Gathering Evidence

If you answer the following questions YES more than once, you have an increased likelihood of having neuroplastic pain or conditions:

  1. My pain/symptoms started at a stressful time in my life

  2. My pain/symptoms return or increase when I am stressed, struggling, or managing a lot

  3. My pain/symptoms were not caused by any significant or notable injury, or are the result of an injury that is passed its healing timeline (most injuries heal within 6 weeks- 6 months)

  4. My pain/symptoms migrate, move, change, or change sides despite no new injury, or are felt in an entire limb rather than point-specific

  5. My pain is mirrored on both sides of my body

  6. My pain/symptoms are triggered by non-related stimuli, such as the weather, type of seating, time of day, stimuli such as screens, lights, smells, or hormonal changes, or normally neutral activities

  7. My pain/symptoms decrease when I am doing something I enjoy, after engaging in relaxing or soothing activities, or when I am focused on a task

  8. I also experience known stress-related conditions such as IBS, chronic tendonitis, brain fog, insomnia, TMJ, anxiety or depression

  9. If I imagine doing a triggering activity or stimulus, I feel the pain start to come on

  10. My pain/symptoms are less intense after a mind-body physical treatment such as massage or acupuncture

  11. I have a history of untreatble or undiagnosed symptoms or conditions and have spent years with doctors who can’t seem to help

  12. I spend a lot of time worrying about my situation and may research, learn, or ask a lot of questions about my pain

  13. I worry about what the future will look like if I can’t get out of pain or resolve symptoms

  14. I am a hard worker, somewhat of a perfectionist, and can find myself putting the needs of others ahead of my own

  15. I would consider parts of my childhood to have been stressful

Neuroplastic pain and symptoms are usually characterized by being…

Functional

  • The symptoms don’t fit with or explained by known structural conditions. 

  • Symptoms begin without injury or other physical cause, may begin during a time of stress or upon waking.

  • Symptoms persist after an injury has healed all injuries heal. (Scars do not cause pain. Pain from an injury lasting longer than 3 months is generally considered chronic).

  • Symptoms occur on both sides, in a mirror image (this rarely happens with structural pain). 

  • Symptoms occur on one whole side of the body or occur on half of the face, head, or torso (this is not a pattern that applies to physical damage).

  • Symptoms spread to other parts of the body
    Symptoms radiate to the opposite side of the body or down a limb

  • Symptoms occur in many different body parts at the same time

  • Tingling, burning, numb, hot, and cold sensations are commonly neuroplastic, particularly when no nerve damage is present. 

Inconsistent

  • Symptoms shift from one part of the body to another.

  • Symptoms vary in intensity throughout the day or occur first thing in the morning or in the middle of the night.

  • Symptoms begin after exercise, not during (a structural injury causes pain during use and feels better when rested).

  • Symptoms occur when you think about them or when someone asks about them.

  • Symptoms increase when stress increases or when imagining stressful situations.

  • Symptoms decrease and even disappear when engaged in something joyful or distracting (vacations, activities that require your full attention, etc). 

  • Symptoms decrease and sometimes disappear after therapies like massage, reiki, acupuncture or anything else that calms the nervous system (things that calm your nervous system will decrease symptoms). 

Triggered

  • Symptoms are triggered by things that are not related to the actual symptom such as foods, changes in the weather, smells, sounds, light, computer screens, menses, or specific movements.

  • Symptoms that are triggered by the anticipation of stress such as before school or work, a doctor’s visit or medical test, a visit to a relative or social gathering, or other activities that may cause anxiety.

  • Symptoms that are triggered simply by imagining engaging in an activity such as bending over, turning and stretching, sitting or standing.

  • Symptoms are triggered by light touch or innocuous stimuli such as wind or cold. 

For more information about neuroplastic pain, click here: