How the Nervous System Can Keep Chronic Pain Going

The latest thinking on pain shows your nervous system can learn pain - just as it can learn lots of other responses

Think about learning to drive. At first, you consciously notice everything: mirrors, gears, pedals, other cars.  Over time, much of this becomes automatic.  The nervous system is constantly learning from experience and automates things it does repeatedly.

Pain can work in a similar way.  When the brain repeatedly encounters something it interprets as threatening, it can become increasingly protective. A movement, sensation or situation that was once neutral may start to trigger a stronger pain response.