I'm liable to agree that there is something there. It's probably the reason placebo works so well with chronic pain management (surgeries, spinal fusions, knee

I'm liable to agree that there is something there. It's probably the reason placebo works so well with chronic pain management (surgeries, spinal fusions, knee/hip-replacements, chiropractors, acupuncture, injections of any sort), i.e. the nerves are programmed to keep on "firing" until they receive a stop signal (e.g. mental/physical attention). I've blown out my back before with a herniated disc. The initial pain was god awful, and an MRI confirmed it. But, after about a year and a half, it seems to be on-and-off of periods of discomfort (but never like the initial pain) that feel like the nerves in my back are all twisted up. The thing I've focused on for long-term relief is stretching and mentally focusing on the area. It seems to give me months of relief, until I (safely) pick up a ladder and then the sensations comes back. Have my nerves' sensitivity been upregulated to scream and shout when, otherwise mild or very small strain, is put on that area of the body? I'm suspicious that they have.