For people living with chronic back pain, the search for relief can stretch across years—through doctors, injections, physio routines, and failed surgeries.
But what if lasting relief could begin… in just two hours?
That’s exactly what a team of Stanford researchers set out to test. And the results may change how we think about treating chronic pain.
The Study That Shook Things Up
In a randomized clinical trial published in Pain Reports (2023), Stanford psychologist Dr. Beth Darnall and her team compared three approaches for treating chronic back pain:
- A single 2-hour class focused on brain-based pain relief strategies
- A full 8-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program
- A control group receiving standard back care education
Six months later, the people who attended the one-time, two-hour class reported:
- Less pain
- Less emotional distress
- Less catastrophic thinking
- And better functional outcomes than the control group
Even more impressively, their results were comparable to 16 hours of traditional CBT.
What Was Taught in the Class?
The 2-hour session was designed to reframe how participants understood pain—not as a structural defect, but as a brain-based protective response that can be rewired.
“Our findings suggest that even a brief intervention can begin to calm the nervous system, reduce fear, and open the door to healing,” said Dr. Darnall.
This included education about how pain is processed in the brain, why fear and attention can worsen it, and how to safely move and think in new ways without triggering it.
A New Model of Care
This study backs a radical but growing idea:
Chronic pain is often maintained not by physical damage, but by fear, stress, and confusion about what’s really happening.
When patients are taught the truth—that pain can persist even after injury heals, and that it’s often driven by a hypersensitive nervous system—they begin to improve.
“Just one well-delivered class rewired people’s expectations about their pain,” Darnall explained.
“That’s the power of knowledge.”
Why It Matters
This wasn’t a supplement or a stretch or a new ergonomic chair. It was merely giving sufferers new knowledge, and it worked.
Which means many people suffering with pain right now may not need more treatment—they may just need a clearer explanation of what their brain is doing.
What The Makepeace Method Adds
At Makepeace, we built our course with this same insight at the core:
When you stop believing you're broken—and start understanding what your brain is protecting you from—healing often begins on Day One.
We don’t teach endless rituals. We offer the shift that Stanford proved can change everything.
Sources:
Keep learning
Take This 1-Minute Back Pain Self-Test
If your pain moves around, worsens with stress, or fades when you’re distracted, it may not be structural at all. This short self-test helps you recognize patterns that point to a nervous system stuck in ‘protect’ mode—and how to begin calming it down.
The Harder You Try to Fix It, The Worse It Gets
The endless search for fixes—new stretches, supplements, devices—often keeps the brain focused on danger. Real recovery begins when you stop trying to “fight” the pain and start teaching your brain that it’s safe to relax again.
Harvard Confirms Back Pain Is Usually Not Structural
Harvard researchers found that most spinal changes seen on MRI scans—disc bulges, degeneration —appear just as often in people without pain. These are normal signs of aging, not proof of damage. The true driver is often the brain’s over-protective alarm system.
Real people. Real relief.
These are real stories from people who were stuck in pain—until they tried the Makepeace Method. Now they're free.
One day, you bend down to pick up a sock—and your back goes out.
“Knowing what I know now, I regret having back surgery.”
“I feel so much better — and I’m grateful this exists.”
“This took my pain from a 9 or 10 down to a 1 or 2.”
“After doing the program, I got up from my desk one day and the pain and tingling were just gone.”
“I've had significant improvements in my pain levels. I now feel confident about managing my back health.”
“This method makes a complex idea easy to implement. Bottom line: I’m feeling much better.”
“I was bedridden for weeks. Now the pain is gone, and when it flares, I can shut it off.”
“I was a massage therapist for 30 years. Several weeks ago I started an excruciating ordeal with back pain. The Makepeace Method was life changing for me. My back has improved tremendously. Thank you a million times over.”
“I loved your course. It was a blessing listening to your videos. It has given me hope on my healing journey.”
“I had been truly suffering for months. Within a few days, I was moving freely again. Thank you.”
You've done your time in pain. Now take your life back.
You’ve fought hard and tried it all, but the burden was never yours to carry forever. Your brain is ready to reset, your body to feel safe again. Pain is not who you are - it’s time to reclaim your life.
