Dr. Jordan Sudberg Breaks Down Pain Sensitization: What Every Patient Needs to Know

Chronic pain can be confusing and frustrating—especially when the pain seems disproportionate to an injury or persists long after healing should have occurred. One of the key reasons behind this perplexing experience is a phenomenon called pain sensitization.

Dr. Jordan Sudberg, a pain management specialist, often encounters patients who struggle to understand why their pain behaves the way it does. In this blog post, Dr. Sudberg explains pain sensitization in simple, patient-friendly terms, helping those suffering from chronic pain to better understand their condition—and ultimately feel more empowered in their journey toward relief.

What Is Pain Sensitization?

Pain sensitization is essentially the nervous system’s increased responsiveness to pain signals. When sensitization occurs, the nerves become more sensitive and react more strongly to stimuli, often resulting in pain that feels more intense, more frequent, or triggered by things that wouldn’t normally cause pain.

Dr. Sudberg describes it as “a volume knob turned up too high in your nervous system.” This means that even light touches or minor movements can feel painful, or that pain persists even when the original cause of injury has healed.

 

Two Main Types of Pain Sensitization

Understanding pain sensitization starts with recognizing that it can occur at different levels of the nervous system:

1. Peripheral Sensitization

This happens in the nerves located outside the brain and spinal cord—typically near the site of injury or inflammation.

“When tissue is injured or inflamed, the nerve endings in that area become more sensitive,” Dr. Sudberg explains. “This makes the area more responsive to stimuli, which helps protect the injury while it heals.”

But sometimes, even after healing, the nerves remain overly sensitive, causing ongoing pain.

2. Central Sensitization

This occurs within the spinal cord and brain. Here, the nervous system itself becomes hypersensitive and amplifies pain signals.

Dr. Sudberg says, “Central sensitization is what makes chronic pain so challenging. The brain starts interpreting normal sensations as painful because the pain processing pathways are ‘turned up’.”

Central sensitization can lead to allodynia (pain from normally non-painful stimuli, like light touch) and hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to painful stimuli).

 

Why Does Pain Sensitization Happen?

Pain sensitization often begins as a protective mechanism, but in some people, it becomes persistent. Dr. Sudberg explains several contributing factors:

• Nerve injury or inflammation: Triggers heightened nerve responsiveness. 
• Repeated or prolonged pain signals: The nervous system adapts by amplifying signals. 
• Genetic predisposition: Some people’s nervous systems are more prone to sensitization. 
• Psychological factors: Stress, anxiety, and depression can worsen pain sensitivity. 
• Lack of proper pain treatment early on: Untreated or undertreated pain can lead to sensitization. 

 

What Does Pain Sensitization Feel Like?

Patients describe sensitized pain in various ways:

• Pain that spreads beyond the original injury site. 
• Pain triggered by light touch, clothing, or even temperature changes. 
• Pain that lasts long after injury healing. 
• Increased pain intensity without any new injury. 

Dr. Sudberg stresses, “If your pain feels different than what you expected or seems out of proportion to any physical findings, sensitization may be involved.”

 

How Does Knowing About Pain Sensitization Help Patients?

Education is a powerful tool in managing chronic pain. When patients understand that their nervous system is overreacting rather than their body being continuously damaged, it often reduces fear and anxiety.

“Knowing about pain sensitization helps patients realize that pain is not always a sign of harm,” Dr. Sudberg says. “This can reduce the ‘fear of pain’ cycle, which itself amplifies pain.”

Understanding sensitization encourages patients to engage in treatments that target the nervous system, rather than focusing solely on structural damage.

 

Treatment Approaches Targeting Pain Sensitization

Dr. Sudberg emphasizes that managing sensitized pain usually requires a multimodal approach that addresses both the nervous system and lifestyle factors.

1. Medications

Certain medications can help calm the nervous system, including:

• Antidepressants like duloxetine or amitriptyline 
• Anticonvulsants such as gabapentin or pregabalin 
• Topical agents and others 

“These medicines target nerve excitability and reduce the amplification of pain signals,” explains Dr. Sudberg.

2. Physical Therapy and Graded Exercise

Gentle, gradual physical therapy helps retrain the nervous system to tolerate movement without triggering excessive pain.

“Gradual exposure helps ‘turn down’ the sensitivity of the nerves,” says Dr. Sudberg.

3. Psychological Interventions

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and stress reduction techniques address emotional factors that amplify sensitization.

“Mind and body are deeply connected in pain processing,” Dr. Sudberg notes.

4. Education and Self-Management

Understanding pain sensitization empowers patients to participate actively in their care and avoid catastrophizing.

 

What Patients Can Do Today to Manage Sensitized Pain

Dr. Sudberg recommends several practical steps:

• Learn about pain mechanisms: Knowledge reduces fear and builds confidence. 
• Stay active within your limits: Avoiding all movement can worsen sensitization. 
• Practice relaxation techniques: Meditation, deep breathing, or yoga can calm the nervous system. 
• Seek multidisciplinary care: Work with a team including pain specialists, therapists, and counselors. 
• Be patient: Sensitization can take time to improve. 

 

A Patient Success Story

Dr. Sudberg shares the story of a patient with longstanding fibromyalgia who struggled with widespread pain and hypersensitivity.

“After comprehensive education on pain sensitization, combined with medication, physical therapy, and CBT, she reported dramatic improvement,” Dr. Sudberg recalls. “She learned to manage her pain rather than being controlled by it.”

 

Final Thoughts: Pain Sensitization Is Real—and Manageable

In closing, Dr. Jordan Sudberg reminds patients that:

• Pain sensitization is a common and real contributor to chronic pain. 
• It doesn’t mean you are imagining your pain or that your body is damaged beyond repair. 
• Understanding sensitization is the first step to taking control. 
• Multidisciplinary treatment tailored to your needs can help retrain your nervous system and reduce pain. 

“Don’t hesitate to talk to your pain specialist about pain sensitization,” he urges. “With the right knowledge and approach, you can improve your quality of life.”