What Symptoms or Conditions Can Be Neuroplastic?

 

By Tanner Murtagh, MSW, RSW

Neuroplastic pain and symptoms are caused and amplified by the brain and nervous system processes and are not due to disease or structural damage in the body. Put simply, pain or symptoms are felt even though the body is structurally healthy or has healed from an injury. The brain continues to generate pain or symptoms due to negative thoughts or beliefs, emotions, and a dysregulated nervous system1,2.

The brain is responsible for generating pain and symptom sensations. When the brain receives signals from the body, it combines that information with a large amount of data already present in the brain. This means our emotions, nervous system state, memories, and beliefs about the health of our body greatly influence if, or how much, pain or symptoms are generated3.



One of the most common questions we are asked is, “What types of symptoms can be neuroplastic?” It is vital to understand a significant portion of chronic pain and symptoms are neuroplastic in nature4.

Here is a list of conditions that can be fully neuroplastic or have a neuroplastic component1:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic neck and back pain
  • Abdominal and pelvic pain
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Non-ulcer dyspepsia
  • Headaches & migraines
  • Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
  • Vestibular concerns and dizziness
  • Tinnitus
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
  • Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
  • Myofascial pain syndrome
  • Chemical sensitivities
  • Irritable bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis)


Our therapists specialize in treating neuroplastic pain and symptoms. If you are ready to begin your healing journey, book in for a free 20-minute consultation with one of our therapists.

  1. Clarke, D. D., & Schubiner, H. (2019). Introduction. In D. Clarke, H. Schubiner, M. Clarke-Smith, & A. Abbass (Eds.), Psychophysiologic disorders: Trauma informed, interprofessioal diagnosis and treatment (pp. 5-25). Psychophysiologic Disorders Association.

  2. Gordon, A., & Ziv, A. (2021). The way out: A revolutionary, scientifically proven approach to healing chronic pain. Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.

  3. Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center (2021). Pain reprocessing therapy training.

  4. Woolf C. J. (2011). Central sensitization: implications for the diagnosis and treatment of pain. Pain, 152(3 Suppl), S2–S15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2010.09.030

 

Tanner Murtagh