Chronic pain is something millions of people suffer from, often for months or even years, without a clear solution. If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll just live with it,” it’s time to reconsider. Chronic pain isn’t just about discomfort—it can lead to unnecessary medical treatments, limited mobility, and even mental health struggles. Understanding the root cause of chronic pain is the first step toward conquering it for good.
The Two-Part Problem: Brain and Body
Most people assume chronic pain is purely physical, but it actually involves two major components: the body and the brain. When you first experience pain—whether from an accident, a fall, or a sports injury—your body reacts with inflammation and stiffness to protect itself. Over time, if left untreated, this pain can become ingrained in your nervous system, leading your brain to continue perceiving pain long after the injury has healed. This creates a cycle where your body may be physically fine, but your brain is still signaling distress.
How Chronic Pain Develops
Chronic pain often starts with an injury, like a back strain from lifting weights or a car accident. Initially, the pain is a result of inflammation and tissue damage. However, if not addressed properly, the brain starts interpreting these pain signals as a long-term threat, keeping muscles tight and limiting movement. Even after the physical damage has healed, the brain may continue sending pain signals, making it feel like the injury is still present.
This is why many people with chronic pain visit doctors, get imaging tests, and hear that “everything looks fine”—yet they still hurt. Their pain is no longer just in the injured tissue; it’s a neurological response that needs to be retrained.
The Risks of Ignoring Chronic Pain
Ignoring chronic pain can lead to:
- Dependency on medications – Painkillers provide temporary relief but do not address the root cause.
- Unnecessary surgeries – Many procedures do not solve the problem because they focus only on the physical injury, not the brain’s role in pain perception.
- Mental health struggles – Depression and anxiety are common in people dealing with persistent pain.
- Decreased mobility and weight gain – The fear of pain often leads to inactivity, which further exacerbates health problems.
Finding the Right Treatment
Many traditional treatment approaches, like taking more medication, avoiding activity, or simply pushing through the pain, do not work in the long run. Instead, the key to overcoming chronic pain is a comprehensive approach that addresses both the body and the brain. This involves:
Working with the right provider – A physical therapist who understands chronic pain can guide you through the proper rehabilitation process.
Gradual reintroduction to movement – Safely rebuilding strength and mobility.
Retraining the brain’s pain response – Helping the nervous system stop overreacting to normal movement.
As always, we hope this helps! For any questions and all suggestions, please email us at TeamSP@SportsPerformancePT.com
If you want to know more information about how we can help, get started with a FREE discovery phone call.
Click the following link -> DISCOVERY PHONE CALL.
If you’re interested in doing Physical Therapy at Sports Performance -> CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & INQUIRE
If you would like to see more from us at Sports Performance… Watch our Podcast episode 141 about How to Improve your Long Term Health and Wellness -> CLICK HERE
– Dr. Chris
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: CLICK HERE
Facebook: CLICK HERE
YouTube: CLICK HERE
Podcast: CLICK HERE
TUNE IN TO OUR PODCAST
