Pain Is an Opinion of the Brain
I have had no pain since I broke my arm and even at the outset I wasn’t on massive amounts of pain killers. As a matter of fact the strongest medication I took was Ibuprofen and that was only for the first 4 days. How is this possible? Pain researcher Lorimer Mosley, Professor of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of South Australia and one of the worlds leading researchers on pain author explains the nature of better than I can.
I have been using Mosley’s concepts and strategies with my clients for the past five years so was in a position to use this information on myself and to understand that even though my wrist was compromised it didn’t have to be painful. The fact that I was able to circumvent the pain cycle didn’t happen in a vacuum, it is clearly the result of the years I have put in working with myself and organizing my nervous system in a functional way.
My friend Susinn said it best when she heard what had happened and how I coped:
“Sandra, you’re turning lemons into lemonade! It is brilliant how you are managing your brain and nervous system through this injury; it demonstrates how the brain, in its zeal to protect often makes healing and recovery so much more difficult and its response to trauma is to shut down the whole system. You, on the other hand have turned on the potent learning power of the brain to discern real danger from minor trauma. It is just so incredible how your nervous system has become more “intelligent” with awareness and intentional movement!”
Explain Pain by Lorimer Mosley and David Butler.
Explain Pain aims to give clinicians and people in pain the power to challenge pain and to consider new models for viewing what happens during pain. Once they have learnt about the processes involved they can follow a scientific route to recovery.
Please note that I’m telling my story and what helped me. I cannot anticipate the needs and/or limitations of individuals. The material contained in this blog is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. Consult your doctor or physiotherapist if you have any concerns. Responsibility for this information is strictly that of the user.