Invisible Pain Explained: Movement, Nervous System Regulation & Real Recovery | Dasha Maslennikova

Send us Fan MailPain that no one can see can still define every hour of your day.In this episode, we sit down with Dasha Maslennikova, a kinesiologist who spent 13 years navigating her own post-accident chronic pain. Together, we unpack how movement, mindset, and nervous system regulation can turn a stuck cycle into real, sustainable progress.Rather than chasing quick fixes or waiting for a perfect test result, Dasha explains why active therapy builds resilience, how safety and trust quiet fear in the body, and what shifts when clinicians speak to human experience, not just charts and scans. We explore the bridge her studios create between physiotherapy and personal training, and why graded, evidence-based movement helps the nervous system update its threat response.We talk candidly about invisible pain and the isolation it brings, the language gaps that leave patients feeling dismissed, and the limits of MRIs and lab work for something as subjective and real as pain. In the fibromyalgia segment, Dasha breaks down nervous system sensitivity and altered signaling without overpromising, instead pointing to practical levers such as pacing, strength training, emotional support, and consistency.For older adults and caregivers, the fall-prevention conversation is a must-hear. Dasha explains why balance training alone isn’t enough, and how fast-twitch power and reaction time are essential skills for recovering from a trip or stumble, yet are rarely trained as we age.We also explore how trauma and adverse events can prime the body for chronic pain, and why referrals to counseling or trauma-informed care can accelerate physical recovery. The throughline is hopeful and grounded: movement is medicine, change is possible, and the body often knows how to heal when given the right environment.If you’re feeling stuck, unheard, or unsure where to start, this conversation offers clear steps and a new lens on what your body might be asking for. Listen, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and subscribe for more conversations that blend science, compassion, and real-world tools.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dasha-maslennikova-2547557b/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/symmetrixvan/Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SymmetrixVanIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website