Why did my joint become hypersensitive?

During an acute joint injury, the body triggers an inflammatory process often informally called the “inflammatory soup.” This cocktail of molecules makes the joint more sensitive to pain. The goal is not only to amplify the pain signal but also to alert the brain that the injured joint must be protected. This protective phase can last from several days to several weeks, depending on the severity of the lesion.

What happens after the inflammatory soup?

Once the initial inflammation has settled down, some of the nerves around the joint can remain in a state of “overdrive.” They become so excitable that they may keep sending danger signals even when the joint itself is no longer at real risk. This constant buzzing at the periphery can then “teach” the spinal cord and brain to stay on high alert. The result is that the nervous system starts amplifying the message: movements or touches that should feel normal can suddenly feel painful. In other words, the joint pain lingers not because the injury is still severe, but because the nervous system has learned to overreact.

When pain becomes chronic: the nociplastic switch

If your joint pain has lasted for more than 12 weeks, we are no longer talking about the normal protection phase. At this stage, many scientists believe the nervous system itself has changed. The brain and spinal cord can become “reprogrammed” to keep producing pain signals, even though the joint is healing. This is what we call nociplastic pain. It’s like the volume knob of your pain system has been turned up, and the body has learned to keep it loud. The pain you feel is real, but it is no longer a faithful mirror of what is happening in your tissues. Instead, it reflects the new sensitivity of your nervous system.

Fear of movement keeps the pain alive

When pain lingers, it’s natural to start avoiding movements that seem risky. But this constant avoidance means the nerves around the joint are no longer being gently stimulated. Instead of calming down, the peripheral system stays on edge, ready to fire with the slightest trigger. Over time, this lack of normal input reinforces the brain’s “memory” of danger, keeping the pain network switched on. In this way, fear of movement doesn’t just limit daily life — it also helps maintain hypersensitivity in the nervous system and strengthens the brain’s nociplastic representation of pain.

How to calm the pain

Avoiding movement may feel safe, but it actually makes the nerves around the joint more sensitive. The less you move, the more the peripheral system stays on high alert, feeding stronger pain messages to the brain. In other words: avoiding movement equals joint hypersensitivity. The good news is that gentle, progressive movement does the opposite. By moving step by step, you reduce the storm of neurotransmitters being released at the periphery and arriving in the brain. This helps the nervous system “turn down the volume” and makes the pain easier to manage.

Conclusion

Joint pain that lasts beyond the initial healing phase is not always a sign of ongoing damage, but often the result of a nervous system that has become oversensitive. This is why understanding pain is so important: it shows that the body is not “broken,” but that the system needs to be retrained. With progressive movement, reassurance, and the right guidance, it is possible to reduce hypersensitivity and regain confidence in your body.