Why Does My Body Still Hurt? (Hint: It’s Not a House Fire) (or Retraining the Brain)

www.ipainmed.com | January 28, 2026 | Usman Saleem

Have you ever had a smoke alarm go off in your house just because you slightly over-toasted a piece of bread?

The noise is deafening. Your heart starts racing, and you feel a sudden surge of panic. But when you rush into the kitchen, there are no flames—just a tiny bit of harmless smoke. The alarm did its job, but it was way too sensitive for the situation.

This is exactly what happens with chronic pain.

The Overly Sensitive Security System

Most of us are taught that pain equals damage. We think that if our back hurts, something must be torn, or if our neck aches, something must be out of place. This is usually true when we first get injured. That’s the "house fire." Your brain sounds the alarm to make you stop moving so your body can heal.

But here is the catch: Your body is an incredible healer. Most tissues—muscles, ligaments, even bones—heal within a few months. So why does the pain sometimes stay for years?

It’s because your nervous system has become a high-alert security system. After the initial injury, the "sensors" in your body can become so sensitive that they start sending danger signals to your brain for no reason at all. Now, instead of a house fire, the alarm is going off because of a gust of wind, a stressful day at work, or just a normal movement like bending over to tie your shoes.

The Good News: You Can Recalibrate the Sensors

The most important thing to understand is that pain is a signal, not a sentence. Because your brain "learned" to be extra protective, it can also "unlearn" it. This is called neuroplasticity, but you can just think of it as "recalibrating the alarm."

Retraining your brain isn't about "ignoring" the pain or pretending it isn't there. It’s about teaching your brain that you are safe. When the alarm sounds during a normal activity, you can start to talk back to it. You can tell yourself, "I know this hurts, but I am not in danger. My security system is just being a bit dramatic today."

By using gentle movement, relaxation, and a bit of patience, you can slowly turn the volume knob back down. You are essentially telling your inner bodyguard that it can finally take a day off. You aren't broken; your alarm system is just stuck on "high," and it’s time to help it settle down.

So if you are working to ‘Retrain your Brain’ but need a little help, contact us at 917.686.0987. 

We have offices in Brooklyn, Williston Park and Port Jeff Station to assist you. 

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