If you’ve been living with pain for months—or even years—you’ve probably heard things like:
“Just take it easy.”
“You’re fine, your scans are clear.”
Or the worst one: “Maybe it’s all in your head?”

Let us be very clear about this: it’s not just in your head.

Here at ARC Rehabilitation & Pilates in Ballina, we see people every day who have been dismissed, misunderstood, or left feeling hopeless. Chronic pain can be confusing, frustrating, and incredibly isolating—but there is always something we can do to help.

“But they told me nothing is wrong…”

That’s one of the most common things we hear during Initial Consultations. People have been through MRIs, X-rays, blood tests—only to be told everything looks “normal.” But they’re still in pain.

Here’s the thing: chronic pain doesn’t always come from damage. Sometimes, the nervous system becomes overly sensitive—even after the original injury has healed. It’s like the volume knob on pain has been turned up too high, and it stays stuck there.

You’re not imagining it. You’re not being dramatic. You’re not broken.
Your body is just doing its best to protect you—it's just gone a bit overboard.

So, what is chronic pain exactly?

Chronic pain is any pain that sticks around longer than 12 weeks. It might:

• Come and go randomly

• Flare up with stress, tiredness or certain movements

• Move around the body

• Feel worse even though you’re “resting”

• Seem totally out of proportion to your injury

Conditions like fibromyalgia, nerve pain, back pain, or even old injuries can fall under this umbrella.

Can rehab really help if there’s “nothing to fix”?

Yes—and this is the bit most people don’t realise.

Rehab isn’t just for people with torn ligaments or post-surgery recovery. It’s also for people with complex pain that doesn’t show up on a scan.

At ARC, our approach to chronic pain focuses on:

• Understanding your pain story

• Helping calm the nervous system

• Restoring movement, gradually and gently

• Rebuilding strength and confidence

• Teaching you how to manage flare-ups without fear

A different kind of rehab experience

We don’t push you to do burpees. We don’t expect you to “grin and bear it.” Instead, we work with your body and your symptoms.

Our Initial Consultation is all about listening—really listening—to your story. We’ll ask about what your pain feels like, what your day-to-day looks like, what makes things worse (and better), and what goals matter most to you.

Then, we put together a rehab plan that actually makes sense for you.

Why we love Reformer Pilates for chronic pain

One of our most effective tools for chronic pain rehab is our Reformer Pilates studio. This type of movement:

• Supports your body while it moves

• Reduces the fear of injury or flare-ups

• Builds strength without pounding the joints

• Improves posture, breathing, and flexibility—all key for pain relief

And you’re never on your own. Our team is with you every step of the way, guiding you safely through.

Final thoughts

Chronic pain is real. It's complex. And it can be incredibly tough to live with. But you don’t have to figure it out on your own, and you don’t have to accept it as your “new normal.”

With the right support, the right education, and the right movement—you can feel better.

We’re here to help you feel heard, understood, and most importantly—relieved.

📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 0861763809