Could Your Nervous System Be Turning Up the Volume on Pain?
Chronic pain can be really tough — especially when doctors can’t find a clear cause on scans or tests. Many people live with ongoing pain that feels very real, but they’re told there’s “nothing wrong” or it’s “all in their head.”
One of the most common and frustrating things I hear from patients is this:
“I’ve seen the specialists. I’ve had all the tests. They tell me everything looks fine…
But I’m still in pain. And no one can tell me why.”
If this sounds familiar to you or someone you love, I want you to know two things:
You’re not imagining it.
There is an explanation—just not the one you’ve probably been given.
I’ve just had the privilege of co-authoring a paper published in Frontiers in Pain Research with neuroscience colleagues from the Carrick Institute, USA. Our study reviewed the science on a very real, very misunderstood kind of pain—the kind that doesn’t show up on scans or blood tests, but shows up every day in people’s lives.
What Is Medically Unexplained Pain?
This research review brought together studies from around the world to answer one question:
What’s happening in the brain and nervous system of people who live with chronic pain that doesn’t show up on medical tests?
This kind of pain is often referred to as Medically Unexplained Pain Syndromes (MUPS)—a bit of a mouthful, but it includes common conditions like fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, and some forms of chronic back pain. And the experience of living with them can be incredibly invalidating, especially when you're told there’s “nothing wrong.”
The review found strong evidence that many people with this kind of pain process sensory information differently. In simple terms, their nervous system becomes overly sensitive—like the volume dial on pain is turned up too high, and the brain can't seem to turn it back down.
This isn’t something people are making up—it’s how their system has learned to respond, often after stress, trauma, illness, or injury.
Our research shows, there is something going on. It’s just happening in the way your nervous system processes information—not necessarily in the tissues themselves.
Pain Is a Brain-Body Process
Here’s what we found:
People living with medically unexplained pain syndrome often have altered sensory processing. That means the brain is interpreting normal signals from the body—like pressure, movement, or temperature—as painful, even when there’s no threat or injury.
In short:
The body might be safe, but the brain doesn’t feel safe. So it keeps the pain alarm switched on.
This is something I see in clinic all the time—especially in patients who’ve been through periods of stress, trauma, or illness that left their nervous system on high alert. Over time, the brain becomes overly protective. It’s not a conscious choice. It’s biology.
Your Nervous System Isn't Broken—It's Doing Its Job (Too Well)
Think of it like a smoke detector that’s become too sensitive.
It’s going off not just for fires, but for burnt toast, hot showers, and candles.
It’s not defective—it’s just stuck in protection mode.
When it comes to pain, the same thing can happen. Your brain is sounding the alarm too often, and for things that aren’t dangerous. It’s trying to protect you—even though it may be holding you back from living fully.
So What Can We Do About It?
The most empowering part of this research is that once we understand why pain is happening, we can begin to treat it more effectively—often without relying solely on medication or surgery.
As a chiropractor with a strong neuroscience focus, I use a combination of gentle physical therapies, neurorehabilitation, and education to help patients retrain their nervous system. It’s about helping the brain and body feel safe again, so they can reduce the volume on pain.
The research supports this approach. Some of the best outcomes come from:
Pain education: When people understand how pain works, the brain starts to feel less threatened—and pain often reduces.
Neuroplastic movement: Gentle, graded movement helps recalibrate the alarm system and rebuilds trust in your body.
Mind-body therapies: Techniques like breathwork, hypnosis, and body awareness help regulate the nervous system.
Therapeutic touch: Hands-on care can signal safety and shift the brain’s perception of the body.
Final Thoughts
Pain that doesn’t make sense is often the hardest to live with—and the easiest to dismiss. But what our research shows, and what I see every day in practice, is that unexplained pain is not a dead end. It's a signal that the brain and body need support, not that you're broken.
Your pain is real.
Your body is doing its best to protect you.
And with the right approach, it is possible to help your nervous system relearn how to feel safe again.
If this resonates with you, I encourage you to keep exploring, keep asking questions—and most importantly, don’t give up. You deserve answers, support, and a path forward.
Warmly,
Dr. Nicole Quodling
Chiropractor
Read the full research paper here (if you're curious about the science):
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpain.2025.1584227/full
