Ep 142: The Nervous System and Chronic Pain with Kylie Hicks
I remember sitting in the audience listening to Kylie Hicks present her award-winning case study at the Massage & Myotherapy Australia Conference.
I wasn't taking notes, I was watching the room.
As Kylie shared the story of one of her clients, Di, you could feel the energy in the room. We were all moved by Di's Experience and also because we were remembering our own clients who had walked into our treatment rooms after being told, "There's nothing more we can do."
Those clients who feel unseen. Who have tried everything. Who have almost given up.
And then Kylie said something that has stayed with me ever since.
"Find where they got lost."Not where the pain started. Not where the scan found something.
But where their nervous system had to adapt.
That one idea completely changes the way we think about chronic pain.
In this episode ofThe Health Leader Podcast, Christine and I sit down with Kylie to explore the connection between the nervous system and chronic pain, and why understanding this relationship can completely transform the way we work with clients.
Together we talk about:
• Why chronic pain is about so much more than tissue
• How to recognise nervous system patterns behind pain
• The language Kylie listens for in every first consultation
• Why helping clients feel truly seen is often the beginning of healing
• How changing pain can change long-held beliefs about a diagnosis
• The importance of therapist presence, rapport, and creating safety
• Why rebooking is part of the treatment plan, not just good business
Kylie also shares the story of the incredible case study that earned her the Massage & Myotherapy Australia Case Study Award. It's the story of a client facing a second surgery who, after treatment, became pain-free, came off her medication, and is now travelling the world.
Whether you work with chronic pain every day or only occasionally, I think this conversation will inspire you to reflect on your own clients, your own presence in the treatment room, and the incredible difference we have the opportunity to make.
I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
🎧 Listen to Episode 142: The Nervous System & Chronic Pain with Kylie Hicks
