This
last animation shows the route that all pain takes to arrive at the brain.
Once there, the pain is perceived by the mind. All types of emotions enter
into the interpretation of the pain. If there has been significant physical
or emotional pain in the past, it is likely that the experience of pain will
bring up these older issues. Other related emotions are attached to the pain
and these can increase stress, which, in turn, increases pain. Meanwhile,
when the spine is bombarded by pain that does not let up, the nerve that passes
the pain signal to the nerve tract that runs to the brain becomes wound up.
The result is a physically exaggerated pain that cannot be lowered by the
brain. The mind perceives this excessive pain and the patient feels completely
overwhelmed.
