Nervous System
How many nerves are in your body?
400
How can we help our brain produce "feel good" chemicals?
Education, exercise, meditation, relaxation, breathing.
What do people with a sensitive alarm system have less tolerance for?
Activities
How many people out of 4 have a sensitive alarm system?
1/4
How long is the nervous system when put all together?
45 miles
Why is aerobic exercise good for us?
It helps to pump blood (and oxygen!) through the body to help your nervous system calm down.
What does our nervous system work like?
An alarm system
Why is pacing important?
Doing too much too quickly can cause the alarm system to activate then crash.
What do nerves do?
Carry messages from one part of the body to another (i.e. from your brain to and from body parts).
What is the 4-letter word used as a pacing strategy and what do the letters stand for?
STAR - Stop. Think. Act. Resume.
Why does pain not go immediately from 10 to 0?
To protect us - your body needs time to heal and recover from injury in order to prevent experiencing the same injury/pain causing event again.
If you are experiencing chronic low back pain, what else might start to hurt?
"The nosy neighbors." (Left hip, right hip, upper back, etc.)
What is in our body that tells us information like: "It's cold out," or "I just touched something hot."
Nerve sensors
What is the first step to take in order to turn your alarm system down? (Think about the power point page on coping strategies!)
Gaining more knowledge about pain/neuroscience!
Failed treatment, fear, anxiety, family/friend concerns, persistent pain, school stressors, etc.
How does chronic pain differ from acute pain?
Chronic pain lasts weeks, months, even years. Acute pain goes away quickly.
What are endorphins?
Natural pain relievers ("feel good chemicals") your body produces to block pain or stress.
Why might your pain worsen when you're feeling stressed, sick, or anxious?
Your body produces stress chemicals that float throughout the body and wake up your nerve sensors.