People suffering from chronic pain, not only suffer from the non-stop sensation of throbbing pain, but they also often suffer from:

• insomnia

• depression

• anxiety, and

• mental sluggishness (e.g., difficulty in making simple decisions)

In a paper published in the Journal of Neuroscience (Balilki et al 2008), investigators at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine have discovered an alteration in brain function that they feel may explain how suffering long-term pain could trigger these symptoms:

The front region of the cortex (brain), in a person suffering from chronic pain is consistently active.  The neurons wear out prematurely, altering their connections to one another.  This, Baliki et al. suggest, leads to permanent brain damage and the symptoms listed above.   Interesting enough, this area of the cortex is associated with emotions. 

Comparison of brains. These images show the brain from the left side,demonstrating striking differences between chronic pain patients and healthy subjects.  Chronic Pain patients demonstrate an imbalance between areas of activity (red/yellow ) and inactivity (blue).  Healthy patients demonstrate a balance between active and inactivated areas of the brain.   (Image courtesy of Northwestern University)

Prof/Dr Brian A. Rothbart suggests that one reason for focal areas of hyperactivity within the cerebral cortex is ischemia (diminished blood flow to the brain) resulting from a forward head position.  A forward head position can compress the carotid arteries, the arteries running along either side of the neck.  Compressing these carotid arteries can diminish the flow of blood to the brain much like a kink in a water hose can diminish the flow of water through the water hose (See Rothbart, 2009. Forward head position can lead to debilitating symptoms in the brain).

A forward head position can be part of a postural distortional pattern caused by an embryological foot structure, now known as Rothbarts Foot.

This forward head position can be effectively corrected using Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy, which uses a stimulation (proprioceptive insole) underneath the feet.  This stimulation sends a signal to the brain.  The brain, in turn, automatically corrects the posture and brings the forward head back over the spine.  This opens up the carotid arteries allowing increased blood flow and oxygen to reach the brain. 

Because the head is now in its correct position over the spine and the brain is receiving sufficient blood and oxygen, dysfunctional sleeping patterns are attenuated, symptoms of depression and anxiety abate and mental alacrity improves.

To read more about this link between chronic pain and brain function, go to Beyond Feeling: Chronic Pain Hurts the Brain, Disrupting the Default-Mode Network Dynamics.

Prof/Dr Brian A Rothbart
Chronic Pain Elimination Specialist
Developer of Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy
Designer of Rothbart Proprioceptive Insoles
Founder of International Academy for Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy
Author of Forever Free From Chronic Pain

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