September is Pain Awareness Month, and experts are using this time to challenge a common misconception about pain: that it always indicates physical injury or damage. But what happens when an injury has healed, or there is no clear injury at all, yet the pain persists? According to Dr. Anderson, a neurologist and Chief Medical Officer of Lin Health, a virtual healthcare company based in Denver, CO, sometimes the pain itself is the problem.
"Pain is always real, but it doesn't always mean there is ongoing damage in the body," says Dr. Anderson. "Sometimes, the brain and nervous system can become stuck in a persistent pain-alarm loop, continuing to send danger signals long after an injury has healed, or when there is no injury at all." This phenomenon is known as central sensitization, a condition in which the brain and nervous system amplify pain signals. It can play a major role in chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic migraine, sciatica, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Dr. Anderson uses an analogy to explain: "Think of it like a fire alarm that has become too sensitive. That high-pitched shriek is definitely real, but it may be going off when there isn't actually a fire." The alarm is real, but the threat is not. This distinction is crucial for understanding chronic pain and its treatment.
The good news, Dr. Anderson says, is that evidence-based approaches can help rewire the brain and nervous system. "The pain is very real, and the goal is to help the nervous system become less reactive to signals that it has learned to interpret as dangerous." This brain-first approach focuses on the nervous system processes that contribute to persistent pain, rather than solely on the site of pain.
Lin Health delivers this approach through a medication-free virtual program that combines behavioral therapy, one-on-one coaching, and structured daily modules, all accessible via an interactive app. The program is designed to be scalable and affordable, and it is covered by many insurance plans. Lin Health partners with leading health systems such as Mayo Clinic and WellSpan Health, integrating physician evaluation, structured behavioral pain recovery, and personalized care plans.
For Pain Awareness Month, Dr. Anderson emphasizes that understanding central sensitization is a vital first step for those living with persistent pain. "The pain is always real, but understanding why it persists may open the door to more effective approaches to treatment." By shifting the focus from purely physical causes to the nervous system's role, patients and clinicians can explore new avenues for relief.
