Pain Science
Transcript of Pain Science
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Pain Science
Joe Thilman, SPT
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Pain Basics
• Pain is the brain’s response to a threatening
situation
• Pain is the interplay between peripheral
stimulation and central interpretation
• Pain experience is dependent on its perceived
cause
• Pain is NOT always directly related to the
amount of tissue damage
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Importance of pain education
• The physiology of pain can be easily
understood by all members of the public
• Understanding pain physiology can change
the way an individual thinks about pain and
therefore reduce its threat value and improve
their pain management
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Pain Relies on Context
• Previous Experiences
• Age, Gender, Culture
• Environment
• Education
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Nociception
• Nociceptors are danger receptors
– We do not have “pain receptors” or “pain nerves”
• Nociceptors convey danger to the brain and
spinal cord
• Nociception does not guarantee pain, nor is it
a necessary precursor to pain
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Homunculus
• Virtual representation of the body in the brain
• Exists at birth but is refined over time
• Size of the area represented by a body part
varies by use and amount of sensation
• With any chronic pain situation -- not just
phantom limb pain-- the affected area
becomes “smudged” on the virtual body
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Pain Neurotags
A pain neurotag is the particular pattern of
activity that creates the perception of pain
– Once brain determines pain perception is
beneficial to survival, it activates other body
systems for aid:
• Sympathetic
• Endocrine
• Motor
• Immune
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Changes in the brain
• Central Sensitization: Brain attempts to
increase its sensitivity by increasing the
number of sensors in the pain ignition nodes
• Smudging of the neurotag:
– Areas representative of different body parts or
functions begin to overlap
– Areas of repeated use get larger
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Changes to other systems
• Sympathetic nervous system is in overdrive
• Parasympathetic nervous system is suppressed
• Endocrine System: Increased production of cortisol
• Immune System: Increased production of cytokines
• Motor System: Constant state of readiness, muscles become shortened and acidic
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Thought Viruses
• In situations that remind you of painful
experiences or are perceived as dangerous,
you can now experience pain
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwd-
wLdIHjs
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Common Activity Relationships with
Pain
• Gradual Decline Pattern: Stop activity at the
point of pain; over time, onset of pain is earlier
and earlier; become more and more disabled
• Boom-bust Pattern: Push through the pain
until you reach an unbearable pain level and
“bust”, stopping the activity for days or weeks
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Major Components of Management
1. Medical management for any injury or disease
2. Prescribed treatment must make sense to the patient and fit their understanding of the problem
3. Answer all of the patient’s questions
4. Avoid total dependence on any one practitioner; patient must be in control
5. Determine quantifiable goals
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Goal of Treatments
• Facilitate active coping strategies
– Learn about the problem
– Explore ways to move
– Explore edges of pain
– Stay positive
• Activate the virtual body without creating a
pain neurotag
• Return to prior level of function
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Management Necessities
• Movement:
Re-establishes fine
functional sensory and
motor representation in
the brain
• Understanding:
Reduces the threat
associated with pain,
positively affecting all
input and response
systems
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Additional Management Tools
• Medication
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Relaxation Strategies
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Pacing and Graded Exposure
1. Identify an activity the patient would like to
do more of
2. Identify a baseline: Maximum amount of
said activity that the patient can do and
definitely not have a flare-up
3. Plan the patient’s progression
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Training the Virtual Body
1. Imagined movements
2. Alter gravitational influences/improve movement security
– Activate movement neurotags in similar but novel ways
3. Add varying balance challenges
4. Vary visual input
5. Alter the environment of the activities
6. Do the movement in different emotional states
7. Add distractions
8. Plan functional activities which involve the movement
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Takeaways
• Pain is an output of the brain designed to
protect you
• Pain does not necessarily mean harm
• Nociception is neither sufficient nor necessary
for pain
• Patient education plays a huge role in
recovery -- “know pain, no pain”
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References
• Butler D, Moseley L. Explain Pain. 2003. NOI
group. Adelaide, Australia
• Noigroup.com