Chronic Pain: The Types of Chronic Pain
- Zachary Price
- Aug 14
- 3 min read
Living with pain for months or years can be exhausting — physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s common to feel like no one truly understands your experience or that nothing will help. The reality is that chronic pain isn’t a single, one-size-fits-all problem. It can stem from different processes in the body, and each type responds best to specific strategies.
Pain itself is not inherently “bad.” It’s the body’s built-in alarm system — nerves detect potential harm, send a signal t o the brain, and the brain tells the body to protect itself. Normally, this system quiets down after the injury heals. But sometimes, the system becomes overactive, and pain continues long after tissues have recovered.
At AthleteRX, we believe the first step toward effective treatment is identifying which pain mechanism is most active.
Here are three types of chronic pain we see in our clinic:
1. Peripheral Neurological Pain
What it is:This type of pain occurs when nerves outside the brain and spinal cord (the peripheral nervous system) become irritated, compressed, or damaged. This can result from mechanical pressure, reduced blood flow, or changes in surrounding tissues.
What it may feel like:
Muscle spasms
Burning, tingling, or “electric shock” sensations
Crawling feelings under the skin
Deep, achy discomfort
Heightened pain response — mild touch feels painful (allodynia), or normal pain feels extreme (hyperalgesia)
How we address it:
Our approach focuses on relieving pressure from the nerve, reducing inflammation, and restoring normal nerve mobility. That may include:
Targeted joint adjustments
Soft tissue therapy at points of nerve entrapment
Dry needling
Nerve mobility exercises (neurodynamics) to restore healthy nerve movement
2. Central Sensitization Pain
What it is: In central sensitization, the brain and spinal cord become hypersensitive, amplifying pain signals and sometimes generating pain even after the original injury has healed. Pain may feel more intense, spread to new areas, or occur with normally non-painful activities.
Why it develops:
Persistent stress
Over-focusing on pain
Prolonged illness or injury
Changes in nerve and brain pathways that lower the threshold for feeling pain
How we address it: Managing central sensitization requires calming the nervous system while gradually restoring function. This often includes:
Progressive movement and strength training
Breathwork and nervous system retraining
Manual therapy to improve body awareness without overstimulation
Collaboration with mental health professionals
Staying active — movement provides hormonal, mental, and physical benefits
3. Affective Pain
What it is: Affective pain is strongly influenced by emotional state, past experiences, and personal beliefs about pain. While it originates in the brain’s processing centers, the pain is very real and can be just as limiting as pain from a physical injury.
Common contributors:
Chronic stress
Depression or anxiety following injury
Unresolved trauma or grief
Social isolation or lack of support
How we address it:
Education to replace fear and uncertainty with understanding and confidence
Movement coaching to rebuild trust in the body
Nutrition and sleep strategies to support recovery
Mental health support to address emotional and psychological factors
Integrative care that treats both the body and the mind
Why This Matters
Most people with chronic pain experience a combination of these types, which is why treatment needs to be personalized. At AthleteRX, we combine:
Chiropractic care to restore movement and reduce mechanical stress
Patient education to reframe pain and promote self-efficacy
Soft tissue therapy and dry needling to improve circulation and mobility
Movement retraining to rebuild strength and resilience
Collaboration with other healthcare providers for a comprehensive plan
This Traffic Light Guide helps to decipher if your pain is damaging or harmful pain.
If you’ve been living with pain, there is a path forward. Understanding what kind of pain you have is the first step toward choosing the right strategies — and finally breaking the cycle.
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