What Your Physio Wishes You Knew About Pain
Pain can be confusing. It can show up suddenly, stick around longer than expected, or pop up in places that don’t quite make sense. As a physiotherapist, I hear this all the time:
“But my scan looks fine—why does it still hurt?”
“It’s been months, shouldn’t it be gone by now?”
“I didn’t even do anything and my back flared up.”
And I get it — pain is personal, frustrating, and sometimes a bit mysterious. But here’s what I wish more people knew:
Pain is your body’s alarm system — not a damage detector.
Imagine your pain system is like a house alarm. Its job is to protect you. Sometimes, it works exactly as it should: there’s smoke, and the alarm goes off. But other times, it’s a little jumpy. The toast burns — and suddenly it’s a full siren situation.
That’s how pain works too. It can be turned up by things like:
Stress, poor sleep, or anxiety
Past injuries or trauma
Fear of movement or reinjury
Not feeling in control of your recovery
And it can be turned down with things like:
Gentle, confident movement
Supportive rehab plans
Calming your nervous system
Trusting that your body is resilient
So if pain doesn’t always equal damage… what does that mean for recovery?
It means two big things:
1. You can have pain without a serious injury.
Your tissues may have healed, but your nervous system is still on high alert. We call this sensitization — it’s real, and it’s reversible.
2. You can have damage without pain.
Yep. Loads of people walk around with disc bulges, arthritis, or partial tears — with zero pain at all. It’s the brain that decides what you feel, based on how threatening it thinks something is.
How do we treat pain, then?
We zoom out. We treat the whole person — not just the body part.
Your rehab might include:
Gradual, progressive movement that helps calm your system
Breathing, sleep, and nervous system work
Rebuilding your confidence in movement
Education (like this!) so pain feels less scary
Here’s one of my favourite metaphors:
Your pain system is like a smoke detector — sensitive, but not always accurate. Our job in physio? Turn the sensitivity down, teach your body it's safe to move again, and help you feel strong, capable, and in control.
The Bottom Line
Pain is complex, but that doesn’t mean your recovery has to be. With the right tools, knowledge, and support, you can get back to doing what you love — even if your pain story has been a long one.
If you’re feeling stuck, unsure, or frustrated, you’re not alone. And you’re not broken. Let's figure it out together!
Bri Hicks Physio & Performance is dedicated to providing evidence based physiotherapy care.
Are you experiencing chronic pain? Book a Physiotherapy appointment today or reach out if you have any questions.