That's the funny thing about assumptions... In truth, what can happen is exactly the opposite: constant firing of pain signals can end up recruiting _more_ cel

That's the funny thing about assumptions... In truth, what can happen is exactly the opposite: constant firing of pain signals can end up recruiting _more_ cells to transmit pain, thereby lowering the threshold need to signal pain, and amplifying the effect overall. cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_pain#Pathophysiology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_pain#Pathophysiology