The stress that often accompanies chronic pain is a likely contributor to this neurodegeneration, as the stress hormone cortisol has been shown to cause brain cells to wither away and die.

Adaptations in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves can outlast the original injury and lead to structural changes, which include the sprouting of new nerve endings and the formation of new synapses between

when a study examined the placebo effect in dental postoperative pain. When patients were given naloxone to block their opioid receptors, the placebos stopped relieving their pain.

The somatic nervous system receives sensory information from skeletal muscles and skin, relays it to the CNS, and controls voluntary movement by telling skeletal muscles to contract.

with a prescription from a doctor or a surgical procedure. We must actively retrain our nervous system to release subconsciously held muscle tension and change painful posture and movement patterns.

Muscle fibers store only a few seconds’ worth of ATP, so when we start running our bodies must produce more of this energy source almost immediately.

This lack of sleep contributes to a state often referred to as the “terrible triad” of suffering, sleeplessness, and sadness.

In order to contract, our muscles use ATP as a source of energy. ATP is used in numerous other physiological functions as well, including synthesizing DNA and perceiving taste. It also participates in nociception because damaged cells release ATP, which activates nociceptors. Because of its important role in so many processes, ATP is constantly

Some pain pathways pass through the amygdala, which helps create our emotional reaction to pain.