Eli5 why rubbing my shin after a blunt force trauma (I kicked against the table) reduces the pain sensation significantly?
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Think of nerve pathways like a water hose and hot water equals pain. When you hit your shin the only message being sent down the neural pathway/water hose is very hot water. By rubbing your shin, you are adding another sensation to the neural pathway similar to turning on the cold water to the water hose. The pain sensation is diluted just as the cold water cools the hot water traveling through the water hose.
TENS units work similarly. You place them where you are in pain and the electrical impulses “dilute” the pain
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