479: The Neuroscience of Chronic Pain: Why Your Brain Gets Better at Creating Pain (And How to Teach It to Stop) with Ashleigh Di Lello

What if the chronic pain that's been ruling your life isn't actually about physical damage—but about your brain trying to protect you from threats it perceives based on your entire life history? Ashleigh Di Lello should be dead. At 13, doctors told her she wouldn't survive her teenage years after a mysterious viral infection began shutting down her organs. Twenty years later, after building a successful Broadway career, a failed hip surgery left her unable to walk and in excruciating pain that no treatment could touch…not even powerful opioids. After trying over 200 treatments and being told by specialists it was "downhill from here," Ashleigh made a decision that would revolutionize how we understand chronic pain. In this episode, we dive deep into a topic that's been both personal and transformative for me: the connection between pain and the brain. For years, I believed that pain was only the result of real, physical injuries. But after my own journey through back surgery and chronic pain, I started to question: what if our brains play a bigger role in how we experience pain than we realize? Discover why Type A personalities are more prone to chronic pain, how your brain actually gets BETTER at creating pain the more you experience it, and why doing everything "right" for your body might not be enough if your nervous system is stuck in survival mode. Ashleigh reveals the critical difference between regulating your nervous system (managing symptoms) versus rewiring it (changing how your brain processes pain entirely), and shares the exact paradigm shift that allowed her to walk again after five years of disability. Whether you're dealing with chronic pain, unexplained symptoms, or simply curious about the incredible power of the brain-body connection, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about healing. Catch the full episode on YOUTUBE HERE: https://bit.ly/MidlifeConversationsYouTube Learn More About Ashleigh Di Lello: Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/ashleighdilello Website ➜ https://www.ashleydilello.com Thank you to our show sponsors! BIOPTIMIZERS: Get the Enzymes & Probiotics & Gut Support I use daily at https://bioptimizers.com/nataliejill LEELA: Get 10% off your first Leela Quantum order with the code NatalieJill at checkout at https://midlifeconversations.com/leela Free Gifts for being a listener of Midlife Conversations! Mastering the Midlife Midsection Guide: https://theflatbellyguide.com/ Age Optimizing and Supplement Guide: https://ageoptimizer.com Connect with me on social media! Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Nataliejllfit Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Nataliejillfit For advertising inquiries: https://www.category3.ca/ Disclaimer: Information provided in the Midlife Conversations podcast is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Do not use the information provided in this podcast for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before making any changes to your current regimen. Information provided in this podcast and the use of any products or services related to this podcast does not create a client-patient relationship between you and the host of Midlife Conversations or you and any doctor or provider interviewed and featured on this show. Information and statements may have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease. Advertising Disclosure: Some episodes of Midlife Conversations may be sponsored by products or services discussed during the show. The host may receive compensation for such advertisements or if you purchase products through affiliate links. Opinions expressed about products or services are those of the host and/or guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any sponsor. Sponsorship does not imply endorsement of any product or service by healthcare professionals featured on this podcast.