Why Do I Hurt?

Pain is a normal, human experience. Living in pain, however, is not. Chronic pain rates are on the rise and the reason is that the focus is being placed on tissues, like muscles, ligaments and joints. Tissues generally heal within three to six months and, therefore, are not likely the cause for persistent pain. Persistent pain is more commonly due to a sensitive nervous system and how the brain processes information from the body and environment.

Physical therapist and clinical neuroscience researcher Adriaan Louw's patient book Why Do I Hurt? incorporates the latest neuroscience understanding of pain, especially chronic pain. Recent research shows that patients who understand how pain works, the biology and physiology behind their pain, are able to move more freely, exercise more, have less fear and experience less pain. Research also shows that everyone has the ability to understand the complex subject of pain, if approached in the right way.

Section topics include:
 

• Discussion of tissue healing and nerve sensitization
• Spreading pain
• The brain's processing of a pain experience
• Various bodily systems defending during a pain experience
• Various treatment options to help with pain

Why Do I Hurt? contains various metaphors, examples and dozens of full-color images to enhance the learning experience.