Today I'm joined by Leigh Brandon, a functional medicine practitioner, CHEK practitioner, CHEK faculty instructor, active release techniques therapist, author, and podcast host. His extensive training and years of clinical experience have given Lee the ability to provide a truly holistic approach to helping his clients overcome pain over the years, which they found very effective. While after other approaches have failed to relieve their pain, Lee's mission is to help as many people as possible to lead a healthy, productive, fulfilling, and happy life.

A CHEK practitioner is a health and fitness professional trained by the CHEK Institute to assess and address clients' health and fitness needs using a holistic, individualized approach. They focus on identifying the root cause of issues rather than just treating symptoms and develop personalized programs incorporating corrective exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle coaching.

Why do so many suffer from chronic pain?

Lee had this to say about why so many people experience chronic pain these days.

“Any pain that someone's had for more than three months is considered chronic. Now, there's not one type of chronic pain in terms of the causation. So, for instance, you could injure yourself. Now, what should happen is the body should heal, and the pain goes away.  But what sometimes happens is the pain remains after the tissues have healed. So, what happens there is that you get the pain signals going from the receptor site to the brain. That alerts the brain to the damage in the body, and then it can work out how to heal that tissue damage. But sometimes what happens is the pain signal doesn't get switched off.”

Leigh said as we get older, it’s more likely that we’ll experience chronic pain—pain that persists for more than three months, but there is a way for most people to reverse long-term pain.

The root cause of chronic pain – Alignment, nutrition, and nervous system

Over one billion people worldwide battle chronic pain daily - a silent epidemic robbing them of joy and vitality. But what if this suffering isn't inevitable? What if the pain signals persisting long after tissues have healed are actually trying to teach you something?

Functional medicine practitioner Leigh Brandon transforms our understanding of pain from enemy to messenger. Drawing on 24 years of clinical experience helping patients overcome seemingly hopeless chronic pain conditions, Brandon reveals the three fundamental pillars of pain-free living: structural alignment, nutritional balance, and nervous system regulation.

The human body functions like a bicycle wheel - when properly aligned, tension distributes evenly, but muscle imbalances create excessive stress and accelerate wear. Brandon shares the remarkable story of a professional rugby player who eliminated three years of debilitating pain in just eight weeks through targeted corrective exercises. For those dealing with structural issues, the key lies in proper assessment followed by specific movements to restore balance.

Equally important is nutrition's role in pain perception. Foods grown with pesticides, processed oils, and refined sugars create inflammation that sensitizes your nervous system, lowering your pain threshold. Through the concept of "viscerosomatic reflex," Brandon explains how gut inflammation directly affects muscular stability throughout the body. We talked about a fascinating connection demonstrated by a client who recovered from mysterious throat swelling and chest pain after identifying food sensitivities.

Listen to this episode of New Normal Big Life on Apple Podcast, YouTube Podcast, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and 10+ platforms to hear functional medicine expert, Leigh Brandon in his own words.

Emotional healing’s impact on chronic pain

Perhaps most surprising is the profound impact of emotional healing on physical pain.

Unresolved trauma keeps your nervous system on high alert, amplifying pain signals. Brandon recounts the transformation of a woman who eliminated 25 years of neck and back pain by healing a relationship with her estranged mother - revealing how pain often manifests in locations symbolically connected to emotional wounds.

For those seeking relief, simple daily practices like diaphragmatic breathing, meditation, and mindful movement can dramatically regulate an overactive nervous system. The key isn't finding the perfect technique but committing to consistent practice - even five minutes daily can begin shifting your pain experience.

Ready to decode your body's pain messages? Discover the free Chronic Pain Breakthrough. Listen to this episode of New Normal Big Life on Apple Podcast, YouTube Podcast, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and 10+ platforms to access a link to this free resource.

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