By Dr David Loe
Imagine you’re running barefoot across the sand. The air is warm, the sun is golden, and then – “OUCH”. You step on something sharp. Do you immediately feel pain? Maybe. But… maybe not.
Why?
Because pain isn’t just about injury. It’s about context. It’s about memory, emotions, beliefs – and yes, it’s about you. Did you step on a shell? A piece of driftwood? Glass? Or something more sinister, like a needle?
Here’s something most people don’t realise: your brain is the DJ of your pain experience. It’s constantly remixing and remixing – pulling in sensory information (like pressure, heat, touch), blending in emotional beats (fear, stress, embarrassment), layering in meaning (who’s around you? what’s at stake?). And only after all those tracks play, does it then blast “OUCH.”
Think about it. Have you ever had a pimple on the day of a big date or job interview? Didn’t it feel 10x more painful and so much more offensive than the exact same pimple on an ordinary day at home? That’s your brain deciding that this pimple is more of a threat now, so it turns up the volume on pain.
Or think about a classic toothache. You book an emergency dental appointment, feeling like you’ll never eat popcorn again. But the second you step into the clinic? Ta-da! The pain dulls. It may even disappear. Why? Because your brain now knows you’re safe. Help is here.
These aren’t just random anecdotes – they’re science.
Our nervous system is constantly scanning for sensory cues – touch, sound, sight, even emotional undercurrents. Some experts1 have called them “ignition cues” because they can ignite or soothe pain depending on how your brain evaluates them. It doesn’t just ask “What happened?” It asks “What does this mean right now?”
Even emotional pain – like being off work after an injury – can show up in your body. Muscle tension. Aches. Sleepless nights. It’s not “all in your head”, but it does pass through your brain’s emotional highway before it lands in your body.
Next time pain flares up, ask yourself:
- What’s happening around me right now?
- What might this pain be protecting me from?
- Is this about tissue damage… or something more emotional, more layered?
- How well do I understand my pain or injury?
When you begin to explore the context of your pain, you can begin to manage it.
Look out for our next blog, “Pain is not in your head. It’s in your brain.”
References
1 Butler, D. S. 1., & Moseley, G. L. Explain pain. Second edition
