If you’ve been struggling with ongoing pain, it’s natural to wonder: “What if something is wrong with my body that doctors haven’t found yet?”

But here’s something many people don’t realize: pain is not always a sign of damage. Sometimes, pain is driven by your brain and nervous system rather than a structural injury. This is what’s called neuroplastic pain.

Other terms you might see for neuroplastic pain are: 

• Mind-body pain

• Psychophysiologic disorders (PPD)

• Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS) – Dr. Sarno’s term

• Central sensitization pain

• Chronic primary pain – ICD-11 medical category

• Stress-induced pain

• Nervous system-generated pain

• Brain-based pain

• Functional pain syndromes

• Somatic symptom disorder (sometimes used in medical/psych settings, though it can feel invalidating)

• Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS)

• Non-structural pain

• Centralized pain

• Neurocircuit pain (used in Pain Reprocessing Therapy)

This is really important to understand. When pain is neuroplastic, it doesn’t mean it’s “all in your head.” It means your brain and body are working together to protect you, and sometimes a little too well. The good news? Neuroplastic pain can change. 

Here are 9 common signs of neuroplastic pain that may help you understand your symptoms more clearly.

1. Pain that moves or changes

One day your back hurts, another day it’s your neck, and sometimes it feels like it shifts around. Structural injuries usually stay in one place, but neuroplastic pain can be inconsistent.

2. Pain without clear injury

If your symptoms started during a stressful time—or seemed to come “out of the blue” without a fall, accident, or illness—this may point toward neuroplastic pain.

3. Pain that gets worse with stress or emotions

Notice if your pain flares during times of pressure, conflict, or exhaustion. Since neuroplastic pain is regulated by the nervous system, stress often makes it louder.

4. Normal scans, but real pain

Many people feel frustrated when MRIs or X-rays come back “normal,” but their pain is very real. If imaging doesn’t show significant damage that matches your pain levels, that’s a sign the pain may be neuroplastic.

5. Pain that gets worse with attention

When you focus on the pain, it seems stronger. But when you’re distracted or enjoying yourself, it quiets down. This shiftability is a hallmark of neuroplastic pain.

6. Multiple unexplained symptoms

People with neuroplastic pain often notice other symptoms like fatigue, headaches, stomach issues, or brain fog. These are all linked to the way the nervous system processes stress and emotion.

7. Fear of movement makes it worse

If you avoid certain activities out of fear they’ll “break” your body, but movement is actually safe, your brain may be amplifying pain signals as a protection mechanism.

8. Treatments don’t match results

You may have tried endless physical therapies, medications, or supplements without lasting relief. If structural treatments aren’t helping, it could be because the source of the pain is neuroplastic.

9. Pain with a history of trauma or high stress

Emotional trauma, chronic stress, or perfectionistic personality traits often show up alongside neuroplastic pain. Your nervous system has learned to stay “on alert,” which can make pain more persistent.

Why This Matters

Recognizing the signs of neuroplastic pain doesn’t mean you’re imagining your symptoms. It means your body is doing what it thinks it must to keep you safe.

And that’s good news—because neuroplastic pain can be reversed. With tools that calm the nervous system, shift the brain’s danger signals, and reconnect you with your body, you can begin to heal.

If these signs sound familiar, you’re not broken. You’re experiencing a very human, very common pattern—and with the right approach, it can change.