The biopsychosocial model offers a more complete way to understand pain. While the biomedical model focuses on tissues, it often falls short in persistent pain. This article breaks down how biological, psychological, and social factors interact to shape pain, why structure alone doesn’t explain everything, and how you can start identifying what drives your own symptoms using a simple, practical approach.

Last week our review (A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Examining the Effect of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction on Pain Severity and Quality of Life in People Living With Fibromyalgia) was published in the European Journal of Pain! This blog summarises: What we asked; how we tried to answer our question; what mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) is; what pain catastrophising is; what the findings were in a nutshell; and whether the findings apply to you.

Empathy is often treated as a soft skill in pain care. The evidence suggests otherwise. A large 2024 study found that higher clinician empathy was associated with lower pain, less disability, and better quality of life over 12 months. Research also shows that validation strengthens engagement more effectively than immediate advice. In persistent pain rehabilitation, empathy may not just feel supportive, it may shape outcomes.

Do you believe you can influence your pain, or that it simply happens to you? This belief, known as locus of control, quietly shapes recovery in persistent pain. Research suggests that people with a stronger internal locus of control report lower pain, less disability, and better treatment outcomes. Recovery is not just about tissues. It is about agency. And agency can change biology.

Is chronic pain after 50 inevitable? A 10-year study tracking 2,631 adults who were pain-free at baseline suggests not. Weekly vigorous activity reduced the risk of developing chronic pain by 26%. Surprisingly, cultural engagement — museums, concerts, theatre — reduced risk by 25%. Moderate exercise didn’t show the same effect. Preventing pain may be about building physical and emotional resilience, not just “staying active.”

In healthcare, we are often told to treat others as we would like to be treated. The Platinum Rule improves on this by reminding us to consider what the other person actually wants. But what if these two principles are not in competition? In persistent pain care, ethical practice may depend less on following rules and more on loosening the assumptions we identify with. When understanding deepens, the Golden and Platinum Rules begin to converge.

The Golden Rule has long guided healthcare practice, but good intentions do not always translate into good care. Drawing on Harvey Max Chochinov’s Platinum Rule editorial, this article explores why dignity, listening, and patient-centred care matter, especially in persistent pain and long-term conditions.

Pacing doesn’t mean stopping. It means stopping before your system runs empty. When understood properly, pacing can reduce pain and help you do more — not less — over time.

Persistent pain labels can feel confusing, dismissive, or even frightening. Terms like primary pain, secondary pain, or “your scans are normal” often leave people questioning whether their pain is being taken seriously. This article explains the difference between primary and secondary persistent pain using modern pain science, helping you understand what these terms really mean and why clarity matters for recovery.

Post-traumatic growth doesn’t always appear with time - it happens when certain conditions are in place after crisis. Research shows growth is more likely when you process the “why” and “what now,” connect with people who get it, use flexible coping, take meaningful action, and allow progress to unfold over time. Here are five science-backed ways to maximise your chances of growing after trauma.

When you stub your toe, swearing might do more than vent frustration—it can actually raise your pain tolerance. A Keele University study found real swear words boosted endurance by over 30%, while made-up ones like “fouch” and “twizpipe” had no effect. Why this happens is still a mystery. What’s clear is that real swearing helps us push through pain in ways scientists are only beginning to understand.

Topaz lived with back pain for 14 years after a horse-riding accident. At its worst, her pain reached 9/10, affecting her work and hobbies. Through a tailored rehab programme focused on strengthening, pain education, and gradual return to activity, she reduced her pain, stopped medication, and even hit her first home run in softball. Today, her back pain has completely resolved, showing recovery is possible even after years of suffering.

Persistent pain isn’t just about the body tissues, it’s also about the brain’s predictions. Predictive processing shows us that pain is shaped by expectations as much and sometimes more than sensations. When the brain strongly expects pain, pain can be felt even without ongoing damage. The good news? By updating these predictions through education, mindfulness, safe movement, and context shifts, you can help your brain write a new, less painful story.

Do you struggle to enjoy exercise? You’re not alone. Many people think they hate exercise, but often it’s just that they haven’t found the right kind of movement. Just like finding the right book can spark a love of reading, finding the right workout can transform how you feel about exercise. In this post, physiotherapist Edward Walsh shares practical tips, personal insights, and guidance on how to discover movement you’ll actually enjoy, even if pain has been holding you bac

Nerve flossing, or nerve sliding, is a gentle technique used to relieve nerve-related pain by moving the nerve back and forth without adding tension. This helps restore blood flow, healing, and normal function. Research shows it can reduce pain and disability, especially for sciatic nerve issues linked to lower back pain. In this post, we’ll explore how to safely perform sciatic nerve flossing, with videos showing both self-guided and assisted techniques.

What if your deepest pain held the seeds of your greatest growth? Post-traumatic growth (PTG) offers a hopeful lens on suffering, one that honours the brutality of trauma while exploring how it can lead to profound transformation. From greater appreciation of life to spiritual renewal, PTG shows how, when supported, pain can become a portal. This post explores the psychology, pathways, and personal reflections behind healing and meaning-making after hardship.

When Childhood Pain Echoes explores how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) shape the brain and increase the risk of chronic pain in adulthood. Drawing from a 2023 meta-analysis of over 800,000 participants, this post breaks down how early emotional, physical, or sexual abuse can leave a lasting neurobiological imprint—altering your nervous system’s pain alarm. But there’s good news: what was once wired by adversity can be rewired with evidence-based tools and trauma-informe

We’ve all heard the advice: “Lift with your legs, not your back.” But new research challenges this long-standing belief. A 2020 systematic review found no strong evidence linking spinal flexion during lifting to low back pain. In fact, some people with back pain bend less, likely due to fear or outdated advice. This blog breaks down what the science actually says and why it’s time to stop fearing the bend.

A groundbreaking study in Nature Medicine reveals chronic pain can be predicted before it spreads. Using data from 493,000 people, researchers created a six-question biopsychosocial risk score that forecasts pain progression up to 9 years in advance. The key drivers? Mood, sleep, stress, and BMI, not tissue damage. This is huge for informing how we understand and prevent persistent pain.

Listening plays a crucial role in effective persistent pain treatment, yet many clinicians interrupt within seconds of asking a question, missing valuable insights. Each person’s experience of pain is unique, and meaningful care begins with understanding their story. When time is short, choosing to listen well can still shape outcomes. The most effective treatment plans often start with the simplest intervention: giving space to be heard.