You Are Not Imagining Your Pain
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
PAIN PHOENIX BLOG
Understanding neuroplastic symptoms, and why they are reversible
By Catherine Britton-Le Bihan
Did you know our brain can produce real, intense physical pain even when our muscles, nerves and joints are completely healthy? It sounds hard to believe, but it's a genuine biological reality, and it's one that leaves so many of us searching for years for an injury that was never there to find.
If that sounds familiar, I want you to know that there is a way through it. My work here at Pain Phoenix is about guiding you through the process of unlearning these symptoms, so you can get back to the life and the activities you love.
Understanding Neuroplastic Pain
Medical professionals generally group pain into three categories: nociceptive, neuropathic, and neuroplastic (or nociplastic). Neuroplastic pain happens when the central nervous system changes the way it processes signals. Our nerves aren't damaged. Our joints aren't broken. Instead, our brain has become “stuck” in a cycle of heightened sensitivity, which is often exactly why surgery or physical therapy alone hasn't given us lasting relief.
You may recognise some of these patterns in your own symptoms. Amongst other things, neuroplastic pain tends to be:
• Inconsistent, or prone to shifting location in the body
• Triggered by stress or even specific memories
• Widespread, and resistant to typical painkillers
Here's the reassurance I want you to hold onto: you are not imagining your symptoms. What you feel is real and measurable. You could think of it as the source being the software of your nervous system, not the hardware of your body. Once you can see your pain as neuroplastic, something shifts. You move from trying to “fix” a body part to “retraining” the way the brain has learnt to interpret pain signals. That shift in focus is often the single most important step in recovery.
The Role of Brain Safety Signals
Our brain's first job is to keep us safe, even before it worries about our comfort. When it perceives a situation as dangerous or overwhelming, it can use pain or other symptoms as an alarm system, a way of stopping us from moving or engaging with the world. It’s just trying to protect us from a perceived danger, which may not even be real anymore. Over time, that alarm can become hypersensitive, ringing even when there's no real threat left to respond to.
Together, we work on teaching your brain that you are safe. As the fear around your symptoms eases, the alarm system naturally begins to quieten. We look closely at the emotional and environmental triggers that keep your nervous system on high alert, and gently change the internal dialogue that's been telling your brain it still needs to protect you with pain or other symptoms.
How Coaching Changes Neural Pathways
Neuroplasticity is our brain's remarkable ability to form new connections. Just as it learned to produce pain through repetition, it can also learn to produce comfort and ease. In our coaching sessions, we use specific techniques to interrupt those old pain loops, an approach often called Pain Reprocessing Therapy, where we learn to observe sensations with curiosity rather than fear.
In our work together, we focus on three things:
1. Education- learning exactly how the brain creates pain
2. Somatic Tracking- noticing sensations without reacting with fear
3. Emotional Awareness and Expression- addressing the hidden stressors that keep your nervous system on alert.
Consistency is what makes this transformation possible. Think of yourself as a gardener, gently pulling out the invasive weeds (old habits and patterns) and replacing them with new healthy plants (new neural pathways). As we practise these tools, the intensity of the symptoms usually starts to ease — because your brain begins to recognise that the pain signal simply isn't needed anymore.
The Science Behind the Process
None of this is guesswork. My approach is grounded in the pioneering work of Dr. Howard Schubiner and other leading researchers in Mind Body Medicine. Dr. Schubiner's clinical trials have shown that addressing the psychological and neurological roots of pain can be more effective than many standard medical interventions for chronic back pain, fibromyalgia, migraines and many others.
The evidence is clear: the brain remains plastic and capable of change at any age. Drawing on the protocols from Dr. Schubiner's “Unlearn Your Pain” curriculum, I can offer you a roadmap that is both scientific and compassionate, one that puts the latest discoveries in neuroscience to work in reclaiming your health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as “all in my head”?
No. Your pain is physically real, and felt in the body. What differs is the origin: it comes from the brain's processing centre, not from a structural injury in the tissue.
How long does it take to see results?
Every individual is different. Some people notice changes within weeks, while others need several months of consistent practice to retrain their nervous system.
Do I need a diagnosis before starting?
Yes- it's always best to see a medical doctor first, to rule out any structural issues, illnesses or other conditions. Once your body has been confirmed as structurally sound, coaching can address the nociplastic elements of your pain.
If you're ready to start this process, I'd love to help. You can explore more resources or reach out any time at www.painphoenix.org.
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