Patient Nervous System Progress Tracker

Because progress isn’t always about pain levels.

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🔹 Purpose: To help clinicians and patients track meaningful changes in nervous system behavior—like safety, confidence, variability, and resilience—rather than just pain reduction.

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🔹 Why This Matters: Pain scores (0–10) don’t tell the whole story. Patients may still hurt but be sleeping better, moving more, or reacting with less fear. This tool helps you highlight and celebrate those wins.

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🌀 How to Use:

Check in weekly or periodically. Patients can reflect verbally or fill it out. This also works well at re-evaluation points.

🔄 What’s Changing in Your System?

(Use 1–5 scale or simple checkboxes)

🔸 SAFETY

☐ I feel less fear when I move.

☐ I feel more confident doing daily tasks.

☐ I trust my body more than I used to.

🔸 VARIABILITY

☐ I’m moving in more ways than I was before.

☐ I notice fewer “guarded” or tense movements.

☐ I’m not avoiding as many activities.

🔸 STABILITY & RESILIENCE

☐ Flare-ups are less intense or don’t last as long.

☐ I recover faster after doing something challenging.

☐ I bounce back from stress more easily.

🔸 AWARENESS

☐ I understand my pain better.

☐ I can notice early warning signs without panic.

☐ I can name things that help calm my system.

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Clinician Reflection Section

❓ Are we seeing nervous system shifts beyond pain reports?

❓ Are we reinforcing safety and capability during sessions?

❓ Where can we zoom in next?

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🧠 Final Thoughts

Progress isn’t just the absence of pain—it’s the presence of safety, movement, and trust. This tracker helps surface those often-invisible shifts. When patients see what’s changing, they begin to believe change is possible. Keep spotlighting those wins—they’re the foundation of healing.

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.