Can Your Nervous System Cause Pain? Understanding Persistent Pain

Sometimes pain does continue because there is an ongoing physical problem that needs treating. But researchers have found there are also situations where the original physical trigger has settled, while the nervous system remains very protective. It's like a smoke alarm system that has become extremely sensitive the alarm is still real it is just responding to danger more readily than necessary.

The nervous system can become more sensitive to signals associated with previous danger, particularly when pain has been present for a long time. So the aim isn't to tell someone: "There is nothing wrong with you.” Instead "Could it be my nervous system still be responding as though I am under threat and could I change that?” 

A client and I have long-standing back issues - I first injured my back in my early 20s. Knowing that the nervous system could be responding as if there was a threat when there was a flare-up of symptoms helped both my client and me to deal with the flare-up more kindly and reduce the length of time the flare up lasted and intensity of symptoms.