Remember Pavlov's dogs? Those iconic canine subjects that became unwitting pioneers in the world of classical conditioning. If you don't remember, here is a refresher:
Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, conducted groundbreaking research in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most notably his work on classical conditioning using dogs. The experiment, known as Pavlov's dogs or Pavlovian conditioning, unveiled profound insights into how animals (and by extension, humans) can form associations between stimuli and responses. Pavlov rang a bell every time he fed his hungry dogs. In anticipation for their food, they would salivate like most dogs and humans do at the sight of a delectable meal. He did this frequently enough that he could ring a bell in the absence of food and the dogs would still salivate. The bell became the stimulus that food was on its way.
Pavlov conditioned them to salivate at the mere ring of a bell. Now, let's draw a parallel – you, the chronic pain sufferer, may find yourself in a similar loop, conditioned by your own experiences.
Yes, you've unwittingly conditioned yourself to be in a state of chronic pain. But how did this happen?! First, let's look at a typical pain response. You've probably noticed that a certain movement or action triggers pain. Every time you do something that causes you pain, your brain takes note. In a bid to protect you, your brain is encouraging you to avoid that movement or action to prevent further damage to your body. It's a well-intentioned defense mechanism, and your brain excels at it.
However, here's the catch – for many chronic pain sufferers, the initial injury or damage that caused pain has healed. But your brain missed the memo. It still believes there's damage, so it continues to produce pain signals, even when there's no actual harm. Your brain recalls that certain movements used to cause pain, and in its effort to protect you, it insists on recreating that pain response.
This intriguing facet of chronic pain is often overlooked in conventional medicine. It's a silent orchestrator, a major player in why so many chronic pain sufferers find it challenging to ever break free from their chronic pain.
Imagine this: You're avoiding sitting, standing, bending, twisting – all in an attempt to shield yourself from pain that your brain insists is still there. But what if we could disrupt this conditioned response? What if we could reset the narrative your brain has been telling you about pain?
Addressing this Pavlovian aspect of chronic pain is key to unlocking a pain-free future. Conventional medicine often falls short in recognizing and tackling this conditioning, the mental/emotional aspect of your chronic pain, but holistic approaches and personalized interventions can help rewire the way your brain perceives pain so that you can perceive pain like the average person does. By acknowledging and addressing the psychological dimension of chronic pain, we empower ourselves to break free from the Pavlovian shackles and embrace a life without persistent discomfort.
This understanding is a game-changer – it shifts the focus from merely treating symptoms to unraveling the complex web of factors contributing to chronic pain. It is all possible with mind-body counseling, a form of therapy that helps establish the mind-body connection to pain and rewires your nervous system to function like it really should!