Chronic pain can be frustrating, isolating, and challenging to manage. For years, many believed that specific external factors—like weather changes, old injuries, or poor sleeping positions—were the primary causes of persistent pain. However, recent research suggests these factors may not play as significant a role as once thought.
Instead, how the brain processes pain signals is emerging as a central factor in chronic pain. In this post, let’s explore three common myths about what triggers chronic pain and uncover the science behind what really causes it.
What External Factors Are Commonly Blamed for Chronic Pain?
Many people often attribute their pain to external factors such as:
- Weather Changes: Cold or damp weather is often believed to worsen pain, especially joint pain.
- Old Injuries: There’s a common assumption that past injuries cause chronic pain, even years after healing.
- Sleeping Position or Mattress Type: Improper sleep ergonomics are frequently blamed for chronic back pain.
What Does the Research Say About These Triggers?
Recent studies indicate that these factors are not as directly linked to chronic pain as once believed. Pain is more often related to how the brain and nervous system process signals, emphasizing the need to rethink pain triggers.
Myth 1: Weather Changes Cause Chronic Pain Flare-Ups
It’s a widespread belief that weather shifts, like colder temperatures or rain, exacerbate chronic pain. But what does science say? A large-scale study from the University of Sydney reviewed multiple weather factors, such as humidity, temperature, and air pressure, and found no consistent link between weather changes and chronic pain flare-ups, challenging the common belief that weather significantly affects pain levels. So, why does this myth persist?
This belief likely stems from the brain’s natural tendency to seek patterns. When pain coincides with weather changes, we create a mental link or conditioned association, even if no scientific evidence supports it. Over time, this association becomes ingrained, reinforcing the idea that weather triggers pain.
In reality, chronic pain is more closely related to the brain’s neural pathways. When pain becomes chronic, the nervous system can become oversensitive, interpreting normal signals as pain. This explains why some individuals experience pain without a clear physical cause, and why external factors like weather may not be as influential as previously thought.
Myth 2: Old Injuries Are to Blame for Persistent Pain
Another common misconception is that lingering pain from an old injury indicates incomplete healing. However, most injuries heal within a few months. So why does the pain continue for years or even decades?
The answer lies in the brain. Chronic pain often results from the brain developing persistent pain pathways, even after an injury has healed. This phenomenon, known as central sensitization, occurs when the nervous system becomes stuck in a state of heightened reactivity. Essentially, the brain “remembers” the pain, causing ongoing discomfort even though the original physical issue has resolved.
Understanding this can be transformative for those who feel trapped by old injuries. Instead of focusing on physical damage that may no longer exist, treatment can shift toward therapies that target the brain’s response to pain.
Myth 3: Sleeping Position and Mattress Type Are the Root Causes of Chronic Pain
Many people attribute their chronic back or neck pain to their sleeping position or mattress. While poor sleep ergonomics can contribute to discomfort, they are rarely the sole cause of chronic pain. In fact, focusing too much on finding the “perfect” mattress or sleep position can distract from addressing the underlying issues.
Like other myths, chronic pain often involves neural pathways in the brain that become sensitized over time. While adjusting your sleep environment might offer temporary relief, true long-term improvement typically requires addressing the brain-body connection and retraining the nervous system.
The Mind-Body Connection: Where the Real Answers Lie
What do these myths have in common? They focus on external, physical factors as the primary drivers of chronic pain. However, recent research suggests that the real key lies in the brain’s neural pathways and how it processes pain signals. Chronic pain is not just a physical issue—it is also influenced by emotions, thoughts, and stress. That’s why effective pain management strategies often focus on the mind-body connection.
Treatments That Address the Mind-Body Connection
Fortunately, there are therapies specifically designed to retrain the brain and reduce chronic pain. Two promising approaches are:
- Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET): This therapy helps you identify and express suppressed emotions, which can play a significant role in chronic pain. By addressing unresolved emotional issues, EAET can help reduce the intensity of pain.
- Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT): PRT teaches you to reframe how you think about your pain, breaking the cycle of fear and avoidance that can worsen chronic pain. By changing the brain’s response to pain signals, PRT can significantly reduce symptoms.
Finding Real Relief: Science-Backed Solutions for Chronic Pain
It’s time to move beyond outdated myths about what triggers chronic pain. By understanding that pain is closely tied to how the brain processes signals, we can focus on therapies that address the root cause rather than external factors that offer little lasting relief. If you’re struggling with chronic pain, consider exploring mind-body approaches like EAET and PRT, which target the brain’s role in pain management and offer hope for a better quality of life.
At DC Metro Therapy, we are trained in a variety of evidence-based pain therapies and mind-body approaches. For more information on managing chronic pain, contact us, check out our other blog posts and resources, or follow us on Instagram @dc.metro.therapy.
