Rethinking Pain, Surgery and the Body–Mind Connection
Being told you might need a scan or surgery can feel overwhelming. Understandably, people want certainty – a clear answer about what’s causing their pain and how to fix it. But when it comes to back pain, shoulder pain, and many chronic pain conditions, the reality is more complex.
This is where a body–mind approach becomes essential. Pain is not always a simple indicator of physical damage – and scans do not always tell the full story.
Scans Don’t Always Match Pain
Patients often assume that MRI or ultrasound results are the most reliable indicator of what’s happening in their body. But research shows something surprising:
- Over 50% of people with no back pain at all have disc bulges in their lower spine.
- Over 60% of pain-free adults have torn or fully ruptured shoulder tendons, while still functioning normally.
So if someone experiences shoulder pain and a scan shows a torn tendon or impingement, it is tempting to assume that’s the cause. But it might not be. If millions of people have these changes without pain, then pain must involve more than just structure.
The Body Is Not a Machine
The traditional medical model treats the body like a mechanical system: something hurts → find the damaged part → fix or remove it.
But we are living, adaptive, self-healing organisms. Pain is influenced by:
- The nervous system
- Stress and emotional load
- Previous injuries
- Fear and belief about pain
- The meaning we attach to symptoms
This is where body–mind therapy plays a vital role. It helps us understand why pain persists even after tissues have healed — and why surgery isn’t always the answer.
So, When Is Surgery Necessary?
There are absolutely times when surgery is essential, such as:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control (e.g., cauda equina syndrome)
- Clear, progressive nerve compression
- Structural damage causing serious loss of function
In these cases, I would refer someone directly and support them through the process.
But for everyday back pain, shoulder pain, or long-standing joint pain, surgery is rarely the first step — and often is not needed at all.
What to Explore Before Surgery
A skilled clinician should assess more than the scan. Before considering surgery, ask:
- Have you had proper physiotherapy?
Not just a sheet of exercises — but hands-on work, movement re-education, strengthening and gradual reloading. - Has anyone explored the body–mind connection?
Did the pain begin after stress, burnout, or a difficult life event?
Has the nervous system become protective or hypersensitive? - Has the treatment considered your whole lived experience?
Not just the joint or muscle in isolation.
True healing requires the whole person, not just the painful area.
The Bigger Picture: Pain Is Multifactorial
If over half the population has disc bulges — and 80% of people over 70 have them — we cannot simply assume a scan result explains pain. Pain is real. But the source can be physical, emotional, neurological or a combination.
This is why body–mind therapy matters. It helps the nervous system feel safe again. It reconnects you with your body in a grounded, empowered way. It allows change without forcing or pushing.
You Have Options
If a surgeon or clinician becomes defensive when you ask questions, that is a sign to pause. A good practitioner should welcome discussion.
You deserve:
- Clear understanding
- Realistic options
- Collaborative decision-making
Surgery should never feel rushed or assumed based on a scan alone.
A Body–Mind Approach to Pain at The Grange Health
My work focuses on supporting people with:
- Chronic pain
- Long-standing or unexplained pain
- Fibromyalgia and fatigue-related conditions
- Pain that hasn’t improved with standard physiotherapy
- Together, we explore not just the physical structures, but also the nervous system, your lived experience, and how the body holds pain over time.
You are not broken. Your pain is valid. There is another way to support your healing.
Watch my video on this on my YouTube channel. Just click on this link: https://youtu.be/tG7Y3Kezopk?si=rtsFA4pjZQchM5JF
Find our more about how therapies at the Grange can help you recover from your chronic pain condition: https://thegrangehealth.com/trauma-physio/
