Abstract
Persistent pain is a complex and highly individualised experience, existing on a dynamic continuum that does not affect everyone equally. Persistent pain remains one of the most prevalent and disabling conditions worldwide, impacting 20–30% of the population and affecting more than half of older adults. In Aotearoa New Zealand, one in five people live with chronic pain, placing a significant burden on individuals, their whānau, and the broader healthcare system. While conceptually compelling, the pain experience associated with persistent pain conditions does not always have a relationship to the underlying aetiopathology. Research has shown that persistent pain is associated with widespread changes in brain activity and functional connectivity in regions involved in pain perception and experience.