The official definition of pain highlights 2 things most people don’t believe
When we have pain or a physical symptom in the body, most people believe two things.
- All physical symptoms (pain) are just unpleasant physical sensations, and
- They’re related to something physically wrong in the body.
But what many people don’t understand are two other things related to pain or physical symptoms.
- Symptoms (pain) are not just physical sensations (sensory component), they always includes emotion (an emotional component).
- Symptoms can be present in the absence of tissue damage or something wrong in the body.
These last two points are included in the official definition of pain but many people don’t realize they’re true. In fact, with neuroplastic symptoms, which is something I specialize in treating, it is these two points that define neuroplastic symptoms and then the approach to treating them. Neuroplastic symptoms have a high emotional component to them and they typically occur in the absence of anything being wrong in the body.
Work With Jim
Jim Prussack, MPT, MMT
Jim Prussack MPT, MMT is a licensed physical therapist and chronic somatic symptom coach who has been treating pain and other somatic symptoms for over 20 years. He specializes in chronic pain and chronic health issues using a brain and nervous system approach.

