Pain pathways are permanent and part of the unconscious part of your brain. There is nothing you can do to “fix” them. Any attention paid to them simply reinforces them. That includes trying not to pay attention to them. For example, one strategy to avoid reinforcing pain pathways is not talking about your pain with others, especially family members. When someone has chronic pain, it can have a large, negative impact on other family members. In this episode, spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom discusses various techniques for chronic pain sufferers and their families to reduce or eliminate these impacts. For more information, go to http://www.backincontrol.com/the-4-stages/stage-1-laying-the-foundation/dont-share-your-pain/