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So glad you’re here!

I’m Els

I support people living with chronic pain such as back, pelvic, and joint pain in finding their way back to recovery.

I know from my own experience how overwhelming and confusing this process can be. That’s why I’m passionate about sharing practical, science-based tools that genuinely make a difference.


'De Pijnpuzzel helpt mensen met chronische rug-, spier- of gewrichtspijn die merken dat stress hun klachten verergert, om hun zenuwstelsel te kalmeren en hun pijn structureel te verminderen zonder eindeloze oefeningen of afhankelijk te zijn van behandelingen.'

Say what?!

Tja, eigenlijk wel. Er is een beweging waarbij de reguliere geneeskunde en de holistische benadering elkaar vinden. De brug tussen die twee velden, probeer ik in klare taal te verspreiden via De Pijnpuzzel.

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If you’re in pain and deep down feel there must be more to this

A new perspective on pain and fatigue

Do you have chronic pain or persistent fatigue, and nothing seems to really help?

Maybe you’ve tried everything: physiotherapy, acupuncture, osteopathy, exercise. And you notice the same pattern every time: temporary relief, but the pain always comes back.

And somewhere inside, you feel as if there’s more going on than just the physical.

For years, I experienced joint and muscle pain myself. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and spondylosis, and for a long time, I accepted it. That was until I came upon a method that made me completely pain-free. Today, I am one of the many people who have realized that chronic pain and fatigue don’t have to be permanent.

That’s why I wrote an e-book or, more accurately, a guide.

I take you through my personal journey and share the insights that helped me understand pain signals differently, break the cycle, and fully enjoy life again.

You might still feel some doubt. You might think: let me sit with this a little longer. That’s understandable: I did the same for almost 20 years.

But if you feel that it’s time to see pain from a new perspective, I invite you to read on.

Our brains and bodies - and therefore our pain signals - are deeply connected.

That perspective changed everything for me.

Because what the brain can learn, it can also unlearn, even pain.

📖Are you ready to explore this?
In the free guide, I’ll show you how chronic pain and the brain work together and how you can use that connection to your advantage.

Get your guide now

What’s the catch?

There isn’t one.

This guide is free because I believe everyone should have access to reliable information about chronic pain and the brain, without any sales pitch or pressure.

You’ll receive the guide, and if you wish, occasional emails with insights on stress-related pain and recovery. You can unsubscribe at any time, no explanation needed.

40%

of patients that see a doctor, suffer neuroplastic symptoms.

(Source: ATNS)

Healing is possible but only a few are offered the evidence-based approach.

We are many: people who have recovered from chronic pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, long Covid, IBS, and more, yet our stories still haven’t found their way into society. Not yet. We want to change that, and I’m doing my part through this website.

This website provides supportive information and education about neuroplastic pain and is not a substitute for medical advice.

The Pain Puzzle is a new awareness

This guide is:

Not a medical hand book

Not a promise that pain will disappear

Not THE method you should follow

What it is:

A sincere, lived experience story that helps you see pain differently, through the lens of your body, your emotions, and your life story.

This is exactly what I needed when no one could explain it to me.

What you’ll discover:

  • Why pain often persists, even when everything seems medically fine.
  • How your body signals long before it actually “breaks.”
  • The role of stress, responsibility, adaptation, and inner tension.
  • Why forcing things can backfire.
  • How awareness can be the first real shift.

No fluff.

No guilt.

Just clarity.

Reviews

  • Inge

    Thanks to your ebook, I now deal with my chronic pain differently. As a result, I’m back working in the field I thought was no longer possible. A thousand thanks!

  • Katrijn

    A smooth, humorous, flavorful, and powerful e-book. You're going to inspire people with this, Els—hopefully those who are living with pain, and just as importantly, those who work around it. A new awareness around all these layers is ready to emerge.

  • Heidi

    Wow, this is definitely quite confronting, Els—but I understand that maybe that’s exactly what’s needed to give people a little push. I don’t struggle with pain myself, but I’ll definitely keep it in mind in case it ever becomes relevant.

  • Wim

    I think it can be a revelation for people in the same situation, 'I'm not alone, it's real'. And for people who are lucky enough not to be in pain, it can provide a framework of empathy and understanding. But...do you really think men with beards are that shady? (from chapter 6)

  • Margot

    I think it's fantastic! Well and fluently written. I really think that your insights can offer a different future to people who see no way out. And that your suffering and all your acquired insights can shorten that of other people.

  • Marianne

    I don’t suffer from chronic pain myself, but I do occasionally experience migraines. After reading the book, I started to wonder whether the onset of my headache might be emotionally triggered. I noticed that as soon as I did this, the headache actually disappeared!

  • Alex

    When I first read the e-book, I honestly found it a bit harsh. It felt like it was all my fault that I was in pain — like it was all in my head. After all those surgeries and injections, that was hard to take. But after a while, I started to understand what it really meant. I recognized myself in that perfectionist part. Now I’m working two half-days a week — something I couldn’t do for two years. And when the pain comes up, I try to stay calm and not panic right away. I’m starting to think differently about my pain.

1 7

Who this is for (and who it’s not for)

This e-book is for you if you:

  • Are open to looking at yourself without judgment
  • Feel that your pain has a message
  • Are willing to be honest with yourself
  • Are ready to slow down to truly understand

It’s not for you if you:

  • Are looking for a quick fix
  • Want someone else to solve it for you
  • Don’t want to make space to feel

That’s not a judgment, just clarity.

The Pain Puzzle

What you’ll get:

  • A digital e-book (PDF)
  • Clear explanations in plain, relatable language
  • Reflections you can do at your own pace. I’ll share my story while you reflect on your own experiences

No pressure, no schedules


You don’t have to “do” anything the “right” way.

Take a moment to reflect

Answer these questions honestly for yourself:

  • Do you have pain that keeps coming back, even though tests are reassuring? Even after surgery? Even after injections?
  • Do you feel that your body is trying to tell you something, but you don’t know how to listen?
  • Do you often adapt, hold things in, or carry a lot of responsibility?
  • Have you tried many things, yet feel that something fundamental is missing?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, whether softly or clearly, then this is likely for you.

See pain differently
de pijnpuzzel blog

Discover My Blog

On my blog, you’ll find inspiring articles full of insights from scientists, doctors, and psychiatrists who specialize in pain and emotions. Be sure to read Raelan's testimony who suffered from CFS for years. Her story is very similar to mine.

I also share valuable personal experiences, including an article by my osteopath, offering you fresh perspectives.

Feel free to explore and get inspired!

Blog

FAQ

I have inflammation and wear-and-tear such as arthritis or bone-on-bone. Doesn’t that mean my pain is purely physical?

It’s understandable to think that inflammation or structural changes automatically cause pain. However, both research and clinical experience show that physical findings such as arthritis, inflammation, or “bone-on-bone” are very common in people who have little or no pain, while others experience severe pain without significant tissue damage. This difference is largely influenced by how sensitized the nervous system is. In neuroplastic pain, an overactive nervous system can amplify or maintain pain and inflammatory responses. The inflammation is real and not something you can simply “think away,” but the pain experience can change when the nervous system calms down and the brain stops sending constant danger signals.

Online cursus

Als je deze website volgt, dan is de kans groot dat pijn een belangrijke rol heeft gespeeld in je leven.
Misschien al lang. Misschien in golven. Misschien op manieren die moeilijk uit te leggen zijn aan anderen.”

Wat mijn eigen weg met pijn mij heeft geleerd, is dit: ik ben een doorzetter.
Niet omdat ik altijd sterk was, maar omdat ik bleef zoeken.
Omdat ik mijn lichaam niet heb opgegeven, zelfs niet toen het verwarrend, ontmoedigend of uitzichtloos voelde.

De online cursus is geen snelle oplossing en geen trucje.
Het is een uitnodiging om anders te kijken naar pijn, met zachtheid, eerlijkheid en nieuwsgierigheid.

Ik neem je mee in wat ik zelf heb ontdekt:
hoe pijn kan veranderen wanneer je veiligheid, begrip en aandacht leert opbouwen van binnenuit.

Je hoeft niets te bewijzen.
Je hoeft niets ‘goed’ te doen.
Alleen bereid te zijn om te luisteren naar jezelf.

Cursus

De Pijnpuzzel

Jarenlang had ik chronische rugpijn.

Operaties. Infiltraties. Onderzoeken. Altijd op zoek naar de volgende verklaring of oplossing.

Als iemand mij toen had verteld dat pijn neuroplastisch kon zijn, had ik waarschijnlijk hetzelfde gereageerd als veel mensen nu reageren wanneer ik mijn verhaal deel:

sceptisch.
defensief.
misschien zelfs geïrriteerd.

Niet omdat ik koppig was.
Maar omdat mijn pijn écht was.

En omdat die pijn ondertussen deel was geworden van hoe ik mezelf begreep.

Toen ik “The Mindbody Prescription” van Dr. Sarno las, geloofde ik het eerlijk gezegd niet echt. Ik dacht dat het misschien een placebo-effect was.

Maar ik bleef pijnvrij.

Niet alleen mijn rugpijn verdween. Andere fysieke klachten begonnen ook te verdwijnen.

Sindsdien wil ik mensen helpen begrijpen dat chronische pijn soms veel complexer is dan structurele schade alleen.

Dus ik begon:

  • uitleg te geven,
  • studies te delen,
  • argumenten te bouwen,
  • mijn verhaal te vertellen.

Maar ik merkte iets confronterends:

Mensen veranderen zelden door argumenten alleen.

Zeker niet wanneer pijn verweven is geraakt met identiteit, angst, veiligheid of jarenlange medische verklaringen.

Je kan iemand perfect uitleggen dat verandering mogelijk is…
en toch voelt die persoon zich niet aangesproken.

Dat frustreerde me eerst.

Nu begrijp ik iets anders:

Identiteiten verschuiven zelden via debat.
Ze verschuiven via ervaring.

Ik kon pas geloven dat herstel mogelijk was toen ik het zélf ervoer.

En misschien geldt dat voor veel mensen met chronische pijn.

Niet iedereen is klaar om het te horen op hetzelfde moment.

En dat is oké.