Persistent Pain: A New Way to Understand Your Body

By Dr. Tristan Ginkel, DC, FRCms

If you’ve been living with ongoing pain, you’ve probably heard something like:

• “Your spine is degenerating.”

• “Your joints are worn out.”

• “Your body is out of alignment.”

After hearing this, many people start to believe their body is fragile or broken. They stop exercising. They avoid movement. They wait for a specialist, a procedure, or the “right fix.”

At Radius Physical + Sports Rehab in Nevada City, we take a different approach.

Your pain is real. But pain is often a poor indicator of tissue damage. Recovery isn’t about finding one broken structure, it’s about understanding how your body’s protection system works and rebuilding your capacity to move with confidence.

Pain Is an Alarm System! Not a Damage Meter

Pain’s primary job is protection.

Think of it like a smoke alarm. It doesn’t measure the size of a fire — it just detects possible danger and sounds the alarm.

After an injury or stressful period, your nervous system can become more sensitive. The “volume” turns up. The alarm may go off even when tissues are safe.

This is why an important concept in rehabilitation is:

Hurt does not always equal harm.

At our Nevada County physical therapy and chiropractic clinic, we help patients learn when movement is safe — and how to retrain the nervous system through gradual, strategic loading.

What Imaging Doesn’t Tell You

MRI and X-ray findings often sound scary:

• Disc bulges

• Arthritis

• Tendon fraying

• Meniscus tears

But research shows these changes are extremely common in people without pain.

A helpful way to think about it:

Degeneration is like wrinkles on the inside.

These findings often reflect normal aging and activity — not damage that needs to be “fixed.”

Our job at Radius is to match imaging (if needed) with your symptoms, movement patterns, and functional goals — not treat a scan.

Why Pain Persists: The “Cup” Model

Pain rarely comes from one single cause.

Imagine your stress tolerance as a cup. Pain shows up when the cup overflows.

Things that fill the cup include:

Physical factors

• Tissue overload

• Deconditioning

• Previous injury

Mental and emotional factors

• Fear of movement

• Stress or anxiety

• Negative beliefs about your body

Lifestyle factors

• Poor sleep

• Work stress

• Sitting all day

• Life demands

Often, a small movement isn’t the real cause of a flare-up — it’s just the final drop.

At Radius Physical + Sports Rehab, our care addresses the full picture so you can build resilience, not just manage symptoms.

The Two Traps That Slow Recovery

1. The Avoidance Trap

Stopping activity feels logical, but long-term avoidance leads to:

• Weakness

• Reduced tolerance

• Increased sensitivity

• More fear of movement

2. The “Push Through It” Trap

Ignoring pain completely can overload tissues and keep the nervous system on high alert.

The Goal: The Goldilocks Zone

Recovery happens when you:

• Move enough to build tolerance

• Avoid excessive flare-ups

• Progress gradually and consistently

This is the foundation of active rehabilitation in Nevada City and Grass Valley.

How We Treat Persistent Pain at Radius

2. Graded Exposure (Strategic Movement)

Instead of avoiding painful movements, we reintroduce them safely in small doses.

Over time:

• The nervous system becomes less reactive

• Movement feels safer

• Pain decreases

• Function improves

3. Return to Meaningful Activities

Persistent pain often puts life on hold.

We help patients in Nevada County return to what matters:

• Hiking local trails

• Gym training

• Playing with kids

• Working comfortably

• Golf, cycling, skiing, or running

Doing is the fixing.
Movement and engagement are powerful drivers of recovery.

When to Seek Help for Persistent Pain

You may benefit from an evaluation if:

• Pain lasts longer than 4–6 weeks

• Imaging findings don’t match your symptoms

• You’ve been told to “just rest” but aren’t improving

• You’re avoiding activities you used to enjoy

• Pain keeps coming back

Early, movement-based care often prevents long-term chronic pain patterns.

You Are Not Fragile

Your body is adaptable and resilient.

Recovery isn’t about perfect posture, perfect alignment, or waiting for something to be “fixed.”

It’s about:

• Building tolerance

• Moving with confidence

• Reclaiming your life

Start Your Recovery in Nevada County

At Radius Physical + Sports Rehab, Dr. Tristan Ginkel D.C FRCms and our team are educated in:

• Persistent pain treatment

• Active rehabilitation

• Sports and orthopedic care

• Chiropractic and manual therapy

• Return-to-activity planning

Book online to see available appointments, if you don’t see a time that works for you then Call or text: (530) 955-0065 and let our front desk work their scheduling magic!

📍 Radius Physical + Sports Rehab
Nevada City & Grass Valley
📞 (530) 955-0065
Book online anytime.