A life free from pain is possible.

Knowledge Becomes Healing.

What are Neuroplastic Symptoms? 

Chronic pain or illness not explained by disease or injury (or for which treatment is not working as expected) are usually caused by learned neural pathways in the brain. These are called neuroplastic symptoms.

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4 out of 10 people seen by physicians suffer from neuroplastic conditions.

Find out if your pain or illness may be neuroplastic.

Find out if your pain or illness may be neuroplastic.

Take the 3-Minute Quiz

Pain Science Paradigm Shift

Watch as the groundbreaking science of chronic pain (and other symptoms) is explained by scientists who did the research, clinicians who put it into practice, and patients who experienced the life-changing benefits.

Resources

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Common Neuroplastic Conditions

A woman holding a COVID-19 rapid test with two lines indicating a positive result, close-up of the test device.

Long Covid

A young woman with long brown hair holding her head with both hands, looking stressed or worried, against a plain light gray background.

Headache or Migraine

A woman with dark hair and medium skin, wearing a white shirt, appears to be experiencing pain or discomfort, holding her neck with one hand and her head with her other arm resting on her forehead against a plain background.

Fibromyalgia

Woman with dark hair, wearing a beige shirt, sitting on a bed, holding her face with her hand, appearing to experience sudden pain or discomfort

Chronic Fatigue

An elderly woman with short gray hair, wearing a light pink t-shirt, is experiencing stomach pain, holding her abdomen with her left hand and leaning her head against a white wall.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

A woman experiencing back pain, holding her lower back with a pained expression, wearing a grey long-sleeve shirt, standing against a light blue background.

Back or Sciatic Pain

Man sitting inside a hospital or medical facility with a distressed expression, holding his head with both hands

Vertigo or Dizziness

Person wearing a gray sweater holding their stomach, indicating abdominal pain or discomfort.

Pelvic Pain

A man with a worried expression holding glasses on his head with one hand against a plain gray background.

Visual Abnormalities

A person performing a thumb test on their hand, with a light blue background.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

A man holding his right wrist with a red, irritated area indicating pain or injury.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

A young woman with dark hair and light skin appears to be in a reflective or contemplative mood, sitting against a wooden wall. She is wearing a beige hoodie and a green beaded bracelet, with one hand resting on the side of her head.

Chronic Lyme Disease

An elderly man appears to be experiencing chest pain or discomfort, holding his chest with one hand and touching his forehead with the other, against a yellow background.

Functional Neurologic Disorder

Woman holding her lower abdomen with both hands, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans against a yellow background.

Interstitial Cystitis

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Other Conditions

People with neuroplastic symptoms often can relate to one or more of the following personal characteristics. These can change with treatment:

  • Excessively Self-Critical

  • Low Self-Esteem

  • Neglecting your needs

  • Reliable and Detail-Oriented

  • Hard worker

  • Perfectionism

  • Unbalanced or toxic relationships

  • Approval-seeking

  • Stressful lifestyle

  • Poor assertiveness

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Traumatic life event(s)

  • Adversity in Childhood

A donut chart showing 75% in the outer ring, with segments colored yellow and gray.

Neuroplastic Recovery Therapies Research

In patients with back pain for an average of 10 years, pain decreased by 75% after eight one-hour sessions of neuroplastic recovery therapy.

A donut chart showing 77% in the center, with segments in shades of green and gray.

After an average of nine months of long Covid, neuroplastic recovery therapy led to a 77% decrease in pain interfering with activity.

A doughnut chart showing 67% with orange and dark gray segments.

In a study in Los Angeles of older male veterans with chronic pain, 67% achieved at least 30% pain relief with neuroplastic recovery therapy.

A donut chart with 64% in the center, divided into two segments, one in blue and the other in dark gray, representing data proportions.

In a study at Harvard, of people with chronic back pain, 64% became pain-free after six months of neuroplastic recovery therapy.

More Conditions that are often Neuroplastic

Alternative Diagnoses

  • Adrenal fatigue syndrome

  • Candida overgrowth syndrome

  • Dysbiosis/dysbacteriosis

  • EBV reactivation syndrome

  • Electro-magnetic field sensitivity

  • Leaky gut syndrome

  • Mast cell activation syndrome

  • Multiple chemical sensitivities

  • Multiple food sensitivities

  • Multiple medication allergies

  • Small intestine bacterial overgrowth syndrome

Cardiology

  • Inappropriate sinus tachycardia

  • Non-cardiac chest pain

  • Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

  • Raynaud’s phenomena

Ear, Nose, and Throat

  • Burning mouth syndrome

  • Choking sensation or “lump in throat”

  • Chronic cough

  • Chronic tooth or gum pain

  • Laryngopharyngeal reflux

  • TMJ OR TMD Temporomandibular disorder

  • Tinnitus

Gastroenterology

  • Chronic heartburn or GERD

  • Cyclic vomiting syndrome

  • Functional abdominal pain

  • Functional dyspepsia

  • Irritable bowel syndrome

Genito-Urinary

  • Chronic prostatitis

  • Dyspareunia

  • Frequent urination

  • Pelvic congestion syndrome

  • Pelvic floor dysfunction

  • Persistent genital arousal disorder

  • Pudendal neuralgia

  • Rectal muscle spasm/rectal pain

  • Sexual dysfunction

  • Vulvodynia

Mental Health

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Eating disorders

  • Misophonia

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder

  • Panic attacks

  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

  • Protracted withdrawal syndrome

Musculoskeletal

  • Amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome

  • Chronic joint pain

  • Chronic neck pain

  • Chronic tendonitis

  • Erythromelalgia

  • Foot pain syndrome

  • Morton’s neuroma

  • Myofascial pain syndrome

  • Paresthesias

  • Piriformis syndrome

  • Plantar fasciitis

  • Post-surgical incision pain

  • Repetitive strain injury

  • Thoracic outlet syndrome

  • Torticollis

  • Whiplash

  • Winged scapula syndrome

Neurology

  • Benign Tremor

  • Brain fog, memory difficulties

  • Computer vision syndrome

  • Dystonias

  • Mal de Debarquement syndrome

  • Non-epileptic or functional seizure disorder

  • Occipital neuralgia

  • Persistent postural perceptual dizziness

  • Post concussion syndrome

  • Post-herpetic neuralgia

  • Raynaud’s phenomena

  • Restless leg syndrome

  • Small fiber neuropathy

  • Spasmodic dysphonia

  • Stuttering

  • Tics

  • Trigeminal neuralgia

  • Visual snow syndrome

Other Conditions

  • Hypersensitivity to touch, sound, smell, light, foods or medications

  • Insomnia

  • Multiple chemical sensitivity

Skin

  • Chronic eczema, hives, or itching

  • Hyperhydrosis

  • Telogen effluvium

  • I had 23 years of chronic pain. 5 years ago I couldn't walk more than three blocks; now I hike easy 12 miles, do salsa, play pickle ball. I have my life back.

    Jenny F.

  • I was trapped in chronic pain. I did MRIs, physical therapy, medications, every foam roller and treatment imaginable. Nothing worked. I came across these resources and live pain-free today.

    Monica S.

  • I am a former semipro cyclist and I used to be partially bedridden on strong painkillers. Today I do 500 mile bike trips without even thinking about my back.

    Alec K.

  • “These concepts put the joy back into my work.”

    Beth L., Family Medicine MD

  • I used to suffer from chronic back pain and it was difficult to get out of bed. Now I run every day and play with my daughter.

    Mary W.

  • I received a diagnosis of Long COVID. I couldn't walk or talk. Now, I can run and dance.

    Cameille T.

  • The ATNS is the hub for all mindbody and neuroplastic symptom professionals looking to connect, expand, learn, and hone our trades.

    Michael R.

  • You'll probably never know just truly how many lives you've changed but I will let you know that my children's lives are changed because my life was changed by your research and books.

    Rene K.

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Learn More.

Experiencing pain or illness? Click here.
Treating patients? Click here.
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ATNS

The Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to educate the public, patients, and practitioners about how to diagnose and treat neuroplastic pain and illness. Founded and led by volunteer medical and mental health practitioners, researchers and patient advocates, ATNS provides the information and tools needed to recognize and treat neuroplastic conditions; explains and promotes the latest scientific research; advocates for healthcare policies that support access to quality treatment; and empowers people to advance their own healing.