The Mind/Body Link in Recovering from Chronic Pain

Justin and I had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Maurice Pearl, DC on the Amplified Whole Health podcast.  Dr. Pearl is one of four chiropractors at the Balkman Clinic in Fort Smith, AR.  While the podcast was full of all sorts of interesting nuggets, from the best type of exercise for mobility to the benefits of practitioner teams for effective healing, the conversation that developed at the end was most intriguing to me.  

When asked about what has had the most impact on him during his pursuit and practice of chiropractic, Dr. Pearl’s response was deeply insightful into the relationship between the brain and the body.  He reflected that, in school, he understood chronic pain to be a mechanical issue with the proper functioning of the body. However, through his practice, he has realized the incredible connection between attitude, perception, and recovery. Dr. Pearl explained, “there are some patients who just need to be told, ‘Hey, I'm not fragile. It's safe to move. It's safe to do this.’ And just hearing that, they're more likely to get out pain.”  Oftentimes what happens, he went on to explain, is that our brains are programmed to prevent us from repeating behaviors that have caused trauma in the past, even if they are actually safe to do so now.  This brain manufactured fear response can actually hold us back from healing.  

Take, for example, an individual who injured themselves lifting a heavy object.  Physically, they may be healed, but psychologically they may still experience the dread of the pain recurring.  They may finally attempt to lift a heavy object once again and feel discomfort because they are now out of training.  If this discomfort is misread, it can lead to never reattempting the behavior, even if there is no danger to the body in it.  As Dr. Pearl put it, “It leads to this longer-term chronic pain where, at this point, there may not be anything structural going on.  It's just all neurological.”  Helping patients understand the cognitive elements that contribute to chronic pain and giving them “permission to be people” again is a critical aspect of their health journey.

If you are interested in hearing more about pain management, healthy rhythms, and the benefits of whole person health, watch our podcast with Dr. Maurice Pearl.