Back to Podcast
Why Pain Doesn't Always Match the Injury | Chronic Pain & Concussion Explained | E54
April 13, 202654m 59s
Neuro-RehabFunctional Neurology
About This Episode
One of the most confusing aspects of concussion recovery is when the level of pain doesn't match what's visible on imaging or what the injury "should" feel like. In this episode, Dr. Ayla Wolf explores the neuroscience of chronic pain after concussion — why it happens, why it persists, and what it means for treatment.
This episode unpacks central sensitization, the role of the nervous system in amplifying pain signals, and why understanding pain science is essential for anyone stuck in a cycle of chronic symptoms after brain injury.
Topics Covered
Neuro-RehabFunctional Neurology
Full Transcript
Speaker 1: 00:00
And its job is to send a signal down to your spinal cord at the various levels and say, I don't want to feel that. Okay, so it will either amplify or quiet the signals before they ever get to the level of consciousness. So those two people won't uh experience the same level of pain to the same level of injury, uh, if you will. So somebody who has had a chronic pain situation, they won't necessarily even deal with it because it's a two to them or it's a one to them, even though their body is in a state of what we call no suception, negative signaling going up towards the brain. It's being squashed before it hits the level of consciousness. They're not that aware of that pain, right? Contrast that with the fibromyalgia patient, their pain is being amplified.
Dr. Ayla Wolf: 01:01
Welcome to Life After Impact, the Concussion Recovery Podcast. I'm Dr. Ayla Wolfe, and I will be hosting today's episode where we help you navigate the often confusing, frustrating, and overwhelming journey of concussion and brain injury recovery. This podcast is your go-to resource for actionable information, whether you're dealing with a recent concussion, struggling with post-concussion s…