Chronic pain affects millions of people. And they usually get only temporary relief from the medications, surgeries and therapies that the medical system has to offer them. Even the doctors are frustrated by chronic pain, often telling the patient that it is just in their own head. Psychosomatic pain, I think they call it. In a previous blog we examined how to release myofascial pain. In this article we will examine the work of Dr. Hal Blatman, who has treated more than 15,000 patients with his approach for relieving chronic pain. Dr. Blatman challenges conventional medical thinking and focuses on the critical role of fascia—the connective tissue that holds our bodies together—as the key to unlocking lasting pain relief.
Olin’s Experience with Dr. Blatman
Why Dr. Blatman? ?One reason is that we can personally vouch for his results. Our own Olin Idol has gone to his clinic, the Blatman Health and Wellness Center, in Cleveland, OH for treatment of a neck pain that had not resolved for years. The x-ray findings were, “No acute fracture or subluxation. C5-6 through C6-7 degenerative disease with loss of disc height and endplate spurring. No acute soft tissue findings.” Dr. Blatman said the pain was not coming from his neck. He had trigger point injections of nitrous oxide on day 1 and 2, with some noticeable relief the first few days. Over time the application of Dr. Blatman’s treatment led to major improvement in movement and pain, to this day. Olin still uses a massage gun on his neck and has no issues with neck pain, now 4 years since the original treatment.
Pain Isn’t What You Think It Is
Blatman’s philosophy starts with a bold assertion: the pain you feel isn’t necessarily coming from where you think it is, nor does its specific sensation (burning, aching, tingling) tell the full story. Conventional medicine often says chronic pain is due to joint degeneration, nerve damage, or spinal issues. The doctors rely heavily on imaging like X-rays and MRIs and opioids or surgery to stop the pain. However, Blatman argues that these approaches miss the root cause for many patients. He points to fascia, a web of connective tissue that surrounds muscles, tendons, and organs, as the primary source of most chronic pain. Doctors mostly ignore the fascia, which is a serious mistake, according to Dr. Blatman.
Pain is Injury to the Fascia
As we saw in the previous blog, fascia isn’t just a passive structure; it’s packed with free nerve endings that relay sensory information to the brain—far more than the mechanoreceptors (like Golgi tendon organs) traditionally emphasized in medical training. These nerve endings detect pressure and mechanical tension within the fascia, contributing to sensations of pain and even proprioception (our sense of body position). When fascia becomes injured—whether from old traumas, repetitive strain, or inflammation—it forms “knots” or trigger points that generate pain, often radiating to unexpected areas.
The Five Rules of Pain
Dr. Blatman’s approach is distilled into what he calls the “Five Rules of Pain CSI” (Crime Scene Investigation), a framework for diagnosing and treating chronic pain:
- You can’t trust where you feel the pain. Pain in your knee might come from fascial issues elsewhere, not the joint itself. For example, post-knee-replacement patients may still feel pain if the surrounding fascia remains unaddressed.
- The exact sensation isn’t diagnostically critical. Whether it’s numbness, burning, or aching, Blatman sees these as symptoms of fascial distress, not distinct pathologies requiring separate treatments.
- Tenderness reveals the source of pain. The most tender spots—found through careful, hands-on examination—mark the sites of fascial injury driving the pain.
- These tender spots are pain generators. Addressing them directly targets the source, not just the symptoms.
- Healing these injuries relieves the pain. By helping the body repair fascial damage, significant relief is possible without relying on drugs or invasive procedures.
A Hands-On, Conservative Approach to Pain
Unlike conventional treatments that lean on imaging or medication, Blatman emphasizes a physical examination technique rarely taught in medical schools: a gentle, specific touch to locate fascial trigger points and injuries. His treatments—detailed in his book Winners’ Guide to Pain Relief—include myofascial release (using tools like rubber balls), trigger point injections, and therapies like prolotherapy or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to repair tendons and ligaments. A standout case from his practice illustrates this: a patient with persistent numbness in his feet after lumbar surgery regained sensation after PRP injections targeting gluteal tendon injuries—proof, Blatman argues, that fascia, not just nerves or spine, can drive such symptoms.
The Role of Nutrition and Environmental Toxins in Chronic Pain
Nutrition plays a pivotal role too. Blatman links chronic inflammation—and thus heightened pain—to foods like gluten and dairy. He cites patients who slashed their pain by adopting a non-inflammatory, gluten-free diet, noting that inflamed fascia amplifies discomfort from old injuries. Environmental toxins can also increase chronic pain through inflammatory pathways. So, elimination of stored toxins and reduction of exposure to harsh chemicals in our homes and workplaces is necessary to reduce the inflammation that contributes to our chronic pain.
Can Chronic Pain Be Healed? YES! What about Joint Pain?
Blatman disputes the idea that pain lasting beyond three to six months is “chronic” and untreatable. He sees it as unresolved fascial injury, healable at any stage with the right approach. Similarly, he challenges the rush to joint replacement for “bone-on-bone” arthritis. If a joint retains decent mobility, he argues, then the cartilage isn’t entirely gone. Our bodies regenerate it constantly and only a thin layer is necessary to keep the joint moving. The true cause of the joint pain is the fascial injuries around the joint, not the cartilage loss. This is great news for those struggling with osteoarthritis. There is hope for relief. Release of myofascial pain might make your joints feel better after all.
Why This Matters
After 30 years of research, Blatman’s conclusion is clear: pain isn’t primarily about discs, nerves, or joints—it’s about fascia. Current medical paradigms, while grounded in real anatomy, lean on assumptions that haven’t brought relief to sufferers. His approach promises not just management but resolution of pain. His approach empowers patients to heal old injuries, reduce inflammation, and reclaim their lives. Dr. Blatman has a training program for practitioners as well so they can learn new skills. If you have chronic pain, it’s a beacon of hope. Like Olin, your chronic pain doesn’t have to be a life sentence.
To explore this further, check out Dr. Blatman’s full article in the Townsend Letter (November 2018) or his practical guide, Winners’ Guide to Pain Relief. His work is a compelling reminder: sometimes the simple answer of a healing touch and anti-inflammatory diet yields the most profound relief.
