to feel better. I came to see that my persistent symptoms were no longer due to structural injury but related to neural networks in my brain that were on high alert.
Over the course of the last decade I have been using and teaching these techniques to help myself and others overcome persistent symptoms. I now recognise that Pain Reprocessing and nervous system regulating techniques are an essential tool in overcoming pain and that these techniques offer clients a powerful way to both recover and achieve a sense of control over their symptoms.
