Your brain constantly changes, creating new connections and pathways to learn from the environment and function more efficiently. This process is called neuroplasticity and is responsible for our ability to learn new skills, habits and pain.
How your brain learns pain
In acute pain (such as twisting your ankle), the brain produces pain as an alarm signal to warn us of potential tissue damage. In the case of acute pain, this alarm is helpful and designed to protect you, so you can heal.
Pain is designed to help us survive, to help us learn from our environment, and not make the same mistakes twice. However, this danger signal doesn't serve its original purpose in persistent pain. The brain and nervous system go overdrive and become sensitive to persistent pain. This form of neuroplasticity is called central sensitisation.
Now, the brain creates pain in the absence of any tissue damage.
How to harness the power of neuroplasticity
Pain treatment is all about using helpful neuroplasticity to rewire your overactive danger-alarm system in the brain and nervous system. So what can you do to get started with neuroplasticity?
Learn ways to reduce your focus on pain. Focus strengthens pain connections. Focussing on your surroundings, or distracting yourself with a movie, or a puzzle shifts these pain connections, and rewires your brain.
Movement and physical activity in a paced manner reduce pain sensitivity, and rewire your pain system
Learn a new skill or hobby to tap into the positive effects of neuroplasticity.
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