Persistent Pain, also known as chronic or neuroplastic pain, is pain or symptoms that arise out of injury or physical or emotional trauma that continues beyond the normal period it takes the body to recover.
After an injury, brain circuits can become hypersensitive to prevent you from getting hurt again. That’s helpful while you’re recovering but once the injury is healed, chronic pain can persist because the brain is sending out false alarms, presuming danger when there is none. You can get stuck in this hypersensitive phase.
Emotional pain and physical pain appear in overlapping regions of the brain. This is seen in the part of the brain that represents sensations in the body. This circuitry is part of our Nervous System. The Nervous system is our body’s mission control. It governs us by constantly evaluating safety. Our Nervous System may become maladaptive to stressors so that it does not accurately assess emotional and physical threats. Persistent patterns like worry, pressure, and self-criticism can put our Nervous System on high alert.
Nervous System Dysregulation is being found to be a root cause of neuroplastic conditions.
What symptoms can have a neuroplastic component?
- Back and neck pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic fatigue Syndrome
- Abdominal and Pelvic Pain
- Migraine and Tension Headaches
- Limb Pain
- IBS
- Dizziness
- Tinnitus
Some things to remember about neuroplastic pain:
- Pain is the brain’s opinion of how much danger you’re in.
- It takes time to change thinking patterns and neural pathways
- Chronic pain doesn’t mean “forever pain.”
- Chronic pain and symptoms are not you’re fault.
Chronic or Persistent Pain is a thief. It steals our money, our joys, and our time. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Above all other health-promoting behaviors, physical activity is far and away the most important. Living with neuroplastic pain can feel overwhelming. Healing from chronic pain is a challenging but empowering journey. Getting active with pain is hard, but it’s essential. Between getting back in our bodies through movement and addressing our language and belief systems that inform pain, we can take back our vitality and excitement for living.
Persistent Pain Pilates Educators guide clients through a journey of relief and joy. Those holding the title of PPPE Certificant invested over 11.5 hours in rigorous studies, including a comprehensive case study. This expertise artfully integrates Pain Science Education and Nervous System Work, anchored in the transformative PolyVagal Theory. The approach offers a biosocial-behavioral pathway to well-being and can be seamlessly integrated into other therapies.
*There are persistent/chronic pain conditions that can be caused by physical problems in the body, such as tumors, infections, fractures, and autoimmune disorders. It is always advised to get medical advice that rules out other complex processes that may cause or contribute to persistent pain.
Persistent Pain Education Coaching
The price for Persistent Pain Pilates Education is the same per session as Private Pilates Lessons. To enroll in PPPE one must commit to at least 1 session per week for 8 weeks. There is currently limited availability for PPPE coaching. To enquire about PPPE and availability please fill out the form below.
Resources
- The Guide to Persistent Pain by Alicia Gyetvai, published on PilatesBridge. Discover the research behind Persistent Pain and how the Pilates environment can be a safe and therapeutic place for healing.
