STRESS INDUCED PAIN & ANALGESIA

Sensation of pain: It is a useful, necessary warning e.g. heat = signal that it burns; pressure = signal that it may crush.

Pain modulation: Throbbing, piercing pain can be relieved by vigorous massage, by exercise or by highly distracting events or cognitive intrusions.

Stress-induced analgesia: Some situations that cause pain can also lead to a situation where the pain is so great you don't feel it. This is termed stress induced analgesia. For example, injury in battle may be so stressful that some soldiers feel no pain; histamines & endorphins are released.

Exercise: Causes the same effect of releasing endorphins and histamines that are responsible for the "feel good" effect. It is a kind of microtrauma where some parts of the body are subjected to stress. Results in the euphoric response to vigorous activity.