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Chronic Pain, Plan Your Escape
- Yannick Sarton
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
Updated: 3d
Chronic pain is not a life sentence
Chronic pain often feels like a trap. Symptoms linger, fluctuating without warning. Medical consultations multiply. Scans show “degeneration,” “wear,” or “disc changes,” which can increase fear rather than offer clarity.
But chronic pain is not a sign of irreversible damage. It is a complex interaction between your tissues, your nervous system, your expectations, your stress levels and your past experiences with pain.
Pain becomes chronic when the brain maintains a state of heightened protection. The goal of modern physiotherapy is to reduce this protective response and rebuild confidence in movement.
Why chronic pain persists
In most chronic MSK conditions, the issue is rarely a damaged structure. Instead, pain persists because the nervous system becomes hypersensitive. This sensitivity develops when symptoms last for weeks or months, and the brain starts interpreting normal signals as threatening.
Factors such as fatigue, lack of movement, stress, poor sleep, and repeated medical imaging can amplify symptoms.
Understanding this mechanism is liberating: chronic pain does not mean your body is broken — it means your system is overprotective.
The role of movement in escaping the cycle
Movement is one of the most powerful tools in chronic pain management. When the body becomes more active and stronger, the nervous system receives repeated signals that movement is safe.
This gradually reduces sensitivity and fear.
The goal is not to move “perfectly” — perfection in posture or alignment has no scientific basis. The goal is to move progressively, within a safe and manageable range, to change how the brain interprets your symptoms.
Why rest and overprotection make pain worse
It is normal to reduce activity when pain starts, but long-term avoidance strengthens the pain cycle. When muscles weaken, joints stiffen, and cardiovascular fitness decreases, everyday activities become harder.
This increased effort makes the nervous system even more reactive, creating a loop:
less movement → more sensitivity → more pain → less movement.
Breaking this loop requires a structured strategy — not rest, not immobilisation, not passive treatments — but graded exposure.
Physiotherapy as a roadmap out of chronic pain
Modern physiotherapy focuses on restoring capacity, not chasing pain. Instead of looking for a single “fix,” the approach builds a sustainable path with measurable progress.
A structured program includes:
• progressive strengthening
• cardiovascular conditioning
• movement variability
• load management
• education about pain science
• gradual return to meaningful activities
With consistent training, the nervous system recalibrates, and your body becomes more resilient.
Understanding “flare-ups” as part of the journey
Chronic pain recovery is not linear. Good days and bad days are normal. A flare-up doesn’t mean you’ve regressed or caused damage — it simply indicates temporary sensitivity.
Managing flare-ups with reassurance, pacing and light movement prevents catastrophisation and keeps progress on track.
Learning to interpret these fluctuations correctly is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success.
The key message
Chronic pain is a complex but reversible condition. You are not stuck with it.
With structured movement, gradual exposure, and a clear understanding of how pain behaves, the nervous system can change — and so can your life.
Recovery is not about eliminating sensations but about regaining capacity, confidence, and control.
I provide structured and evidence-based online physiotherapy for patients worldwide, offering clinical assessment, diagnosis, and personalised rehabilitation.
I also receive patients in person at my physiotherapy clinic in Phnom Penh.
You can begin your online physiotherapy session through the dedicated platform:
More information on clinical standards and supporting evidence is available here:
Yannick Sarton, MSc Physiotherapist
International Online Physiotherapy & In-Clinic Care, Phnom Penh
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