I had abrupt neuropathy (radiculopathy) symptoms upon the large rupture of a herniated lumbar disc. I saw an Orthopedist, had MRI testing, and was sent to PT within a week. The PT emphasized and re-emphasized the role of the brain in pain management. He said the pain signals come up to the brain as an “explosion”, the brain can’t differentiate/pinpoint the location, just interprets it as “PAIN”. The PT said it’s important not to open “pain pathways”, as the brain will focus on the “explosion” and accelerate your sense of pain. Sounded weird to me, but I decided to trust him and then/now I primarily use visualization and calculated fury to beat back any opening of a pain pathway. When I’m woken up by severe lower leg pain (sledge hammer hitting it type), my most successful visualization is to fiercely envision a blow torch of fire blasting back down that pathway, driving the signals back. Five minutes of that and the pain is gone. I’ve also imagined little friendly aliens with phasers blasting my calf muscles. I tried “relaxing at the beach” visualizations, it that didn’t work for me.
The PT emphasized- this is not true pain from a true cause, it’s your brain’s interpretation of the explosion of false signals coming up.