Shana Johnson M.D.

About

Shana Johnson, M.D., is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. While caring for those living with health conditions that affect the brain, spine, and nerves, she's observed many who developed those issues while under unrelenting stress. They include chronic headaches, back pain, digestive issues, anxiety, and depression. She’s the author of Sunbreak: Healing the Pain No One Can Explain, which shines light on the stress-illness connection. Sunbreak explains the path to healing through understanding nerve sensitization, building your mind-body connection, and understanding the role of medical therapy.

Recent Posts

4 Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain often involves nociplastic pain. I call it the “spreading pain” because it causes the discomfort to extend beyond the area of injury.

3 Ugly Truths About Back Surgery

Even in properly selected patients, almost 40 percent of people report chronic pain and moderate disability in daily activities five years after surgery.

Pain Provider Red Flags

The wrong pain provider can result in unnecessary, counterproductive torment. Here are four provider types to avoid.

How Mindfulness Practice Reduces Pain

Mindfulness reduces the connection between the brain areas that process pain and generate self-awareness.

4 Things People With Chronic Back Pain Need You to Know

It can take years to find a medical provider who understands their chronic back pain, listens to them, and believes them.

How to Check if Nerve Sensitization Is a Factor in Your Pain

Nerve sensitization often contributes to chronic pain states, such as back pain, migraines, and irritable bowel. The central sensitization inventory (CSI) checks for it.

Back Pain Can Arise From an Injury, Sensitization, or Both

Learn about the different sources of back pain.

Chronic Back Pain May Arise From Nociplastic Pain

If you have chronic back pain and are not responding to standard therapies, abnormal pain processing from nociplastic pain should be considered as a source.

How a Confused Nervous System and Stress Create Pain

Chronic migraines, back pain, and irritable bowel syndrome are types of central sensitization syndromes (CSS). CSS affects upwards of 30 million adults in the United States.

How Past Abuse Affects Pain Today

Childhood abuse can play a significant role in the development of pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, headaches, IBS, and interstitial cystitis.