Understanding Chronic Pain: Why It Persists and What You Can Do About It
By Clint Choquette, PT, DPT | Habits Physical Therapy – Nampa, ID
Pain is something we’ve all felt, and for most of us, it goes away once the injury heals. But for millions of people, pain doesn’t follow that rule. Instead, it lingers for weeks, months, or even years. This is called chronic pain, and it can be incredibly frustrating, confusing, and at times even scary.
So why does pain stick around even after the body has healed?
What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is typically defined as pain that lasts longer than beyond the expected time of tissue healing. It can follow an injury, surgery, or appear without a clear trigger. While acute pain is your body’s way of saying, “Something’s wrong,” chronic pain becomes less about injury and more about sensitivity.
The Science Behind Persistent Pain
We used to think pain was always a direct signal from damaged tissues. But now, research in pain neuroscience tells us the picture is much more complex.
Here’s what we know:
Your brain is the ultimate decision-maker for pain.
Pain isn’t just about what happens in the body—it’s how the brain interprets signals from the body. When tissues heal, the original damage may be gone, but the nervous system may still be on high alert.Central sensitization can occur.
This is a process where the nervous system becomes more sensitive to normal input. Think of it like your pain “volume knob” being turned up. Even gentle movements, touch, or positions can start to feel threatening.Emotions, stress, and past experiences all influence pain.
Chronic pain is closely linked to the parts of the brain responsible for fear, memory, and emotion. Anxiety about movement, previous trauma, and even poor sleep can all turn up the intensity of pain—without more physical damage.
So If It’s In My Nervous System, Is It “All In My Head”?
Not at all. Chronic pain is real pain, but the cause isn’t always physical damage—it’s often an overly protective nervous system.
The good news? Just like the nervous system learned to become sensitive, it can also learn to become less sensitive.
Evidence-Based Strategies to Manage Chronic Pain
There is no magic bullet for chronic pain, but research consistently supports these strategies:
1. Education about pain
Learning how pain works can actually reduce pain. Studies show that when people understand the brain’s role in pain, their fear goes down—and their function improves.
Think: “My pain doesn’t mean I’m broken.”
2. Progressive movement and graded exposure
One of the most powerful tools for chronic pain is gentle, progressive movement—even into painful areas. This doesn’t mean pushing through severe pain, but rather retraining the nervous system to see movement as safe again.
Start small. Choose a movement that causes some discomfort but doesn’t flare things up afterward. Repeat it daily and gradually increase range or resistance. Over time, your brain gets the message: “This is safe.”
Movement isn’t just rehab—it’s a message to your nervous system.
3. Pacing and consistency
People with chronic pain often fall into the “boom and bust” cycle—doing too much on a good day, then crashing afterward. A better approach is to pace your activity and build consistency over time.
4. Stress management and sleep
Pain and stress go hand in hand. Mindfulness, deep breathing, journaling, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have been shown to reduce the intensity of chronic pain. And don't overlook sleep—improving sleep quality often leads to better pain control.
5. Work with a professional who understands chronic pain
Chronic Pain Can Improve—Even Years Later
This is the biggest takeaway: Chronic pain is changeable. The nervous system is plastic—it can rewire, adapt, and calm down with the right inputs.
At Habits Physical Therapy in Nampa, I help people navigate persistent pain through a combination of education, movement-based strategies, and one-on-one support. Whether your pain started after an injury or came out of nowhere, we’ll work together to build a plan that helps you move more, hurt less, and get back to doing what you love.
Take the First Step
If you’ve been struggling with chronic pain and don’t know where to start, reach out today. There’s hope—and a path forward.
📍 Habits Physical Therapy, 8 6th St N, Suite 102, Nampa, ID
📞 (406) 560-1048
🌐 habitspt.com
✉️ habitspt@proton.me