Neuroplastic Pain - Chronic Pain

Neuroplastic Pain: Refers to pain cause by OR pain increased because of changes within the nervous system. These structural and functional changes can occur at every level of the nervous system.

Neuroplasticity: refers to the ability of the nervous system to alter its structure and function. Neuroplasticity (also deals with brain plasticity, cortical plasticity and cortical re-mapping) refers to changes that occur in the organization of the brain and entire nervous system as a result of experiences. "Plasticity" relates to the learning by adding or removing connections, or cells.

Neuroplastic changes related to pain can occur at multiple levels of the nervous system. More pain receptors may be in an area, the area of the brain that feels pain increases, the pain sensory system becomes more efficient, and the brain can learn pain.

"Neuroplasticity can make it easier for you to feel tissue damage (acute) pain."

HOW ARE YOU WIRED?

We take for granted that we will feel good most of the time. When pain strikes, we feel bad. Pain interrupts our work, our recreation, and our relationships with our families. Comfort, that is, not being in pain, is one of your goals if you are sick and should be one of the goals of treatment for the doctor who is treating you for any illness, but especially for an illness associated with chronic pain.

Once the cause of your pain is found and proper treatment is started, the pain may serve the useful function of keeping you at rest so that the injury or illness can heal. But if the pain comes from an illness that is incurable and will never heal, the pain loses its usefulness and becomes harmful. This type of pain keeps you from normal activity, and inactivity decreases your strength.