Dr James Alexander, PhD- Psychologist

The following article clearly spell out the lack of evidence for a relationship between chronic pain and structural pathologies of the body, in particular, the spine. Where there is clearly a relationship between structural pathologies and acute pain (ie. pain of less than 3 months duration), research simply fails to find any such relationship with chronic pain (ie. pain of more than 3 months duration). In addition, there are problems in logic related to the structural pathology hypothesis which have never been addressed. Despite the lack of evidence and logical problems, the pain industry has succeeded in convincing (almost) our entire culture that chronic pain results from structural pathology, and therefore requires physical therapy. This leads on to ineffective physical treatments for chronic pain, years of frustration and pain, and ultimately, to people giving up on the idea that they can ever live without pain. This is so unfortunate as it is so utterly incorrect. Just because the pain industry has approached chronic pain from the wrong direction does not mean that it is an unsolvable problem for many/most people. This is a scholarly article, however it is well worth plowing through. It is high time that health professionals began addressing what the research evidence shows about chronic pain. Reading the information in this article is a step in that direction.

http://www.thehealthymind.com/2013/02/24/why-stress-reduction-and-brain-size-may-be-the-key-to-managing-chronic-pain/