Pain is one of the body’s most powerful signals. It alerts us when something is wrong, helps us avoid further injury, and plays a vital role in survival. But for millions of people living with chronic pain, these signals can become misfires—disruptive, confusing, and debilitating.
To better understand how to treat pain, it’s crucial to understand how it works. According to Jordan Sudberg, a leading pain management specialist, educating patients on the science of pain is often just as important as treating the symptoms themselves.
“Pain isn’t just a feeling—it’s a message,” says Dr. Sudberg. “And like any message, it needs to be understood in order to be managed.”
What Is Pain, Really?
Pain is a complex sensory and emotional experience that results from the brain interpreting signals from the nervous system. It isn’t only a reaction to injury—pain can also stem from inflammation, nerve dysfunction, or psychological factors.
According to Jordan Sudberg, pain can be categorized into three primary types:
- Acute Pain: Short-term pain that typically arises from injury, surgery, or illness. It goes away once the body heals.
- Chronic Pain: Lasts for weeks, months, or even years. This type of pain often continues even after the initial cause has been treated.
- Neuropathic Pain: Results from damage to or dysfunction of the nerves themselves. It can feel like burning, tingling, or electric shocks.
Understanding which type of pain a patient is experiencing is critical to creating an effective treatment plan.
How Pain Signals Travel Through the Body
Pain signals begin at specialized nerve endings called nociceptors, which are found throughout the body—in the skin, muscles, joints, and internal organs. These receptors are sensitive to mechanical pressure, extreme temperatures, and chemical changes.
When a nociceptor detects a harmful stimulus—like a cut, burn, or inflammation—it sends an electrical signal through peripheral nerves to the spinal cord. From there, the message travels up to the brain, where it is interpreted as pain.
“Think of it like a security system,” Dr. Sudberg explains. “Nociceptors are the sensors, the spinal cord is the alarm wire, and the brain is the control center that decides how serious the threat is.”
Once the brain receives the signal, it determines not just the location and intensity of the pain, but also the emotional response. That’s why pain can feel worse when you’re anxious or stressed.
The Brain’s Role in Modulating Pain
One of the most fascinating parts of the pain process is the brain’s ability to modulate or change the intensity of pain through a process called “descending inhibition.” The brain can send messages back down the spinal cord to dampen pain signals—or, in some cases, amplify them.
This is why treatments that focus on the brain, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), can be so effective for chronic pain.
“Pain is never just physical,” says Dr. Sudberg. “The brain plays a massive role in how pain is perceived, which means that treatments must address both the mind and the body.”
When Pain Signals Go Rogue: Chronic and Neuropathic Pain
Sometimes, pain signals don’t stop after the injury heals. The nervous system becomes sensitized, continuing to send signals even when there’s no physical threat. This is known as central sensitization and is often involved in chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and long-term back or joint pain.
In cases of neuropathic pain, the nerves themselves are damaged or malfunctioning, sending incorrect signals to the brain. This type of pain often requires a different treatment approach, including medications like anticonvulsants, antidepressants, or nerve blocks.
Dr. Sudberg emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis. “If you don’t understand where the pain is coming from in the nervous system, you risk treating the wrong problem.”
The Future of Pain Management
Advancements in neuroscience and imaging have allowed specialists like Jordan Sudberg to tailor pain management approaches to the unique neurological patterns of each patient.
“Pain is personal,” he says. “And the more we understand the pathways involved, the better we can develop treatments that don’t just mask pain—but resolve it.”
Integrative therapies like neurostimulation, physical therapy, and biofeedback, when combined with conventional medicine, are helping more people manage pain without heavy reliance on opioids or invasive procedures.
Final Thoughts
Pain may be universal, but how we experience and treat it is anything but simple. By understanding how pain signals work—from nociceptors to the brain—patients and doctors alike are better equipped to find long-term solutions.
Jordan Sudberg believes that education is one of the most powerful tools in pain management. “When patients understand their pain, they’re empowered to take control of it,” he says. “And that’s the first step toward healing.”