Pain Story Mapping Tool

Understanding the person behind the pain.

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🔹 Purpose: To help clinicians uncover the personal, emotional, and contextual layers that shape a patient’s pain experience—without turning it into a checklist or pathology hunt.

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🔹 Why This Matters: Pain isn’t just a symptom—it’s shaped by beliefs, experiences, fears, and context. If we only treat what’s visible on a scan, we miss the deeper story. Mapping the pain story helps clinicians connect meaningfully, spot protective patterns, and offer care that’s not just effective—but human.

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🔸 Section 1: Lived Timeline

“When did the pain begin, and what was happening in life at the time?”

▫️ Onset date: _______________________

▫️ Key events around that time (injury, stress, change, loss, etc.): ___________________________

▫️ Was there a clear cause, or did it seem to appear out of nowhere?:_________________________

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🔸 Section 2: Belief Landscape

“What do you believe is causing the pain?”

☐  My body is damaged

☐ Something is out of place

☐ It’s stress/emotions

☐ I don’t know

☐ Other: ____________________________

“Where did these beliefs come from?”

☐ A clinician

☐ Internet/social media

☐ Personal intuition

☐ Family/friends

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🔸 Section 3: Meaning & Fear

“What does this pain stop you from doing or being?”

☐ I can’t work

☐ I can’t be present for others

☐ I feel broken

☐ I’m afraid it will get worse

☐ I’m afraid of movement

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🔸 Section 4: What Has Helped (or Hurt)

“What have you tried that helped, even a little?” ____________________________

“What has made it worse (emotionally or physically)?”_______________________

☐ Helpful:___________________

☐ Harmful:__________________

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🔸 Section 5: What Would Healing Look Like to You?

“Not just symptom reduction—but what would make you feel whole again?”

☐ Moving freely

☐ Trusting my body

☐ Understanding my pain

☐ Feeling like myself again

☐ Other: _______________________

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Clinician Notes:_________________________

▫️What patterns or protective logics are emerging?_______________________________________

▫️What education or movement exploration might gently update this system?_______________________________________

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🧠 Closing Thought:

Every pain has a story—and every story holds clues for healing. When we listen beyond the symptoms, we begin to see the person. That’s where trust grows, and where transformation begins.

This resource is part of The Wondering Clinician Toolkit. It’s not medical advice—just a tool to support learning, reflection, and healing. Always consult your clinician when needed.