Understanding Pain: Why Nudging It Back Is More Effective Than Fighting It

Have you ever felt pain long after an injury had supposedly healed? Or wondered why a small movement could trigger a big reaction in your body?

Pain is not always a simple sign that something is damaged. Inspired by the work of Professor Lorimer Moseley, this post explores how pain works in the nervous system—and why gently nudging it back, instead of fighting it, can help you recover more effectively.

The Pain Alarm System

When you first injure tissue—whether it’s a muscle strain, ligament sprain, or an overuse issue—pain acts like an alarm. It tells you to stop, rest, and protect the area.

But sometimes, even after your tissues have improved, your nervous system and brain stay sensitive. The alarm doesn’t fully switch off.

This means you can feel real pain even when your body is no longer in danger. Your system is simply trying to keep you safe—but ends up overprotective.

Why Gradual Nudging Helps

If you avoid all movement because it hurts, your brain and body start to think that any activity must be dangerous. The alarm stays turned up.

If you push too hard, you can trigger more pain and reinforce the pattern.

This is why gradual, consistent nudging works best.

✅ You show your nervous system that movement is safe again.✅ You desensitise the tissues.✅ You build confidence and resilience.

Think of it like slowly turning down an overly sensitive smoke alarm, rather than ripping out the battery or letting it scream all day.

How This Relates to Injury Recovery

When you come to see me for treatment, we start by finding a baseline—something you can do without flaring symptoms.

We use:

• Corrective exercise to gently load tissues and retrain movement patterns.

• Manual therapy to ease protective tension.

• Progressive movement to gradually reclaim strength and range.

Over time, this combination helps calm your nervous system and rebuild trust in your body.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & PEM

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) with Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) has unique challenges. The nervous system and immune system can become highly reactive.

In this case, the principle of nudging still applies—but the increments must be even smaller and more measured.

• We focus on pacing and energy conservation.

• We build tolerance in micro-steps, with plenty of rest.

• We use breathwork and gentle corrective movements to support your baseline without triggering crashes.

  
  

How I Can Help

In my work, whether you’re managing injury recovery or living with CFS, I aim to:

• Help you understand what pain really means.

• Provide hands-on treatment to ease protective tension.

• Guide you in safe, progressive exercise.

• Support you in building long-term confidence and resilience.

Pain is real, but it is also changeable. When you understand how it works, you have more tools to move past it.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to fight pain alone. You don’t have to ignore it or let it control you. By working gently and consistently, you can nudge your system back toward safety, strength, and trust.

If you’d like help exploring this approach, get in touch or book a session today.