September is Pain Awareness Month, a time to challenge a fundamental assumption about pain: that it always signals injury or damage in the body. What happens when an injury heals, or when there is no clear injury, yet pain persists? According to Dr. Anderson, a neurologist and Chief Medical Officer of Lin Health, sometimes the pain itself becomes the disease.
"Pain is always real, but it doesn't always mean there is ongoing damage in the body," says Dr. Anderson. "Sometimes, the brain and nervous system can become stuck in a persistent pain-alarm loop, continuing to send danger signals long after an injury has healed, or when there is no injury at all."
This phenomenon is known as central sensitization, a condition where the brain and nervous system amplify pain signals. It plays a major role in persistent nociplastic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia, chronic migraine, sciatica, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Dr. Anderson likens it to a fire alarm that has become overly sensitive: "That high-pitched shriek is definitely real, but it may be going off when there isn't actually a fire."
The good news, he says, is that evidence-based approaches can help retrain the nervous system to process pain differently. "The pain is very real, and the goal is to help the nervous system become less reactive to signals that it has learned to interpret as dangerous."
Lin Health, a virtual care company based in Denver, CO, offers a brain-first approach that targets the nervous system processes contributing to persistent pain. Their medication-free program combines behavioral therapy, one-on-one coaching, and structured daily modules, all delivered through an interactive app. This approach aligns with clinical guidelines but is often inaccessible in traditional systems due to clinician shortages and fragmented care pathways. Lin Health bridges that gap by providing scalable, affordable care that is covered by insurance.
For Pain Awareness Month, Dr. Anderson emphasizes that understanding central sensitization can be a vital first step for those living with persistent pain. "The pain is always real, but understanding why it persists may open the door to more effective approaches to treatment."
Lin Health partners with leading health systems such as Mayo Clinic and WellSpan Health to deliver multidisciplinary care. For more information about Lin Health and its approach, visit Lin.Health.
