What Really Causes Chronic Pain, Inflammation and Postural Tension?

We all experience bodily aches and pains at some point in our lives. For acute injuries such as a sprained ankle or broken bone, the reason behind the pain is quite clear. However, for more chronic cases that have been lingering for a while where there isn't always a particularly obvious cause it can be quite confusing. We might assume we are in pain because we sit for too long at the computer, have poor posture and/or “carry our stress” in certain parts of our body like our neck and shoulders.

The human body is asymmetrical in nature. This is due to the uneven internal organ arrangement, bigger respiratory diaphragm on the right vs left and differences in brain hemispheric function. As a result, we tend to orient our bodies to the right side in space (even left-handers do this!). In order to keep ourselves facing forward as best we can, a twist occurs through our body. Imagine wringing a bath towel and that’s generally how our bodies are wound up.

Therefore, some amount of asymmetry is expected in our postural system. In essence, we all have some degree of scoliosis in our spines. However, in situations where your body is experiencing increased stress (of any kind such as physical, emotional or mental), it will respond by twisting up even more. It does this because it feels more safe and secure this way. It’s a protective response that is driven by signals from your nervous system to your muscular system. 

When your body is in such a position, the alignment at the joints and balance of tension between opposing muscles (agonists and antagonists) becomes what we may refer to as “locked up.” This means you lose your ability to move freely in 3 planes of movement (forward/backward, side to side and rotation). This results in increased impingement and compression in some regions and increased tensile strain in others which can irritate your  tissues such as muscle, tendon, ligament, joints, fascia and even nerves. This explains how a postural system that is not in optimal alignment and neuromuscular balance can result in biomechanically generated tissue pain due to the abnormal forces placed upon it. 

The approach of the Postural Restoration Institute specifically addresses these inherent patterns of asymmetry in the human body with the intention to create a more neutral position of rest in which we can freely move in all directions with ease and comfort. This method respects the interconnected nature of your entire body from your head such as your vision and bite down to your feet.

When working with a postural system that is demonstrating significant torque and tension, we have to consider the underlying factors that are driving it. As previously stated, any type of stressor can result in your body tightening up. This includes psychological as well as physical sources. Many of us are aware that we tend to carry stress in certain areas of our bodies such as our head, neck/shoulders, jaw, stomach, chest, etc. which can be connected to persistent emotions such as anxiety, frustration, sadness, anger, etc. These emotional patterns are also often related to conscious or unconscious perseverating self-limiting thoughts, perceptions and beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. For some of us, it is imperative to address these emotional and mental patterns in order to relax our physical bodies. 

Examples of physical stressors causing increased postural tension include repetitive strain injuries (e.g. overusing a mouse or keyboard), prolonged sitting in poor postures and traumas such as injuries, accidents, surgeries, etc. This is usually what we tend to associate the cause of our pain and tension to stem from.

Dr. Robert K. Naviaux, MD PhD is a prominent researcher on “The Cell Danger Response.” His work has shown that any type of persistent trauma can trigger a universal cellular response to threat, stress or injury. At the cellular level, the is characterized by a hardening of the cell membrane, release of ATP into the extracellular space reducing the cell’s potential for energy production, activation of innate immunity and changes in the gut microbiome. In an ideal scenario, this response to trauma is short lived and should fully resolve with complete healing. However, in situations where the healing cycle gets disrupted, this cellular pattern persists leading to symptoms such as fatigue, fragmented sleep, pain and increased light, sound and tactile hypersensitivity further characterized by reduced socialization. [2], Learn more about trauma and chronic cellular responses. [3]

The Cell Danger Response is consistent with the Polyvagal theory [4] where either actual or perceived threat results in reduced vagal tone and similar physiological and social consequences. Basically, when you chronically do not perceive you are safe, your mood, sleep, immune system, autonomic nervous system, energy, digestion, sensitivity to the world around you and pain experience all become dysregulated, making it difficult for you to function and engage in meaningful social interaction creating a perpetual vicious cycle.

Threats that have passed but still perceived as active:

With a history of trauma such as surgery, physical injury, abuse (physical or psychological), adverse childhood experiences and/or PTSD the actual threat has passed. However, in these cases, you may be dealing with a mind-body that believes danger is still present. Treatment involves getting these mind-body dimensions to realize they are safe (provided they genuinely are and not still in actual danger).

Active unknown threats

What about situations where a threat to your cells is actually still going on but you aren’t aware of it? In these cases, the presence of pathogens and/or toxic chemicals may be chronically stressing your cells and tissues. These cellular based traumas are being continuously experienced often without our conscious awareness.

Unless you have lived your life in a pristine unpolluted environment isolated from other humans, at various times in your existence you have been exposed to toxins and pathogens. With regards to pathogens, after a primary infection, some types commonly take up permanent residence in various cells and tissues in your body. The reality is that most of us are unknowingly harboring underlying toxins and pathogens.

Typical Herpes Locations of Habitat

With regards to chronic postural pain and tension, herpes viruses tend to be the most problematic due to the locations they tend to reside in our bodies. They are particularly neurotropic, living in the nervous system as well as connective tissues and the lymphatic system.

• Alpha herpes viruses (herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 and varicella-zoster/shingles virus) tend to reside in the sensory nerve ganglia
• Beta herpes viruses (cytomegalovirus) tend to live in secretory glands, cells of the reticuloendothelial system (network of phagocytic cells (monocytes and macrophages) living within connective tissues and organs. They are most prevalent in areas where clearance of toxins and pathogens is frequently required such as the spleen, liver, gut and kidneys.
• Gamma viruses (Epstein-barr, HHV-6, 7, 8) tend to reside in the lymphatic system, salivary glands and nervous system.

Conventional thinking is that viruses are either in a completely latent state or active in primary infection or reactivation. However, there is research demonstrating that such “dormant” states are not exactly benign but characterized by increased immune activity and management. We may consider this as a spectrum where any type of stress will compromise the immune system increasing the degree of viral expression. For example, one study on the connection between toxins and pathogens demonstrated that farmers who experienced high pesticide exposures had a higher incidence of developing shingles. [20] Likewise, another study correlating toxin exposure and viral illness showed that living near a pesticides dump site (containing organochlorine pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and metals) is associated with immunosuppression as indicated by an increased prevalence of herpes zoster activation. [21]

There is accumulating evidence that suggests that HSV-1 infection of the brain, regardless of whether one is actively displaying symptoms, can lead to neuronal damage and thus neurodegenerative disorders. 

Up to 65-75% of individuals seropositive for HSV-1 in the brain do not have obvious symptoms. However, the chronic presence of the virus in the brain alters normal neuronal cellular processes which over time can eventually develop into symptoms and clinical disease. “The fact that HSV-1 is not invisible to the immune system and that immune cells are commonly found adjacent to infected cells, suggests scenarios in which immune cells infiltrating the CNS may contribute to chronic inflammatory processes that can be detrimental to the function of the tissue.” [19] 

This is more likely to happen with aging due to the increased time of living with the infections and general reduced immune strength that accompanies the aging process. 

In addition to HSV-1, Epstein-Barr is associated with meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis, radiculoneuropathy, and even autonomic neuropathy. [22] EBV can infect neurons directly or indirectly via infected B-lymphocytes, cross the blood brain barrier, induce neuroinflammation, demyelination and neurocognitive impairment. EBV can promote the proliferation, degeneration and necrosis of glial cells along with proliferative disorders of B- and T-lymphocytes contributing to the occurrence and development of nervous system diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, acute cerebellar ataxia, meningitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and brain tumors. [23]

Such findings indicate that the life of a herpes virus is not simply a black and white active vs inactive existence but a gray one characterized by ongoing immune effort and resources to maintain as much of a latent state as possible. When additional stress is applied to the body, such as a new infection exposure, trauma, psychological distress, etc, the ability for an infected cell to maintain a purely dormant state becomes compromised and there will be increased viral expression. For many, this is unknowingly occurring and will be asymptomatic in nature. It may just be a matter of time before there is enough burden on the immune system with a final trigger resulting in symptom breakthrough. Examples could be a new acute infection, toxin exposure, accident, trauma, or hardship such as bereavement, divorce loss of job, etc.

Besides viruses, what else could potentially activate a perpetual cell danger response?

In addition to viruses, chronic bacterial infections can affect the body and be responsible for activating a cell danger response. Streptococcus bacteria can inhabit the sinuses, throat, middle ear, lungs, gut, skin, tissue under the skin, heart valves, bloodstream, urinary tract and reproductive system. Bacteria typically associated with Lyme’s disease such as Babesia, Bartonella and Borrelia are also associated with chronic health issues. 

Mold and its mycotoxins can wreak havoc on the body. What is interesting with mold issues is that usually within a household not all members react to it. This begs the question of why some do and others don’t? The answer is most likely related to the difference in immune system load between them. Someone who has a higher degree of immune system stress will have less tolerance and ability to clear mold than someone who’s immune system is not having to deal with additional chronic underlying pathogens and toxins.

There is currently a scientific paradigm called “Pain Science” with the perspective that the nervous system can become overly sensitized to sensory-motor stimuli and thus experience heightened pain. Treatment involves retraining the nervous system to not interpret such triggers as threatening. What is concerning with this approach is that it often assumes there is not any actual danger or threat and that the body needs to become desensitized.

As just explained, it is possible that the body could very well be experiencing stress on a cellular level perpetuating a cell danger response, increased autonomic nervous system activation, increased postural tension and either direct or indirect tissue inflammation with pain.

Not only do we have to deal with the plethora of exposure mechanisms to the myriad of toxins in our world but these substances get passed on generationally. One study found up to 287 different chemical pollutants in the umbilical cord of newborn babies and that up to 80% of chemicals detected in maternal blood samples can show up in the umbilical cord of newborns. [30] We therefore pass our toxins down to our children which is likely generating a cumulative effect with each generation. Infants today are entering the world already burdened plus have to deal with inevitable additional exposures over the course of their lifetimes.

Pathogens as well as toxins are inherited. Viruses and bacteria are easily spread between the close physical contact within a family. Vaginal delivery and breastfeeding [6] are mechanisms for potential pathogen transfer. This brings up a consideration regarding “genetic disease.” Is it really in the genes or is it that specific patterns of toxins and pathogens are getting passed on intergenerationally?

Postural patterns of tension and torque can be facilitated by a nervous system that is dealing with chronic pathogens and/or toxins through the following possible mechanisms:

• Directly: Pathogens and/or toxins directly inhabiting the nervous system (nerve, ganglion or brain tissue) muscle, fascia and/or associated connective tissue of the neurosensory-motor complex activating a cell danger response, autonomic nervous system and thus disrupting the neurosensory-motor experience. 
  • EBV has been found in the synovial tissues of RA. [14]
  • Herpes viruses gravitate to living in peripheral nerves and ganglia, particularly the dorsal root ganglia which houses the sensory nerves from the body tissues. 
  • Herpes viruses can occupy cranial nerves such as the trigeminal and facial nerves which can cause altered head, jaw and/or facial neurosensory processing including pain. For example, perhaps habitual clenching or grinding is a result of the body trying to reconcile altered sensorimotor processing due to chronically infected neuromuscular tissues?
• Indirectly: The presence of pathogens or toxins in nearby organs, connective tissue or lymphatic system trigger a stress response and thus increased regional postural tension patterning. 
  • Example: EBV in synovial fluid of joints [14], lymphoid tissues or organs such as thyroid [12], spleen [31] or liver [32] can increase neighboring neuromuscular tension. 

What dictates where someone experiences symptoms?

• The region of chronic infection/toxicity will influence the location of symptoms. 

• • Ex- EBV in the synovial fluid of your knee will activate a cell danger response in this region coupled with inflammatory pain. This can increase muscle tension in your entire leg such as your foot and up into your hip/pelvis further contributing to symptoms. 

• An acute neuromusculoskeletal injury or trauma creates a vulnerable state which could result in opportunistic pathogens entering the tissue and staying. This may explain why a body region that was previously injured may reactivate symptomatically in the future. 

• • One way to tell where you may have chronic pathogens is when you experience an acute infection, such as the flu or COVID, take note in your body where you feel aches. Decreased latency of chronic infections occurs during acute ones because the immune system has to direct its resources towards managing the acute infection allowing latent ones to wake up.

I am going to share with you my own personal experience that convinced me of this phenomenon. About 1x a year for many years my low back would go out. It usually was triggered by bending over. When in this state, I would have pain in the center of my spine that would radiate laterally resulting in being immobilized for a few days. Typically, one would assume that perhaps I had a disc that would “go out.”

In 2022 my back went out twice. The first was the day after I had a lip tie release procedure where I bent over to tie my shoes as usual and felt a twinge in my back. Shortly after I could barely move for a few days. The mechanical trigger to this was very mild on a body that had just experienced a significant trauma and was in a vulnerable state. The second experience (6 months later) involved me trying out a new detox protocol involving a significant amount of anti-pathogenic herbs. Within a couple days of initiating this regimen my back went out in the worst way it ever has. This time there was no mechanical trigger at all. The only thing that was different was the detox regimen I had just started. I essentially went too aggressively against the pathogens and/or toxins residing in my spine resulting in an inflammatory response. 

When my body responded this way, I titrated back on my dosages but continued to work on my detox protocol. Since then (Oct 2022), my back has not gone out again. Furthermore, whenever I previously had gotten a fever, I would always have the most body aches in my low back. In the 2 times I have experienced an acute infection with fever since my detox protocol, I have not had any low back aches. This is interpreted as a substantially reduced pathogenic/toxin load in this region of my body.

The reality is that we all have some degree of toxin and pathogen pattern in our body and would benefit from detoxification efforts. Furthermore, it is important to consider other factors that are stressing your immune system’s ability to manage underlying toxin and pathogen load. This includes:

• History of or active trauma whether that be physical or emotional (surgery, concussions, repetitive strain injuries, abuse, emotional hardships)
• Existing disease states
• Degree of ongoing toxin/pathogen exposure

Ideal vs Reality

Ideally, we would all be eating low fat diets primarily based around fruits, vegetables, leafy greens and wild foods coupled with some legumes, intact gluten-free whole grains such as rice, oats or millet and modest amounts of unprocessed lean meat (poultry preferred over red meat) taken ideally at dinnertime. 

However, the reality is that we modern humans have some serious food issues where our ability to actually follow through with such a diet is limited. Physiological and emotional food addictions are real and unfortunately there are more cases than not where one will choose to continue with their dietary habits and suffer ill health and even early death over changing their dietary patterns.

Physiological food and beverage addictions can involve caffeine, alcohol, salt, processed sugars, additives, gluten and dairy which all promote inflammation. When we crave certain foods one must ask, “Is it truly me who wants this substance or perhaps pathogens perpetuating persistent pro-inflammatory processes? Alcohol and sugar cravings can be due to not having adequate glucose and glycogen reserves in the body, particularly the liver. Caffeine and chocolate addictions can indicate issues with adrenaline. Salt cravings can be related to electrolyte/mineral deficiencies or adrenal fatigue.

When experiencing emotional stress we will often turn towards foods that give us an adrenaline hit (such as caffeine or fat) to boost our mood and energy, provide emotional comfort or distract us from underlying stressors. Many foods we gravitate towards go back historically to times in our life where we felt safe and nurtured within our family and thus we sensorily positively associate them with this experience.

Therefore, when starting out on a nutritional journey, it is encouraged to set small reasonable goals and build from there. For some this may be drinking 16 oz more water/day while for others it will be an entire dietary overhaul. Generally, as one begins to clean up their physiology, it becomes easier to keep up with healthier dietary patterns. 

If someone is really blocked with making changes in their eating habits, they likely are up against certain underlying dietary beliefs and/or emotional attachments that will not permit them to make any or all of the changes that would best support their health and well-being. In this case, an approach focusing more on the emotional-mental and even spiritual realms may be necessary. 

A final important point to bring up is that the degree to which someone may need to change their nutritional patterns to result in meeting their goals in how they want to feel and move will significantly vary. For some it might mean a few easy changes while for others it might entail an incredibly strict overhaul with significant supplement integration which could potentially take years. It all depends on what they need and are willing and able to do which can evolve over time as they do.