Recent studies have shown that chronic back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia symptoms, repetitive strain injury, headaches, and other forms of chronic pain are often not the result of structural causes. When you develop an injury, there is acute tissue damage. During this time, the brain creates learned neural pain pathways. But the brain doesn’t simply forget these pathways once the injury has healed. So, the body can heal, but the pain pathways in the brain are still there and can still cause pain. Similarly, chronic pain can also manifest without a known injury or structural explanation, or after a medical procedure, progressing over time or appearing suddenly for no apparent reason. Perhaps during a time of intense stress or emotional trauma. The pain pathways in the brain activated by all the above are the same and is known as neuroplastic pain. The brain is misinterpreting biological signals recorded from the body as dangerous which elicits an ongoing stressful and frustrating cycle of fear and/or anxiety. Treatment involves teaching the brain that the signals it’s receiving from the body are actually safe.
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) is a form of psychotherapy that aims to address and alleviate chronic pain through addressing the psychological and emotional aspects of pain. It combines elements from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, and internal family systems (IFS).
The therapy involves identifying and reprocessing negative thoughts, emotions, and beliefs that may contribute to the experience of pain. This may include exploring any past traumas, stressors, or unresolved emotions that could be contributing to the pain.
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) helps individuals change their perception and response to pain, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and reduce the overall impact of pain on their daily lives. One of the central techniques of PRT is somatic tracking. Somatic tracking is a combination of mindfulness, safety reappraisal, and positive affect induction. The purpose of somatic tracking is to help clients attend to the painful sensation through a distinct lens of safety, thus deactivating the pain signal. Additionally, other individualized interventions such as cognitive restructuring and EMDR may be used to support the treatment.
It is important to note that Pain Reprocessing Therapy does not disregard or dismiss the physical causes of pain but rather emphasizes the role of psychological factors in the experience and management of pain. It is often used as a complementary therapy in conjunction with medical treatments or interventions for chronic pain.