Why Chronic Pain Lingers—And How Chiropractic Care May Help Your Body “Hit the Brakes”
If you’ve ever wondered why some pain fades quickly while other pain seems to stick around for months or even years, a groundbreaking new study from Hebrew University just revealed an answer—and it could change how we treat chronic pain moving forward.
🔍 Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain: The Brain Handles Them Very Differently
Researchers found that your nervous system has a natural braking system—a way to calm down pain signals during acute (short-term) pain. When you’re injured, a specialized potassium current (called IA) increases, helping to tone down overactive neurons in the brainstem.
But in chronic pain, that brake never activates.
Instead of calming down, the pain circuits become more excitable, sending repeated signals to the brain even after the original injury has healed.
“This is the first time we’ve seen how the same neurons behave so differently in acute versus chronic pain,” said Professor Alexander Binshtok, lead author of the study published in Science Advances.
🔬 The Nervous System’s Role in Chronic Pain
The team studied the medullary dorsal horn, a key relay center in the brainstem that processes pain signals. In acute pain, this area slows things down. In chronic pain, it speeds things up—leading to a loop where the body keeps sounding the alarm, even when there’s no fire.
This discovery may explain why so many people with back pain, neck pain, sciatica, or other injuries say, “I thought it would go away—but it didn’t.”
👐 So How Does Chiropractic Care Fit In?
Chiropractic care isn’t just about bones—it’s about the nervous system.
Precise, gentle adjustments can help:
🧠 Calm overactive pain circuits
🔄 Restore healthy brain-body communication
🧘♂️ Reset feedback loops before pain becomes chronic
🔌 Re-engage the body’s natural braking mechanisms
When your nervous system is misfiring, your body gets stuck in “pain mode.”
The right chiropractic care may help your system hit the brakes—before chronic pain takes over.
🎯 At Libertyville Chiropractic, Our Focus Is Fast, Affordable Relief
Most of our patients feel better in just 1–3 visits—no long-term plans required.
Whether you’re dealing with back pain, neck pain, headaches, or sports injuries, we’ll work to resolve the issue quickly and get you back to living your life.
📍 Located at 503 E Park Ave, Libertyville, IL
📞 Call or text Dr. Steve Segal directly at 847-778-3627
🌐 Visit www.libertyvillechiropractor.com to schedule online
💡 Don’t Wait for Pain to Become a Lifelong Problem
This new research confirms what we see every day in our clinic:
The sooner you intervene, the better your nervous system can recover.
Let’s help your body reset—safely, affordably, and naturally.