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Neuroplastic symptoms are real symptoms created by learned patterns in the brain and nervous system rather than structural damage. When these patterns are understood and retrained, symptoms can resolve and the body can return to balance and lasting relief.
Click on blue button below for full overview of condition.
Neuroplastic pain or illness manifests in too many ways to list them all. However, if you have one or more of the following then the resources on this website are worth trying.
Pain or illness with no organ disease or structural injury to explain it after diagnostic testing by your physician.
Pain or illness that is attributed to an organ disease or structural injury but then does not improve with treatment as much as your physician expected.
Pain or illness that improves after using one or more resources on this website.
Symptoms in the body that have one or more of these characteristics are most often generated by the brain. This can result from stress, trauma, emotions, or other challenges in life. When these problems are uncovered and addressed, neuroplastic conditions improve.
Headache specialists classify headaches into two categories: primary and secondary.
Secondary headaches occur due to an identifiable cause, such as a brain tumor, infection, inflammatory condition, or sinus or dental health issues. These underlying conditions require medical treatment.
On the other hand, primary headaches have no identifiable cause following a routine medical evaluation.
Migraines fall into this category and are characterized by varying intensity. They are often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light, sound, or smells. Sometimes, migraines are preceded by warning symptoms.
While it’s commonly believed that factors like hormonal changes, certain foods and drinks (including alcohol), lack of sleep, weather patterns, and exercise trigger migraines, we now understand that these are often not the true cause.
Instead, if medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain is generating or contributing to the pain. This is called a neuroplastic symptom. It results from changes in neural pathways linked to past or present stress or other life challenges (often not fully recognized). The good news is, these patterns can be reversed through neuroplastic healing.
Fibromyalgia consists of widespread muscle pain and tenderness often accompanied by fatigue and altered sleep, memory, and mood.
While symptoms are real, there is no evidence they are caused by disease or injury.
If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also called Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disorder (SEID) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), is marked by severe fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties, pain, and other symptoms that worsen with exertion.
These symptoms persist for at least six months and cannot be explained by any underlying medical condition.
Although the symptoms of CFS are real, the exact cause remains unknown.
If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder involving irregular muscle contractions in the large intestine and how the brain perceives these contractions.
It can lead to abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or both), bloating, and a sensation of incomplete bowel movements.
There are no definitive diagnostic tests for IBS; it is diagnosed based on typical symptoms and ruling out other potential causes.
If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
Low back or lumbar pain refers to discomfort in the lower back’s five spinal bones (lumbar vertebrae).
Sciatic pain follows the sciatic nerve, which originates from five lower spinal nerves that merge into a large nerve extending to the legs and feet. Pressure on these nerve roots can occur due to bulging discs or joint swelling between vertebrae.
However, spine abnormalities like bulging discs are common in people over 40 and even in younger individuals, often without causing pain.
If a doctor’s neurologic exam finds no muscle weakness, reflex loss, bowel or bladder issues, or skin sensation loss, serious nerve root compression is unlikely.
Most bulging disc pain resolves naturally within weeks or months. If pain persists without nerve root compression, the brain may be contributing to the symptoms.
If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
Vertigo is a symptom that causes a person to feel like they or their surroundings are moving, even when they are not. It is often described as a spinning or swaying sensation and can make it difficult to balance. Vertigo can last from a few seconds to days and can be constant or sporadic.
Dizziness is a broader term that includes a general feeling of being off-balance, unsteady, lightheaded, feeling faint, or having difficulty with movement or walking.
Common diagnoses applied to people with these symptoms can include:
Vestibular Migraine which consists of episodes of vertigo and other vestibular symptoms associated with migraine features such as headache, nausea, or visual disturbances.
Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic disorder characterized by non-spinning dizziness and unsteadiness that persists for three months or more.
Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is a rare disorder characterized by a persistent sensation of motion, typically described as rocking, swaying, or bobbing. Often begins after disembarking from a boat, plane, or other transportation.
Vertigo and dizziness can be caused by organ disease or structural damage. If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
Chronic pelvic pain, lasting more than six months, affects one in six women and one in ten men.
The pain can vary widely in severity and may be influenced by factors such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, sexual activity, bowel movements, urination, body movement, or other pain or illness in the body.
While certain diseases and structural abnormalities can cause this condition in some cases, in many instances these abnormalities are not responsible for the pain. This may explain why laparoscopic surgery provides complete pain relief for fewer than half of female patients.
If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
A wide range of visual disturbances can occur that are not caused by disease, damage to the eye, or nervous system, including:
Migraine-related such as flashes of light, bright jagged lines, or blind spots
Particles that appear to be floating in your visual field
Pinpoint sparks of light that are moving in your visual field
Halos and glare
Ghost images that remain after looking away
Visual ‘snow’ in the entire visual field
These can sometimes result from underlying damage or disease. If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of inherited disorders affecting the connective tissues that provide strength and elasticity to the skin, joints, and blood vessels.
It is distinct from Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), which involve symptoms related to increased joint mobility but do not meet the stricter diagnostic criteria for EDS.
Individuals with EDS often have overly flexible joints and stretchy, fragile skin, which can lead to joint dislocations or sprains, often accompanied by pain.
In some cases, symptoms such as pain, fatigue, dizziness, constipation, and headaches are attributed to EDS or HSD when no other clear explanation is found.
If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
Interstitial Cystitis, also known as Painful Bladder Syndrome, refers to pressure or pain in the bladder, often accompanied by an increased need to urinate.
The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. The pain can vary in severity, location, and its relationship to factors like the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, sexual activity, bowel movements, body movement, or other pain or illness in the body.
Emptying the bladder usually provides temporary relief.
If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) refers to a set of symptoms with no identified cause, typically affecting an arm, hand, leg, or foot.
Symptoms include pain that may feel aching or electric-like, along with sensations such as tingling, burning, or numbness.
It often begins after an injury, though the injury may not involve the affected area. Swelling or changes in skin color (red, blue, or purple) may also occur.
CRPS can be limited to one limb or spread to others.
There is no evidence that a structural disease causes CRPS, and symptoms have been successfully treated using the mindbody approach. This suggests that CRPS is likely caused by the brain, with possible involvement of the autonomic nervous system in cases with swelling or skin color changes.
If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
Functional Neurologic Disorder (FND) is the second most common diagnosis in neurology clinics, following headaches. It involves symptoms caused by abnormal nerve function, yet no underlying disease or damage to the nerves or brain has been identified as the cause. These symptoms are entirely real and can vary widely.
Common symptoms include muscle weakness or paralysis, blackouts or non-epileptic seizures, and movement disorders such as tremors, muscle spasms, or jerky movements.
Other symptoms may include vision disturbances like double vision or vision loss, speech difficulties such as hoarseness, slurring, or stuttering, and altered skin sensation, including hemisensory syndrome (changes in sensation on one side of the body).
Dizziness and balance problems are also frequently reported.
The most likely explanation for FND is changes in key circuits within the brain, which disrupt normal function and lead to these symptoms.
If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
A long list of symptoms has been attributed to persistent infection by the organism that causes acute Lyme disease. Some of these symptoms are:
Fatigue
Muscle and joint pain
Cognitive difficulties (brain fog)
Headaches
Sleep disturbances
However, the medical community largely does not recognize chronic Lyme disease as a legitimate diagnosis because:
Evidence for persistent infection is lacking
There is no benefit from prolonged antibiotic treatment
There is an association with other brain-generated neuroplastic symptoms
If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
Long Covid affects about 10% of patients who contract Covid-19 infection, causing fatigue, insomnia, shortness of breath, cough, headache, exercise intolerance, diarrhea, muscle aches, brain fog (issues with memory, focus, and other cognitive skills), and more.
The exact cause of Long Covid is unclear. It may involve a combination of delayed healing from Covid, autoimmune inflammation, or lingering injury from the virus.
If medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the pain or illness. This is called a neuroplastic symptom.
...she reaches inside, finding the most appropriate tool for me. Eliza’s literacy of current leaders in therapy, trauma release, combined with yoga, breath, and body work inspired trust in her as a guide for me through my grief. Just sayin’ — her tool basket is very full!
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We begin by listening carefully to uncover the root cause of your symptoms and patterns.
You receive a personalized step by step plan designed to support your body, lifestyle, and healing.
You are guided with tools, education, and ongoing support to create lasting change and balance.
Continuous guidance and support throughout your wellness journey, daily life, and long term transformation.
Pain Science Paradigm Shift: (Watch Here)
The Solution Behind the Symptoms: Finding Hidden Fear (Watch Here)
The Science Behind the Symptoms: Back Pain (Watch Here)
New Migraine Research (Read Here)
Why Do Many People Struggle to See Their Own Neuroplastic Symptoms? (Read Here)
What is Neuroplasticity and What are Neuroplastic Symptoms? (Read Here)
The Story Behind The Symptoms (Listen Here)
The Science Behind the Symptoms (Listen Here)
The Solution Behind the Symptoms (Listen Here)
