This is a very long read to ultimately conclude "who knows, there's probably a strong placebo effect." Anecdotally, I can say there is a strong placebo effect,

This is a very long read to ultimately conclude "who knows, there's probably a strong placebo effect." Anecdotally, I can say there is a strong placebo effect, but it isn't complete. I think what is missing in all of this is perhaps what role stress hormones have in inducing inflammation in old injury sites. My wife has chronic back pain due to years of working as a nurse in a hospital, moving patients and such. Some things help, some do not. I have what was once diagnosed as fibromyalgia, and I can say that having lived with it long enough, there are several triggers which are totally unrelated to stress (though stress can play a role too, it isn't necessary).