How does someone feel physical pain?

Everyone has felt the ache of a stubbed toe, the twinge of a pulled muscle, or the throbbing of a bad headache, but do you know why? The pain response we take for granted is actually a sophisticated and instantaneous chain reaction.

Pain happens for one simple reason: to protect you. If your brain registers pain, you typically stop doing what caused it.  Pain is the body's way of letting you know that what you are doing is harmful, and that you need to stop.

Pain starts at the source of an injury or inflammation, whether it's your toe or your lower back. When you injure yourself, the body's automatic response is to stimulate pain receptors.