Pain isn't a proxy for tissue damage.
If it was, you wouldn't be able to walk for a couple of days after banging your knee because the severity of the pain would indicate massive tissue damage.
But usually (after a couple agonizing seconds) people just walk it off.
If it was, you wouldn't be able to walk for a couple of days after banging your knee because the severity of the pain would indicate massive tissue damage.
But usually (after a couple agonizing seconds) people just walk it off.
Pain is a proxy for expected damage.
Pain is your body making a prediction about the future.
Banging your knee is agonizing, because if you break you knee, that meant you wouldn't be able to walk.
And if you can't walk, usually you'd starve to death.
Pain is your body making a prediction about the future.
Banging your knee is agonizing, because if you break you knee, that meant you wouldn't be able to walk.
And if you can't walk, usually you'd starve to death.
Pain is your body running a cost-benefit analysis on every action.
It's why people can continue running if a bear is chasing after them despite twisting an ankle.
The brain runs a cost-benefit analysis and figures you'll endure more damage from the bear than a twisted ankle.
It's why people can continue running if a bear is chasing after them despite twisting an ankle.
The brain runs a cost-benefit analysis and figures you'll endure more damage from the bear than a twisted ankle.
People get in trouble when they train their brains to be more sensitive to pain.
This happens accidentally. You imagine a problem to be much worse than it really is and over time, you create new neuronal pathways that are more sensitive to pain.
This happens accidentally. You imagine a problem to be much worse than it really is and over time, you create new neuronal pathways that are more sensitive to pain.
This is why people can have tissue damage with no back pain and back pain with no tissue damage.
It’s also why MRI scans of the back are so useless for determining the origin of pain.
Pain does not correlate with tissue damage, but expectation.
It’s also why MRI scans of the back are so useless for determining the origin of pain.
Pain does not correlate with tissue damage, but expectation.
That’s a blessing, because it means you can train yourself to be less sensitive to pain.
All you have to do is rewire your expectations.
It’s why a Buddhist monk can burn himself alive and not squirm from the pain.
A mind with no expectation of the future.
All you have to do is rewire your expectations.
It’s why a Buddhist monk can burn himself alive and not squirm from the pain.
A mind with no expectation of the future.
