How To Know If You Have Neuroplastic Pain

Neuroplastic pain is pain that occurs when the brain misinterprets pain signals. The brain starts thinking signals from the body are dangerous causing pain. This does not mean that the pain is not real, or that it is all in your head, which is a common misconception.

Here is an analogy to explain this better. Think about a car alarm. Certain cars have alarms that go off at the slightest touch. Perhaps you bump against someone’s car in a grocery store parking lot and BAM there goes the alarm. You might even think “I swear I didn’t even touch the car!” This car has a very sensitive alarm. Even though your slight bumping against the car wasn’t posing any danger to the car, the car interpreted this as dangerous and decided to sound the alarm. This is the same thing that can happen in your body with neuroplastic pain. Your body interprets these safe signals as dangerous and “sounds the alarm”. 

So, how do you know if your pain is neuroplastic? Here are some things to look out for: 

Your Pain Started Without An Injury

If your pain started without an obvious injury that caused physical damage, it is likely neuroplastic. Even if you originally had an injury, your pain may still be neuroplastic. If your pain has continued after the tissues and injury itself have healed, there is likely a neuroplastic component to it. 

Your Pain Started During A Time Of Stress

Did your pain start when you were under a large amount of pressure? Perhaps it occurred when you got fired, or got a promotion. Maybe it was during a divorce or a new baby arriving. It may have started when a family member got a cancer diagnosis or after a fight with a loved one. All of these scenarios can be very stressful. If your pain occurred during a time of stress without an apparent cause, it is likely neuroplastic. 

Your Symptoms Are Inconsistent 

Inconsistent symptoms are one sign of neuroplastic pain. If your pain seems to be all over the place without a pattern, it is probably neuroplastic. If pain is largely mechanical, it will be consistent, always hurting with a specific movement or activity. If you notice that sometimes you can do activities and other times the pain is worse, this is a sign of neuroplastic pain. 

You Have Multiple Symptoms That Spread

Did your pain start in your shoulder and now you find it radiates into the neck, arm, and mid back? Perhaps it goes over to the other arm and the opposite side of the neck? And then all of a sudden you notice your left leg is hurting! If your pain is spreading to multiple different areas without a known cause it is likely neuroplastic. Neuroplastic pain can also involve other symptoms unrelated to pain such as stomach aches, fatigue, or headaches. 

You Don’t Have A Physical Diagnosis

If you have had assessments from different healthcare providers, imaging done, lab tests, and anything else you can think of and there is no physical evidence for the pain, it is likely neuroplastic. It is important to get diagnostic testing done with any all pain to rule out anything pathological or serious. 

You Have Certain Personality Traits & Life Experiences

Would you consider yourself a people pleaser? A perfectionist? Someone who is highly anxious? Have you experienced childhood adversity? Although these things don’t mean that you will have neuroplastic pain, they are factors that could be contributing to your pain experience. All these things can put the brain on high alert, which is exactly what happens with neuroplastic pain. 

So, if you think you have neuroplastic pain what should you do? Luckily many healthcare providers are trained in healing and supporting people with neuroplastic pain, myself included. Many strategies can be useful including psychological strategies, and physical strategies such as movement and lifestyle changes. Pain reprocessing therapy is a great option and something I offer. If you want help with your pain and live in British Columbia, book an in-person or virtual physiotherapy appointment with me HERE.

Not in British Columbia? I have free resources on my YouTube channel found HERE and my Instagram page HERE. 

I wish you the best of luck on your pain journey!