Why Pain Feels Different for Everyone... And What You Can Do About It
Dance Through Life, Not Around Pain
Why sit it out when you could be the one lighting up the floor?
Most of us think of pain as a simple alarm system: something hurts, so something must be wrong in the body. But science shows pain is much more complex. It’s not just about wear and tear or what shows up on a scan.
Pain is shaped by your whole life: your sleep, stress levels, hormones, diet, emotions, personality, and even the environment you live and work in. That’s why two people can have the same MRI scan... one feels fine, the other is in agony.
Pain is personal
Research shows that disc bulges, arthritis, and other changes often appear on scans in people with no pain at all.On the other hand, some people with only minor changes feel intense discomfort.
This doesn’t mean pain is “in your head.” It means your brain and nervous system weigh many different signals before deciding how strongly you feel pain. Think of it like a volume knob... and life circumstances can turn that knob up or down.
What turns pain up?
Poor sleep. Even one bad night can make pain feel worse the next day.
Stress. When your body feels under constant threat, the nervous system becomes more sensitive.
Lifestyle load. Overtraining, alcohol, ultra-processed foods, or skipping recovery time can all amplify symptoms.
Hormones. Shifts in hormones can strongly affect pain perception. During menopause, dropping estrogen levelsoften make pain sensitivity worse. High cortisol (the stress hormone) keeps the body on alert, which amplifies pain. Low testosterone in men is linked with more chronic pain, and in women, testosterone imbalances can also change sensitivity.
Beliefs. Worrying that pain will never improve, or avoiding movement completely, can make the nervous system more protective. Over time, the body can become hypersensitive, so even small signals are interpreted as painful.
Environment. Feeling unsafe in your home, neighbourhood, or workplace can keep the nervous system on high alert. Pollutants in the air and the quality of relationships with colleagues or loved ones also affect how safe or threatened your body feels.
What helps turn pain down?
Quality sleep. Good rest restores your nervous system.
Stress management. Breathing exercises, gentle movement, time in nature, or acupuncture can shift the body into a calmer state.
Supportive environments. Spaces and relationships where you feel safe allow the nervous system to relax. Small changes like improving your work setup, reducing exposure to pollutants, or strengthening healthy connections can make a difference.
Hormonal balance. Supporting hormones through lifestyle, nutrition, and in some cases medical treatment can reduce pain sensitivity. Steadier estrogen levels often reduce migraines and joint pain. Lowering excess cortisolwith stress management and restoring healthy testosterone levels can also improve resilience against pain.
Movement. The right dose of exercise often reduces pain sensitivity over time.
Nutrition. A balanced diet with protein, fibre, and healthy fats supports repair and lowers inflammation.
Therapies that calm the system. This is where acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) fit in.
Where acupuncture, herbs, and laser therapy fit
Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM).
CHM has been shown to reduce chronic pain, including arthritis and nerve pain. It can work effectively on its own, and in many cases, results are even better when combined with acupuncture.
Acupuncture.
Regular acupuncture helps calm the nervous system, release natural pain-relieving chemicals, and improve sleep— all of which reduce pain sensitivity.
Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT).
This non-invasive treatment uses gentle light at specific wavelengths. Research shows it can reduce pain in arthritis and neck pain, and may help tissues heal by calming inflammation.
The bottom line
Pain is always real. But it is never just about joints, discs, or scans.
It is an experience shaped by your whole life: sleep, diet, stress, hormones, environment, and relationships.
That can feel frustrating... but it is also empowering. It means there are many different ways to influence pain.
Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and laser therapy are safe, evidence-informed options that can reduce pain sensitivity and support recovery, either on their own or alongside your medical care.
Living with pain can be exhausting, but you don’t have to manage it alone. At On the Pulse Clinic, we use acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and laser therapy to help calm the nervous system and support lasting recovery. If you’re ready to explore a safe, evidence-informed approach to managing pain, get in touch today.