The sensation of pain partly acts as a self preservation method (i.e heat, sharpness = potential damage to the body) is it possible for the pain response to be triggered by something non damaging or vice versa?

Question

The sensation of pain partly acts as a self preservation method (i.e heat, sharpness = potential damage to the body) is it possible for the pain response to be triggered by something non damaging or vice versa?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Of course.

The sensation is driven by nerves, right?

Anything that irritates the nerve, can trigger sensations that aren’t being driven by tissue damage.

For instance, spicy food only feels like your mouth is on fire. Same sensation as burning, but no tissue damage.

And if nerves are “turned off”, even when there is extensive tissue damage, there will be no sensation of pain.

This is how an epidural works during childbirth.