As we discussed in the previous section, when pain hits, rather than trying not to focus on it, shifting our focus to an alternative stimuli can provide us with some (albeit temporary) relief. We can use this same principle to make more permanent changes.
We get relief when we stroke, massage or perform other pleasant sensation to the area of the pain and/or the area around the pain because the body can only cope with a certain amount of stimuli. It recognises good sensations and takes some of our attention away from the pain receptors.
As our bodies “get used to” living with chronic pain, we become understandably wary of triggering a flare up or exacerbating the current pain level. The effect of this is that our pain receptors become super-sensitive, and begin to pre-empt pain rather than react to it.
Such is the strength of the body’s desire to protect itself, it even “hijacks” other receptors to do the job. As we reduce or avoid certain movements and contact with affected body parts, their receptors become largely dormant, and the body begins to use these to ‘protect’ itself – by registering pain levels that might not be accurate.
By encouraging the reintroduction and gradual increase of pleasant, or even neutral, sensation, we can reclaim these receptors and ultimately limit the potential strength of our pain experience.
Keep in mind, however, that just as it took time for your brain to make the initial changes, so it will take time for it to change them back, but as we’ve already seen, there are other things we can do in the short term.
As a side note, oscillating stimuli (i.e. stimuli that involve changes in pressure such as massage and rubbing) have another potential benefit.
Not only can it reclaim some of these hijacked neurotransmitters, it also enhances our brains awareness of the ever changing nature of sensation. Drawing our attention to different areas, changing pressures, changing the nature of the sensation, training our brains not to focus on any one single area, or one single sensation.
Rubbing also increases circulation to the stimulated area, which helps enhance our natural healing processes.