Neuroplastic symptoms can present themselves in a baffling variety of ways. It’s often pain, but not just pain! And often, more than one symptom is present. The symptoms can also ‘move’ and change in intensity.

 

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Note: For clarity, should you decide to read books or listen to podcasts or lectures, you are likely to feel confused by some of the terms used to refer to nociplastic pain or symptoms. So, depending on how recent or older the resource is, you may come across:  TMS (Dr Sarno coined this term, Tension Myoneural Syndrome), Neuro-Physiologic Disorder (NPD), Psycho-Physiologic Disorder (PPD), Mind Body Syndrome (MBS), nociplastic symptoms, or neuroplastic symptoms. All these refer to the same thing: symptoms that are generated in the brain -but they are not ‘in your head’! They are absolutely as real and physical as symptoms caused by purely structural problems. The difference is those symptoms are caused by neural pathways that respond to stress, repressed emotions, trauma and more.

 

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​Most sufferers find it difficult to determine which symptoms are structural issues and which ones are neuroplastic ones, simply because, on the face of it, they feel exactly the same.

 

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You may be suffering from one or more of the following symptoms and/or possibly be diagnosed with one or more of these conditions:

 

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• Back pain:  herniated discs, slipped discs, degenerative discs, stenosis, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, pinched nerves.

• Shoulder pain: rotator cuff, frozen shoulder

• Neck pain

• Knee pain

• Leg pain

• Foot and ankle pain (plantar fasciitis)

• Hip pain

• Jaw pain: TMJ (Temporomandibular joint syndrome)

• Muscle pain/tenderness (Myofascial syndrome)

• Joint pain

• Hand and wrist pain (carpal tunnel syndrome)

• Dry eye, eye pain (blepharitis)

• Pelvic floor pain

• Irritable bladder syndrome (Interstitial cystitis)

• Chronic cough

• Chronic tendonitis

• Tension headaches

• Peripheral neuropathy

• Arthritis

• Ankylosing spondylitis

• Fibromyalgia

• CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome)

• Trigeminal neuralgia

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Gastrointestinal Issues, IBS, colitis etc.

• Tinnitus

• Vertigo

• Pseudo seizures

• Hyper-sensitivity syndromes: touch, sounds, smells, foods etc

• Skin conditions: eczema, unexplained rashes

• Chronic environmental or food allergies, sinusitis

• Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

• Chronic insomnia

• Chronic anxiety

• Muscle tenderness

• Chest pain

• Paresthesia (numbness, tingling, burning sensations)

• Neuropathic pain

• Palpitations

• Burning chest pains: resembling acid reflux

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And more….

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Note: You may have been given evidence of some mechanical or structural defect (like a slipped disc for example), but this is not necessarily the cause of the persistent symptoms…

 

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It has been proven that over time, most asymptomatic people will have developed some joint degeneration and biomechanical imperfections but there is a lack of correlation between these and pain. Conversely, some people develop pain without there being any physical defect. Too often, the solutions offered, including medication and surgery, only provide temporary relief.  You will find references and evidence of this in my resources section or if you read one of the books suggested.

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Once established that your symptoms are rooted in sensitised neural circuits, it will be crucial to be able to completely ‘detach’ from the physical aspect of it.

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Also remember that neuroplastic symptoms do NOT include cancers, infections, auto-immune diseases, or acute structural problems. And for a symptom to be classed as chronic, it must have persisted beyond three months.

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Because structural diseases can cause very similar symptoms to the ones listed above, it is extremely important to first rule out any serious medical conditions with your doctor.