At Logan Physio, National Pain Week 2025 is a chance to change the conversation around pain – from confusion and frustration to clarity, control, and confidence.
This year’s campaign, led by Chronic Pain Australia, is all about #PainChanger – spotlighting the people, research, and programs helping Australians live better with chronic pain. Our own Justine Clarke, physiotherapist at Logan Physio, is passionate about sharing these insights with you.
Justine recently completed a Professional Certificate in Pain Management from the University of Sydney and has distilled her expertise into a 7-part blog and video series. This article brings those insights together into a single, powerful resource to help you understand pain in a new – and hopeful – way.
Understanding Pain: It’s Not What We Once Thought
Pain used to be explained simply: injury equals pain. But modern pain science has turned that idea on its head.
Pain is not just about tissue damage. It’s a complex experience created by the brain in response to danger signals from the body – signals detected by nociceptors, danger sensors not “pain nerves”. These receptors report potential threats to the body (extreme temperatures, pressure, chemical changes), and the brain decides whether to create a pain response based on the information coming in plus:
- Past experiences
- Current emotional state
- Level of perceived threat
- Social context
- Environmental factors
That means pain can exist even when no damage is present. It is the brain’s interpretation of a perceived threat in these cases that leads to the experience of pain .Ever put your hand on or near a hotplate or flame and felt pain yet moved your hand away to find no burn?
Conversely damage can exist without pain. Once again in these cases the level of perceived threat is low and therefore pain is not felt. Ever had the experience of pain disappearing on holiday or when you are having a great time?
Acute vs Chronic Pain: Why This Distinction Matters
One of the key insights in pain science is the difference between acute pain and chronic pain:
- Acute pain is short-term and usually protective. It helps you avoid further harm and promotes healing.
- Chronic pain continues beyond 3 months – well after tissue healing should be complete. It often reflects a sensitised nervous system rather than ongoing injury.
This distinction is essential for both patients and practitioners. Treating chronic pain like acute pain (with scans, injections, rest, or surgery) can actually make things worse.
The Biopsychosocial Model: Pain Is Personal
Pain isn’t just physical. That’s why modern healthcare embraces the biopsychosocial model, which considers:
- Biological: tissue injury, inflammation, nerve sensitivity
- Psychological: fear, stress, mood, beliefs about pain
- Social: work demands, relationships, support networks
This helps explain why two people with the same injury can experience pain completely differently.
At Logan Physio, we use this model to understand the whole person – not just the painful part. Your pain story matters, and it’s key to your recovery.
What Are Nociceptors, Really?
Nociceptors are often misunderstood as “pain receptors” – but they don’t actually produce pain.
Instead, they detect potential threats and send danger signals to the brain. The brain then decides what to do with that information: ignore it, act on it, or produce pain to protect you.
In people with chronic pain, this system can become hypersensitive – a concept called central sensitisation. Your brain gets better at producing pain, even when there’s no injury. The volume knob gets turned up.
Understanding this process is empowering. It means your pain is real, but it’s also changeable.
Can We Retrain the Pain System?
Yes – and that’s the heart of what we do at Logan Physio.
We help people retrain their nervous system through a combination of:
- Graded movement: building confidence in safe activity
- Education: changing the narrative around pain
- Support: addressing fear, stress, and lifestyle habits
- Therapies: hands-on care, pacing strategies, and strengthening
This approach works especially well for conditions like:
- Chronic low back pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- Headaches and migraines
- Pain following injury or surgery
Even in longstanding pain, improvement is possible.
Busting Common Pain Myths
We hear these misconceptions often – especially from people who feel stuck or misunderstood. Let’s set the record straight:
| Pain Myth | Pain Science Truth |
|---|---|
| Pain always means damage | Pain is a protective experience – not a damage meter |
| I need a scan to find the cause | Scans often show “abnormalities” in pain-free people |
| If I rest, the pain will go away | Gentle, progressive movement is more helpful than rest |
| My body is broken | Most tissues are strong, adaptable, and heal well over time |
| Pain will just get worse as I age | Staying active and informed can reduce pain and improve quality of life |
What About Flare-Ups?
Pain flare-ups can be scary – but they don’t always mean harm.
They often occur due to system sensitivity, stress, anxiety, poor sleep, or overloading. We help clients learn to:
- Recognise their early warning signs
- Use pacing and graded exposure
- Stay calm and compassionate with themselves
- Adjust activity – not stop it altogether
You’re not going backwards. Flare-ups are part of the learning curve.
The Power of Understanding: Why Education Helps
Justine’s message is clear: knowledge is powerful medicine. When you understand pain better, it becomes less frightening and more manageable. This shift can:
- Reduce fear and catastrophising
- Encourage safe activity
- Improve mental health and resilience
- Lead to more effective treatment outcomes
We believe education should be the first line of care – not the last resort.
A Whole-Person Plan for Recovery
At Logan Physio, we take a holistic, individualised approach. Your treatment might include:
- Graded movement therapy
- Manual therapy (where appropriate)
- Pain education
- Cognitive behavioural strategies
- Breathing and relaxation techniques
- Sleep and nutrition coaching
- Referrals to mental health or medical professionals
We work with you – not on you. Your goals guide the process.
Join the National Conversation
This National Pain Week, we encourage everyone to:
- Ask questions about their pain experience
- Challenge outdated ideas
- Learn how the nervous system works
- Seek evidence-based care
- Share their pain story without fear or shame
👉 Visit chronicpainaustralia.org.au/painchanger to see what’s happening during the week.
👉 Reach out to our team at Logan Physio if you or a loved one are living with persistent pain. We’re here to help.
Hope, Not Helplessness
Pain may be complex, but that doesn’t mean it’s permanent or hopeless.
Justine Clarke and the Logan Physio team are here to help you reclaim control – not through quick fixes, but through understanding, support, and sustainable change.
This National Pain Week, let’s move away from fear and toward empowerment. Together, we can become #PainChangers.
Want to Dive Deeper?
If you’re curious to learn more from Justine directly, we’ve created a full 7-part video series exploring each of these topics in more depth – from how pain works, to what you can do about it.
🎥 Watch the full series here:
👉 Understanding Modern Pain Science Playlist on YouTube
Whether you’re experiencing chronic pain yourself or supporting someone who is, these videos are a powerful tool for understanding and action.
Logan Physio – Helping Logan Move Well, Live Well, and Thrive
📍 2 Mallee St, Crestmead QLD
📞 (07) 3200 8541
🌐 www.loganphysio.com.au
📧 admin@loganphysio.com.au
