Chronic pain and persistent symptoms can be confusing, frustrating, and exhausting — especially when medical tests don’t provide clear answers. In recent years, research has shown that the brain and nervous system can sometimes “learn” to generate or amplify pain signals, even in the absence of ongoing injury. This is known as neuroplastic pain
The encouraging news is that when pain is neuroplastic, it is also reversible . With the right awareness, strategies, and support, you can retrain your nervous system to feel safe again and reduce or even eliminate symptoms.
This self-assessment is designed to help you reflect on whether your symptoms may carry the hallmarks of neuroplastic pain. It draws on well-established patterns identified in pain research, including the ways stress, emotions, and nervous system sensitivity can contribute to pain and other chronic symptoms.
Take a few minutes to complete the questions. Your responses will give you a personalized reflection on how likely it is that neuroplastic factors may be contributing to your symptoms — and provide suggestions for your next steps.
Disclaimer: not a diagnostic tool . The results cannot confirm or exclude a medical condition. They are meant to give you insight into whether your symptoms share features commonly seen in neuroplastic pain. A thorough medical evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional is always recommended. Structural or medical causes should be ruled out or addressed before assuming your symptoms are primarily neuroplastic in nature.
Even with pain or discomfort, I can sometimes push through and then realize afterward it wasn’t as bad as I feared, but I might feel worse afterwards.
Treatments aimed only at my body (medication, injections, surgery, or physical therapy) have not provided lasting relief.
The intensity of my symptoms fluctuates significantly without a clear physical reason.
My pain never changes with my emotional state or stress level.
Medical tests (e.g. MRI, X-rays, lab work) have shown little or no structural explanation for my pain.
My symptoms have lasted longer than doctors originally predicted for my condition.
People around me (including doctors) have struggled to explain why I’m still experiencing these symptoms.
I often find myself worrying about my symptoms or what they mean.
My pain or symptoms change location or character (e.g. sharp one day, dull the next, or shifting body areas).
My pain always follows a predictable pattern and never changes.
My symptoms sometimes flare up after emotionally difficult events or relationship conflicts.
I sometimes avoid physical or social activities out of fear of making my symptoms worse.
My pain has a single, clear, and consistent physical cause that fully explains it.
My symptoms sometimes ease when I stop paying attention to them
I notice connections between my stress level and the severity of my symptoms.
I’ve experienced multiple changes in where or how symptoms appear over time.
My symptoms make me feel frustrated, helpless, or stuck in a cycle I can’t control.
I sometimes feel better when I’m engaged in enjoyable or absorbing activities.
You’ve just taken an important step toward understanding your symptoms and how your nervous system may be playing a role in maintaining them. Your responses provide valuable insights into patterns that can help distinguish between pain caused by structural issues and pain influenced by the brain and nervous system.
In just a moment, you’ll see your personalized results. These results are not a medical diagnosis , but they will help you reflect on whether neuroplastic pain might be contributing to your experience. They can also point toward next steps that may bring you closer to relief.
Remember: chronic pain does not mean permanent pain. With the right awareness, guidance, and support, it’s possible to retrain your brain, calm your nervous system, and restore comfort.
As you review your results, think about how you might take action based on the recommendations provided.
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Now, let’s look at what your results reveal.
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