Greetings, Reader!

Pain is scary, especially if you fear that something is really wrong.

Even though I study pain, I'm not immune to this fear.

A while back, I started developing frozen shoulder [thank you, perimenopause]. It was a real bummer, especially since it was affecting my "good" arm.

I was managing okay for a while until I had a scary experience that ramped up my fear response.

I don't usually walk in my neighborhood at night because there aren't any side walks or street lights. One night, I finished work a smidge late, but I thought I had enough time to sneak in a walk and get home before it got really dark.

The sun started to set just before I got home. I was around the corner from my home when a car sped down their driveway in reverse and headed straight for me. It was dusk, and even though I had a headlamp on, they didn't see me. I jumped out of the way, and although I avoided getting hit by the car, I fell into a ditch and landed on my sore arm.

It was terrifying. I was on the ground watching this car barrel towards me. I was sure I was going to be run over, but somehow the car missed me.

The driver never stopped.

I was pretty shaken, and I was in a lot of pain. I was worried that I broke or tore something, and that fear, combined with the trauma of the experience, intensified the pain to the point that it was unbearable.

I thought something was really wrong.

I was in pretty significant pain for a few months, and my family members kept pushing me to see a doctor. I was resistant because I didn't think there was much they could do, but I finally reached a tipping point after a few weeks of not sleeping because of pain.

I went to see an orthopedic doctor who was pretty dismissive and told me that frozen shoulder hurts [obviously 🙄].

It wasn't a good provider experience, but I did get X-rays and an ultrasound, and knowing that I didn't have any obvious damage from the fall decreased my fear and made it possible for me to work with the pain.

Pain is a protective response. If the nervous system thinks you are in danger, it will do its best to get your attention.

I don't usually advocate for diagnostic imaging because there is a poor correlation between the results and the patient's symptoms. Read this post to learn more about how you can't see pain on an MRI or X-Ray, and why getting an image sometimes makes things worse.

In this case, the confirmation that I didn't have a traumatic injury layered on top of frozen shoulder was helpful in reducing fear, but there was a downside.

Because the images didn't show any fractures or tears, the doctor didn't take my pain seriously.

She never offered suggestions for how to manage the pain, and she made me feel like I was overreacting.

Not only did she fail in treating my pain, she could have actually made it worse.

Having to prove your pain is real amplifies the pain.

Fortunately, I have a lot of tools in my toolbox, but if I wasn't a pain specialist, I would have been left without any support, and that could have put me at risk for developing a chronic pain pattern.

I see this happen all the time. By the time patients come to see me, their pain has been minimized and judged so many times that they are afraid to tell their story for fear that another person will tell them it is all in their head.

Spoiler alert: It's not.

The Missing Link

Here's what too many providers miss: Pain is real.

It doesn't matter whether an image shows structural damage. Pain is a nervous system response, and we don't have to have proof of injury to take pain seriously.

Whether it is a structural problem or not, pain is driven by the nervous system. A structural problem might indicate the need for surgery, immobilization, or medication to support healing, but those interventions target the structure, not the pain.

To address pain directly, we have to treat the nervous system.

It's Time for a Change

I'm on a mission to change the treatment of pain.

People who are seeking help from providers should feel cared for, not dismissed, and should receive interventions that specifically address their pain.

Here are a few things you can expect when working with me:

1. I will always take your pain seriously. Your pain is not all in your head, and you deserve to work with a provider who believes you and cares about your suffering.
2. No matter which of the three types of pain you have, your treatment plan will always include treatments for the nervous system so we get to the root cause of the pain, not just the symptoms.
3. Whether your pain just started, or has lasted for years, we'll work together to figure it out. We don't need to wait for it to get worse. We can meet you where you are and help you feel better now.

Are you struggling with pain?

The next round of my pain neuroscience and nervous system coaching program begins in January.

Registration opens to the waiting list in November. Add your name to be invited to register during the discounted presale.

Join the Waiting List

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Need Personal Support Now?

Healing happens at the speed of your nervous system, and never with urgency, pressure, or coercion.

If a conversation to explore what you’re experiencing, what’s possible with a nervous system informed approach, and what support you need on your path would feel supportive, let's connect.

You’ll leave with clarity, not pressure.

Schedule a Free Discovery Call

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In love and solidarity,

Rachel Doctor of Physical Therapy & Integrative Pain Specialist Build a resilient nervous system to help you flow through the seasons of your life with courage, wisdom, and compassion.