Pain Reprocessing Therapy

Let Me Tell You A Story

A construction worker was walking through a building site when he stepped on a nail that went into the sole through the top of his boot. He immediately cried out in pain and was rushed to the hospital. He was in so much pain that the EMTs in the ambulance gave him multiple doses of pain medication—to no avail. When he finally arrived at the ER and the doctors managed to remove his boot it turned out that the nail hadn’t gone through his foot at all, but had, instead miraculously penetrated the boot right between his toes.

So what happened?  How was it that the construction worker was in so much pain?

Let’s start with an explanation of how pain works…

What, Exactly, Is Pain?

Pain takes two forms: structural and neuroplastic. Structural pain comes from direct injuries to the body (including illness), while neuroplastic pain signals an overreaction or misinterpretation by the brain.

Pain is the body’s danger signal, letting us know that we need to adjust our environment or actions in order to stay safe. It is evolutionarily necessary for survival: when you put your hand on a hot stove, your brain perceives the sensation and tells you to take your hand off of the stove as quickly as possible. Makes sense right? But sometimes the brain does not stop there–even when the burn is healed. Sometimes it goes into a state of high alert, what some might call “fight or flight.” When this happens, your brain starts to perceive all sorts of bodily sensations as dangerous and can interpret them as painful.

The construction worker’s pain was very, very real—it was excruciating—but it was brought on by the brain’s perception of danger rather than an actual physical injury. While this is an extreme example, the same thing can happen with other injuries—or sometimes, no injury at all! The pain is actually a brain problem rather than a physical/structural issue. For many of my clients suffering from the physical, mental, and emotional toll of neuroplastic pain, Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) has provided relief they couldn’t find elsewhere.

Seeking Relief From Chronic Pain

Suffering from chronic pain—whether migraines, back pain, or any other chronic issue—your experience of the world is not only physically uncomfortable but emotionally draining between managing symptoms and struggling to find relief on a daily basis. Even without acute symptoms, the fear of their return is ever present. It’s exhausting.

You’ve likely gone to countless doctors, specialists, and healers, each one with a different diagnosis and thus a different “cure.” But nothing seems to work long term to get rid of the pain completely. Without any concrete answers, you are left anxious, frustrated, and at the mercy of your body.

Your pain is very real, and it is also possible that what you’re experiencing is the brain’s misinterpretation of your physical sensations and perceptions. This is what happened to the construction worker from earlier; he experienced neuroplastic pain. PRT can not only address symptoms associated with this kind of pain, but also help shift the brain’s perceptions and thus reduce (or even eliminate) your pain.

How Do I Know If My Pain Is Neuroplastic?

Although the majority of chronic pain is neuroplastic, you always want to check with your medical provider to ensure that your pain is not caused by a physical issue or disease (note that even if it is, PRT can often be helpful in reducing the extent of the pain). You can also consult a physician trained in PRT to assess for neuroplastic (brain-generated) versus structural pain. If your symptoms are determined to be neuroplastic, you have options with PRT!

You can collect evidence to a neuroplastic diagnosis with the following criteria, as established by the founders of PRT [1]:

• Did your pain begin during a time of stress?
• Did your pain originate without injury?
• Are your symptoms inconsistent?
• Do your symptoms spread/move around your body?
• Do you have a large number of symptoms?
• Are your symptoms triggered by stress?
• Do you have triggers that have nothing to do with your body (weather, sounds, smells, time of day)?
• Do you have symmetrical symptoms (same part of body on both sides)?
• Does your pain have a delayed start after movement/exercise?
• Have you experienced childhood adversity/trauma?
• Are you perfectionistic, conscientious, a people pleaser, or highly anxious?
• Do you lack a physical diagnosis?

You need not experience all of the criteria above, but if you find yourself agreeing with the majority of them, you may want to consider that your pain is, in fact, neuroplastic.

Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) Is Available Through My Practice

Over my years of practice, I have noticed that many of my clients struggle with pain and lack effective treatment options. Realizing that my skill set fell short when it came to this issue, I sought out an evidence-based, validated and effective approach to ameliorating pain: PRT. It is so effective that I chose to complete the advanced training through the Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center.

My approach draws from aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and somatic (or body-based) awareness to help the brain move out of the state of high alert and to foster a sense of safety. Treatment is individualized for each client, and I work across the spectrum of chronic pain (migraines, back/neck/shoulder pain, pelvic conditions, etc.).

As you learn more about how the brain misinterprets sensations as pain, you will be taught how to diffuse the hypervigilance and shift your brain’s perceptions. With techniques like somatic tracking, you will learn how to meaningfully reduce—and possibly eliminate—painful sensations. Ultimately, the purpose of PRT is to teach your brain to stop traveling the same neural pathways that it’s conditioned to associate with pain. Instead of interpreting bodily sensations as dangerous, I will work with you to create new neural pathways that reinforce feelings of safety and comfort.

Is PRT Effective?

Pain Reprocessing Therapy has been shown to be very effective. In fact, JAMA Psychiatry reports that in a controlled trial of PRT, 66 percent of clients were almost entirely pain-free by the end of treatment, while an incredible 98 percent of clients saw some improvement in their symptoms. [1]

I know you might have doubts that it’s possible to live pain-free, but I have seen it happen in my patients’ lives! With PRT, you can be given a chance to shift your perception of your pain and learn how to eliminate symptoms before they intensify.

Find Relief

A new understanding and experience of your pain is possible. For more information about Pain Reprocessing Therapy or to book a PRT session with me, fill out the contact form.

[1] https://www.painreprocessingtherapy.com/

[2] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2784694?fbclid=IwAR1HK5ysqm9ODuXZuPOvSFZd9m0NloBBDejCq9aLCf0axyhDhfSwq7OBhqU&_ga=2.107574210.1571191177.1726062963-1911546046.1726062963