Why is psychological treatment often recommended for a physical problem such as back pain?
There is a difference between mechanical or structural problems in the back and back pain. Some people have a high level of structural damage and feel very little pain, others have little structural damage and feel lots of pain. The reason for this difference relates to the biochemical processes in our bodies that determine our pain levels. These biochemical processes are influenced by psychological processes. When we are experiencing stress, including the stress of having back pain, a variety of biochemical changes occur in the body that can alter our perception of pain. Our blood vessels constrict, which lessens the supply of nutrients to the damaged area. Our muscles tense, leading to increased muscle pain around the damaged area. Stress-related hormones also enhance the body’s inflammatory response. As a result, we produce more of the hormones responsible for inflammation in the body. We also produce less serotonin, another brain chemical. High levels of serotonin are associated wi
