Emotions may determine why some people are more likely to suffer chronic pain than others, a study has found.
The emotional state of the brain can explain why different individuals do not respond the same way to similar injuries, say scientists.
Some recover fully while others remain in constant pain.
Brain scan studies showed for the first time how chronic pain emerges as a result of an emotional response to an injury.
The process involves interaction between two brain regions, the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens.
Lead scientist Professor Vania Apakarian, from Northwestern University in Chicago, US, said: "The injury itself is not enough to explain the ongoing pain. It has to do with the injury combined with the state of the brain."
The more emotionally the brain reacted to the initial injury, the more likely it was that pain will persist after the injury has healed, he said.
Prof Apakarian added: "It may be that these sections of the brain are more excited to begin with in certain individuals, or there may be genetic and environmental influences that predispose these brain regions to interact at an excitable level."
The research involved 40 volunteers who had all suffered an episode of back pain lasting one to four months.
Four brain scans were carried out on each participant over the course of one year.
The results, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, made it possible to predict with 85% accuracy which individuals would go on to develop chronic pain.
(WATCH) Pain Perception And The Human Brain...
The nucleus accumbens teaches the rest of the brain how to evaluate and react to the outside world.
Prof Apakarian said it may use the initial pain signal to teach other parts of the brain to develop chronic pain.
"Now we hope to develop new therapies for treatment based on this finding," he added.
Take a look at natural ways to beat pain...
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8 Foods That Fight Pain
Turmeric For Muscle Pain
According to previous research, turmeric is more effective in tackling pain relief and inflammation than steroid medications.
According to researchers from the<a href="http://www.nih.gov/" target="_hplink"> National Institutes of Health</a>, the pain relief properties from turmeric are more prevalent to <a href="http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Rheumatoid-arthritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx" target="_hplink">rheumatoid arthritis</a> sufferers, as it inhibits the destruction of joints from arthritis.
Turmeric contains a protein called NF-kB, which, when turned on, activates the body's inflammatory response, which helps battles aches and pains.
Red Grapes For Back Pain
Red grapes are packed full of resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant compound that blocks enzymes that degenerate tissue damage, which can lead to joint and muscle pain.
According to the <a href="http://www.rush.edu/" target="_hplink">Rush University Medical Center</a>, resveratrol helps protect against cartilage damage that causes back pain in particular.
Another study by the <a href="http://www.msu.edu/" target="_hplink">Michigan State University</a> found that cherry extract is ten times more effective than aspirin when it comes to relieving inflammation in the body.
Other berries rich in back-pain fighting resveratrol include blueberries, cranberries and blackberries.
Ginger For Knee Pain
Ginger is well known for its ability to block the pain-causing prostaglandin levels in the body.
Ginger has long been used as a natural method of pain relief, particularly in India, where researchers regularly test its inflammation and pain relief properties.
According to research by the <a href="http://www.miami.edu/" target="_hplink">University of Miami</a>, researchers discovered that two third of patients with chronic knee pain reported less soreness after taking a daily dose of ginger extract for six weeks.
Health experts recommend a daily dosage of 500 to 1,000mg of ginger a day to help ward off aches and pains.
Soy For Joint Pain
Research by the <a href="http://osu.okstate.edu/welcome/" target="_hplink">Oklahoma State University</a> found that osteoarthritis sufferers who consumed 40g of soy protein a day for three months, reported a 30% improvement on their arthritis-related knee pain.
Soy contains bundles of <a href="http://www.isoflavones.info/" target="_hplink">isoflavones</a>, a plant hormone with strong anti-inflammatory properties, which helps reduce the discomfort of osteoarthritis and other related joint pains.
Salmon For Neck Pain
Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for keeping the immune system healthy - and warding off inflammation and chronic neck pain.
During research at the <a href="http://www.pitt.edu/" target="_hplink">University of Pittsburgh</a>, 60% of participants experienced enhanced pain relief from eating more fish or taking fish oil supplements for three months. The effect was so great, almost as many stopped taking their daily pain relief as a result.
Besides salmon, other fish that contain high levels of the essential EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids include halibut, tuna, trout, mackerel and sardines.
Cherries For Arthritis
Cherries, like the other members of the berry family, contain high amounts of antioxidants called anthocyanins - the key compound to the cherry's pain fighting power.
According to research by the <a href="http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/" target="_hplink">Department of Agriculture</a>, participants who ate 45 big cherries daily for 28 days reduced their inflammation levels significantly.
Researchers found that cherry anthocyanins are especially effective in treating arthritis symptoms, as participants of the study said their joint pain had improved as a result of consuming cherries or cherry juice.
Anthocyanins contain antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties.
Coffee For Post-Workout Pain
If you ever wondered why over-the-counter painkillers contain caffeine, it's because coffee enhances the effects of common pain relief. It also acts as a natural pain reliever itself, particularly good for post-workout aches and pains.
Researchers from the <a href="http://www.uga.edu/" target="_hplink">University of Georgia</a> discovered that patients who drank two cups of coffee after working out, reduced common post-workout aches and pains by almost 50%.
Experts also claim that caffeine is good for a pre-workout boost too, as it has been proven to raise the body's pain threshold.
Sage For Sore Throats
The humble sage is commonly used to treat throat ailments, like tonsillitis, mouth ulcers, gum disease, laryngitis, as well as other problems like headaches, bruises, bad memory and common menopause symptoms.
Sage contains rosmarinic acid, which is absorbed into the body and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, which soothes inflamed muscles. Add it to boiling water and make your own sage tea, or sprinkle it as a seasoning on your food.
Emotions may determine why some people are more likely to suffer chronic pain than others, a study has found.
The emotional state of the brain can explain why different individuals do not respond t...
Emotions may determine why some people are more likely to suffer chronic pain than others, a study has found.
The emotional state of the brain can explain why different individuals do not respond t...
We know why we feel acute pain: You place your hand on a hot burner accidentally, your brain registers the sensation and instructs you instantaneously...
Over the course of the injury and beyond, you have trained your brain in becoming supper efficient at processing Pain Signals, Just like memory training, you practice lots you get better at it. The more we experience pain, Specifically those who suffer chronic pain, are constantly training their brains to feel more, for longer and to a greater magnitude and there is not a lot we can do about it. Even doping ourselves to the eyeballs for months at a time does not stop this "Brain Pain Training Process"
Tommy_In_Chronic_Pain: They way i see Chronic Pain is : Over the
Using people as guinea pigs to justify antidepressants! They lock in pain and depression and don't work in 60% of cases. They understand very little about the brain and hid behind this because they don't know!
Prof_Pravda: Using people as guinea pigs to justify antidepressants! They lock
This is another example of misguided biomedical research which smacks of blaming peoples minds for chronic pain. It is regrettable that underfunded pain research now seeks to blame the victims of poor pain research. Instead medical research should regenerate and embrace systems biology or science of complexity, theory of constraints etc-rather then to continue tired old biomedical research that has done little more then improve researchers understanding of pain mechanisms and has not translated into better care or cures for people in pain
dave1958: This is another example of misguided biomedical research which smacks
My friend has Arachnoiditis and has been in intractable neuropathic pain. This is now managed by lignocaine patches and gabapentin. Arachnoiditis is a much under diagnosed condition as it is due to physical intervention, ie surgery/epidural injection iatrogenically by the medical profession. Perhaps the researchers could do a clinical study regarding brain responses for Arachnoiditis and give some hope to those suffering. Currently it is incurable.
simonskt21: My friend has Arachnoiditis and has been in intractable neuropathic
Don't know what to make of it as I was diagnosed with MS over 24 years ago after many tests including a lumbar puncture but was rediagnosed to Spino Cerabella Ataxia (Type 8) with dementia (supposedly). Mind over matter helps a lot so I can cope on a daily basis but I don't imagine the pain that I get and have take various tablets to help. They in turn have caused side effects such as Oestoporosis, IBS and severe Reflux with an ulcer but what do you do?
After having surgery for a condition I'd had since childhood I started getting really bad pains, one of the GP's at our surgery kept telling me the pain was all in my mind although I was in tears with it. When I went to the hospital some months later for a follow up appointment I told the consultant about the pain, when I examined me I nearly went through the roof, I was sent for a scan and it was found that the studs that had been used in the op had come undone and caused a bad infection inside me, I had to go back into hospital to have the studs removed and put on strong anti-biotics to get rid of the infection then a couple of months later had to go back in to have the op redone. Needless to say I don't go back to that particular GP
sabpol: After having surgery for a condition I'd had since childhood
some people tolerate pain more than others,but get on with life ,my friend of many years just cant get on with life ,always has a dying pain over the years I dont think there is any part of his body free from pain his medical records must be so thick it needs two to lift his notes,
tulliallon: some people tolerate pain more than others,but get on with
After 35 years with a six foot 180 pound Albatross attached to my side, I can truly attest that no my pain is not produced by my brain. And quite some years ago, American scienctist proved that as we age a mans brain shrinks more than a womans. In my opinon, they measured the wrong organ.
Yayabeanes: After 35 years with a six foot 180 pound Albatross
i think it does actually make some sense, pain differs in different people and effects them differently this must be somehow down to the brain, my partner has back pain following a car accident and despite loads of medication it still bothers him and he can't work, whereas a friend of mines dad broke his back, is on medication for pain but he can still work, there does seem to be something about how people react to it
lolachild: i think it does actually make some sense, pain differs
@ Iolachild
My father fratured his spine when I was 18 months old, I remember him carrying me up to bed clinging onto the back of his full torso plaster. He never complained. Each person feels pain differently. I was in an accident and my ankle was totally crushed, it was hanging on a tendon. That hurt. Two years ago I fell down a pothole and injured the same ankle and my other knee. I had my ankle put in plaster again and it healed, my knee still gives me more pain than my ankle even though my x- rays shows no injury to my knee. Is it in the mind or the body, I don't know.
Kraptonfactor: @ Iolachild My father fratured his spine when I was
Interesting article, not sure what to make from it, as I have thyroid disease and am in chronic pain that I didn't have 5 years back. Emotions? I've been emotional all my life, don't think you can pin the blame on that one.
Christos_Palmer: Interesting article, not sure what to make from it, as
@ Christos Palmer
Look up Radionics and Chakras. I'm not saying I believe in it but emotions can have a strange effect on the body. the throat chakra in particular is 'apparently' succeptible to negative emotions.
Kraptonfactor: @ Christos Palmer Look up Radionics and Chakras. I'm not
Tell me something I didn't know ! I lost my leg 10yrs. ago. But I feel pain...real pain...in the missing foot and toes, regularly. Of course, I know all about the phenomenon already. The only thing I do is reason with myself that there is NO foot down there !! I do that so that I won't go insane.....which would be worse that the feeling that I have stepped on a nail.
angler725: Tell me something I didn't know ! I lost my
What a load of rubbish. Just because your brain is making your body feel that it's in pain does not make it 'all in your head'. The pain felt is very real and can be both disabling & excruciating and although stressful situations can have an adverse reaction they are not the real cause. It's a bit like a computer...you have hardware and software. The hardware (body) is working just fine it's the software (nerves, pain recepters/signals) that aren't working properly. This article suggests that it is a pyschological problem. Although talking through stressful situations in your life will help and benefit (as they would most people), there is no magical pill to suddenly sort you out. The pathways need to be re-trained. This takes time, hard work and the right support around you-from both the medical and personal relationships in your life. Professionals are still learning new things all the time...it's still relatively unknown why this even happens.
whatnoidea: What a load of rubbish. Just because your brain is
Agree with you mostly.
I've suffered chronic pain for years and try to stay active and think positively. The doctors love to tell you that it's all in the mind and then prescribe anti-depressants which have no effect whatsoever on the pain because it's not a result of being depressed.
Problem is, the anti-depressants cause muscle pain and other side effects which are worse than the original problem.
They are terrified of prescribing proper pain killers because some people become addicted. So typically EVERYONE has to suffer because of a few who misuse the drugs.
Pain is VERY REAL to most of us it's not just in the mind andsome of us don't need psychological intervention just some relief now and again would be nice.
nearly_there: Agree with you mostly. I've suffered chronic pain for years
@ nearly there
Some antidepressants ie Amytriptyline, can alleiviate some pain, espcially Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain syndrome and M E. They do have really bad side effects such as weight gain, lack of concentration and a feeling of being 'hung over'.
My next consultant put me on Tramadol and 600mg four times a day of Ibupfrofen which turned me into a zombie. I'm coping with Dihidrocodeine, I'm supposed to be taking it with Paracetamol but the idea of all this muck going into my body makes me sick.
I'm off to bed, my back is killing me.
Kraptonfactor: @ nearly there Some antidepressants ie Amytriptyline, can alleiviate some
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Posted: 02/07/2012 10:41 Updated: 02/08/2012 21:32