Central Sensitization
When pain continues after healing, what changed was not the tissue but how the nervous system processes pain. This animation shows that path in plain language. Choose a phase to see it on repeat and read the explanation.
Phase 1 of 7
NORMAL PROCESSING
A touch is just a touch.
The nervous system receives the stimulus and interprets it in the right measure.
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Normally, a touch is just a touch: the nervous system receives the stimulus and interprets it in the right measure.
For professionals
Normal nociceptive processing: the stimulus is interpreted at the appropriate intensity. Animation cards: 'pain processing: normal' and 'the brain perceives: touch, no pain'.
Phase 2 of 7
INJURY
In the face of an injury, pain protects.
It signals the tissue while it heals.
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When there is an injury, pain has a role: it protects the tissue while it heals.
For professionals
Protective pain during tissue repair ('tissue healing').
Phase 3 of 7
HEALING
The tissue heals. The pain persists.
It continues beyond the expected healing time.
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The tissue heals, but the pain continues, beyond the expected healing time.
For professionals
Pain persisting beyond the expected healing time ('healed tissue · pain persists').
Phase 4 of 7
CENTRAL SENSITIZATION
The central nervous system amplifies pain.
Pain processing has its volume turned up.
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The central nervous system starts amplifying pain: it is as if the volume were turned up.
For professionals
Central sensitization: amplification of nociceptive processing in the central nervous system ('pain processing: amplified').
Phase 5 of 7
NON-PAINFUL STIMULUS
A light touch starts to hurt.
Stimuli that would not normally be painful are perceived as pain.
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A light touch starts to hurt. Stimuli that would not normally be painful are perceived as pain.
For professionals
Allodynia: non-nociceptive stimuli, such as light touch, perceived as pain ('light touch · perceived as pain').
Phase 6 of 7
CHRONIC PAIN
Anywhere in the body.
Central sensitization is a frequent component of chronic pain conditions.
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This can happen anywhere in the body. Central sensitization is a frequent component of chronic pain conditions.
For professionals
Central sensitization as a frequent component of chronic pain, in any region of the body.
Phase 7 of 7
CENTRAL SENSITIZATION
The pain is real.
What changed is how the nervous system processes it.
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The pain is real. What changed is how the nervous system processes it.
For professionals
The pain is real; the change is in central processing. Sources cited in the animation: Woolf, 2011; Halili, 2023.