Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the nervous system’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new connections between neurons.

While this adaptability is essential for learning and recovery after injury, in pain medicine it can be a double-edged sword. Repeated or prolonged pain can “rewire” the nervous system, reinforcing pain pathways and making pain persistent even after tissues have healed. Therapies such as graded activity, psychological interventions and neuromodulation aim to steer neuroplasticity toward recovery rather than maladaptation.