Treating Chronic Pain with PEMF
BY JONATHAN BOWEN
The central nervous system connected to the brain
Treat Pain with PEMF
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PEMF treats pain by blocking the messages transmitted to the brain through the nervous system. Natural endorphins are produced to block message transmission. Oxygenation can help with neuropathic pain. Inflammation is reduced in both tissue and nerves, decreasing pain. This article discusses how pain works in the body and how pain can be treated with PEMF.
The Mechanics of Sensations
The human body has a communication system which connects to the brain. The brain works like a supercomputer receiving and transmitting messages through a network of nerve cells.
The nerve cells are called neurons. The neurons have a nucleolus at the centre, which are connected to dendrites and axons – like a wiring mechanism of the nerves. The dendrites convey messages into the nucleolus; they are the input wires. The axons convey messages away from the nucleolus; they are the output wires.
Nerve cells connect at the axon terminals where the synapses are located. The axon of one nerve cell (the output) will connect to the dendrite of another nerve cell (the input), passing the message along. This happens at the axon terminal through chemical molecules called neurotransmitters.
According to medical wisdom, neurons cannot regenerate, but damaged axons can.
There are two primary networks of nerve cells:
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The central nervous system, whose axons are situated in the brain, the eye and the spinal cord (like the wires inside a computer).
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The peripheral nervous system, whose axons are situated outside of the central nervous system (like network wires).
Messages are transferred from the axons, and there are two types of axons:
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Sensory axons (inputs) carry messages from the skin, muscles, joints, internal organs and intestines to the central nervous system. These include sensations like touch, temperature, pain, muscle activity, and joint position.
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Motor Axons (outputs) control motion and carry signals from the central nervous system to the body, limbs, internal organs and intestines.
There are intermediate neurons inside the brain that connect the sensory and motor neurons.
Messages are transferred from the axons by electrical pulses called action potentials. These electrical pulses travel from the sensory axons to the central nervous system, activating the nerve cells and causing sensations.
The longer axons (or wires) are insulated with the myelin sheath, which increases the speed at which a message can travel down the axon (or wire). Shorter axons do not have myelin insulators, and messages travel slower through them. The shorter axons carry messages about touch, cold, warmth and pain. Because they are slower communication channels, a pain message from the foot can take about 1 second to reach the central nervous system (the spinal cord).
A harmful sensation is simply an electrical pulse that is sent by the sensory axons to the central nervous system, where it is interpreted as “pain”.
Processing Pain
Sensations are transmitted to the brain and include much more than pain. A sense of balance is critical to being able to stand upright. Sensations such as hunger, thirst, swallowing, and the need to go to the bathroom are all essential. Some sensations are autonomous such as the heartbeat and breathing.
Pain is a sensation sent to the brain indicating the body is being damaged, and a response needs to be engaged. The sensory axons pass the message of discomfort to the central nervous system, where it is interpreted, and then a message is sent by the motor axons to respond (i.e. move your hand away from the hot stove that is burning it). The pain sensation can also cause a person to feel the need to rest, allowing healing time.