September marks Pain Awareness Month, a time to challenge a common assumption: that pain always signals physical injury. For millions suffering from chronic pain, the injury may have healed, yet the pain remains. According to Dr. Anderson, a neurologist and Chief Medical Officer at 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, where the nervous system amplifies pain signals. It plays a significant role in conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic migraine, sciatica, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Dr. Anderson compares it to an overly sensitive fire alarm: "That high-pitched shriek is definitely real, but it may be going off when there isn't actually a fire." The key is that the brain can learn to misinterpret harmless signals as dangerous, perpetuating pain.
The good news, Dr. Anderson emphasizes, is that evidence-based approaches can help retrain the nervous system. At Lin Health, a virtual care platform based in Denver, CO, this brain-first method is delivered through a medication-free program that combines behavioral therapy, one-on-one coaching, and structured daily modules via an interactive app. The goal is to help the nervous system become less reactive to perceived threats.
For Pain Awareness Month, Dr. Anderson hopes that understanding central sensitization will empower patients. "The pain is always real, but understanding why it persists may open the door to more effective approaches to treatment," he says. Lin Health partners with leading health systems like Mayo Clinic and WellSpan Health to provide this multidisciplinary care, which is often inaccessible in traditional settings due to clinician shortages and fragmented care pathways.
This brain-first approach is not just about managing symptoms but achieving measurable recovery, addressing the biological, behavioral, and social drivers of chronic pain. As research advances, the hope is that more patients will find relief by understanding that their pain is real, but also that their brain can be taught to turn down the volume.
