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The Pain Rehabilitation Center (PRC) recognizes what is known as Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS). This is an umbrella term used to describe pain and symptoms that arise from hypersensitization of the nervous system.
To best understand CSS, it is important to know about the nervous system. Our nervous system is made up of two main parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system acts as the control center of the body, consisting of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system consists of all the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord that act as the communication network. The peripheral nervous system sends sensory information to the central nervous system and delivers the central nervous system's commands to the rest of the body. Together, the central and peripheral nervous system work as a team to control the body's functions.
CSS is a phenomenon that alters how sensory stimuli is processed by the nervous system. Imagine your nervous system as a highway and that the neurons are vehicles carrying information along it. The highway is usually monitored by a patrol that regulates traffic, ensuring that the vehicles travel efficiently. However, with CSS, the highway becomes dysfunctional and allows too many vehicles to travel too frequently and at higher speeds. As a result, the highway becomes hypersensitive. Now, even the most minor disturbance, such as the vehicle in front of you lightly taping their breaks, causes a major chain reaction.
Increased traffic along the highway can be compared to the hyperexcitability of the nervous system. The nervous system sends too many alert signals even when there is no real danger, much like a congested highway with no major accident. Ultimately, CSS turns a once-efficient neural highway into a hypersensitive, traffic-jammed system in which sensory signals are sent too often and too intensely. The brain becomes accustomed to this influx of signals and now has a decreased threshold for pain and symptoms.
Our nervous system has the incredible ability to functionally and structurally change so that we can adapt to new situations and absorb new knowledge. However, this ability can become maladaptive just as it has with CSS. Although the cause of the highway traffic has been resolved, the effects progress on. Once the central nervous system is altered, it cannot return to its previous form because the brain has structurally created these new traffic systems. This is why CSS cannot be cured with medication or procedures. However, by applying an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation, we can leverage the mechanisms that enable our nervous system to learn and adapt to also manage CSS.
To learn more about CSS visit the Video Resources tab.
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Oh wow! Please let me know how that works! Prayers for healing!
I have CSS, Sojourns, and fibromyalgia. I went to Granddaughter's ballgames yesterday. Outside in 95+ temperatures under a tent with a portable air conditioner on me all day. The heat wasn’t bad but the trip on the way home 1.5 hours my skin feels like it’s burning and every joint in my body hurts. I think I will lose my mind some days I don’t care if I do and today is one. I don’t know where to turn for help all I got was diagnosis . I take opioids 2 a day small dose, Cymbalta 60 mg. I have diabetics, high blood pressure and every other disease you could possibly have. I need help. Where can I get it?
@nanniesue4, I understand you're experiencing significant pain and frustration. It sounds incredibly challenging to manage your conditions, especially with the added stress of the heat and travel. It's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed and like you're at your wit's end. Please know that you're not alone, and there are resources available to help.
The Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Center in Florida provides comprehensive care for chronic pain conditions, involving a multidisciplinary approach that addresses physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of pain. Their team can assess your specific needs and develop a personalized treatment plan. I strongly encourage you to explore this resource. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/chronic-pain-symptoms-rehabilitation/tab/patient-resources-1/
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2 ReactionsI agree. It's very helpful.
@rwinney
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1 ReactionTo whom it may concern: A teeny Typo below
To best understand CSS, it is important know about the nervous system...
Add ' to ' before 'know '
Good reminder thank you for that Post. @tanyaot
Good eye, @ellesea01. Thank you. The typo has been fixed. 🙂
Wow yourfast@ellesea01
@rwinney
I heard that woman have this happen more than men - does anyone know if this is accurate? Mine is caused by a trauma I had to C4. I have a wonderful care team - they are explaining what happened to me because of the injury and made me aware of learning thresholds
Hi! I too have had chronic pain from degenerative disc disease (DDD) and have had MANY back surgeries and fusions in my lower back. The surgeon nicked a nerve going down my leg and I have had extreme, constant nerve pain in my leg, along with failed back pain relief. About 20 years ago, I had a dorsal column stimulator implanted in my spine to relieve the constant nerve pain. About 10 years ago I started having terrible neck pain and had disc fusion there also. I've had many nerve ablations on my neck that have only lasted a few months. So I have given up on those and continue with terrible neck pain and headaches. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia many years ago and had mixed reactions to that diagnoses from some of my doctors. I too was on oxycontin for many years, but have been off that now for over 5 years (very hard journey). But I do take tramadol, lyrica, flexeril, and tizanidine daily to try to control the pain. In the past 6 months I have started getting pain all over my body (in addition to the back pain). My doctor has added Cymbalta as a possible help to the pain all over, lack of energy, brain fog, and mood. Not really sure if its helping as I have joint pain all over now, but not always in the same place from day to day. I even thought maybe I have Lyme's Disease. My doctor has suggested that I now have CSS as a result of my chronic pain and many failed surgeries. Could the dorsal column stimulator, that is supposed to disrupt the pain signal to my brain, be a contributing factor to the CSS? I am new to this diagnoses and feel hopeless that there is something that will help. It just feels like more diagnosis' and more medications. Would love to hear your opinion. Thanks!