Is Pain Reprocessing Therapy a Good Alternative Treatment for Headaches, Migraines, and New Daily Persistent Headaches?

Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) is a promising approach for treating chronic pain conditions by helping patients reframe how they perceive pain. Though, its use for headaches, including tension headaches or other types, needs careful consideration.

Current Evidence and Research

1. Chronic Pain Treatment:

   • PRT has shown efficacy in conditions like chronic back pain where the chronic pain is believed to be perpetuated by central nervous system sensitization and maladaptive neural pathways.

2. Headaches:

   • The principles of PRT, which involve altering the brain's perception of pain, benefit some headache sufferers, particularly if their headaches have a strong stress or nervous system component. In my practice, I have had great success in treating all kinds of headaches—the principles of PRT work for all kinds of pain.

   • I have worked with multiple clients with new daily persistent headaches. Each client is different, but using a combination approach of PRT practices and TMS coaching resulted in near complete reduction of symptoms.

   • My prescription for headaches is a combination of PRT and mindbody principles developed by Dr. John Sarno in the 80s and 90s (TMS.) Our central nervous systems become programmed for pain. This means that it is important to go in and decondition the CNS so that it calms down, creating less need for pain.

Mechanism of PRT

• PRT aims to retrain the brain to view pain signals as non-threatening, reducing the intensity and frequency of pain experiences. For headaches, particularly tension-type headaches which are often linked to stress and muscle tension, this reprocessing reduces headache frequency and severity.

Practical Considerations

1. Multifactorial Nature of Headaches:

   • Headaches can result from a wide range of causes including stress, muscle tension, hormonal changes, dietary factors, and more. Addressing headaches often requires a multifaceted approach.

2. Complementary Approach:

   • PRT may be most effective when used alongside other treatments such as mindbody approaches, medication, lifestyle changes, meditation, and stress management techniques.

3. Individual Variation:

   • The response to PRT can vary. Some individuals may find significant relief, while others may need additional or alternative treatments.

4. Professional Guidance:

   • Working with healthcare professionals who understand both headache management and PRT can help tailor a treatment plan that incorporates PRT appropriately and monitors its effectiveness.

Conclusion

Pain Reprocessing Therapy is a useful alternative and complementary treatment for headaches, especially for those with a significant stress or nervous system component. Though, given the limited specific research on PRT for headaches, it is best used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan under professional guidance.