Central sensitization

Central sensitization occurs when the brain and spinal cord become more responsive to pain signals, amplifying pain sensations even after the initial injury or cause has healed. This heightened sensitivity results from changes in the nervous system's processing, making normal stimuli feel painful or increasing existing pain. It often contributes to chronic pain conditions where pain persists beyond normal healing, and people may experience pain in response to light touch, pressure, or movement that wouldn’t normally cause pain. Essentially, the nervous system becomes “sensitized,” leading to an exaggerated pain response.