Touch and Pain Sensing Finally Decoded — New Schwann Cells Discovered That Feel Pain

In one professional Facebook group, a member posted the following:

"Touch and pain sensing finally decoded — new Schwann cells discovered that feel pain."

He also added to the original post:

"This confirms that massage in an inhibitory regime, combined with a layer-by-layer approach and without excessive pressure, is the correct method for treating painful conditions."

Below is my reply.

It is good that you posted this information. You emphasized this new finding as an additional explanation supporting the necessity of implementing introductory massage in an inhibitory regime. This reflects crucial clinical reasoning.

Not long ago, we lived through a so-called “new neuroscientific revolution” that completely denied peripheral pain input. It declared that pain receptors did not exist and that pain sensation is generated by the brain solely due to fear. According to this idea, even a deep cut by a very sharp knife would not produce pain as a result of significant tissue damage.

This was a serious distraction. It brainwashed tens of thousands of massage therapists, physical therapists, and chiropractors. They paid the price by being misled and investing significant money in flawed teaching. The real price, however, was paid by patients suffering from painful disorders—cases where we could have made a significant difference.

In the picture you provided, there is a statement about newly identified cells that can feel pain. Unfortunately, some individuals may misuse this “new” information and attempt to start yet another “new neuroscientific revolution.” Therefore, just in case, let us be prepared.

Let me clarify something fundamental:

Tissues and cells do not feel pain.

Muscle does not feel pain. Fascia does not feel pain.

What tissues do is generate signals—mechanical stress, chemical irritation, inflammatory activity. These signals travel to the brain. Only there—after evaluation—may pain be produced.

Thank you for posting.

As many of you already know, for the last four years the main focus of my practice has shifted to cases of chronic stress–related disorders and Long COVID syndromes. At my webinar, I discussed the necessity of performing introductory massage in an inhibitory regime to increase the pain threshold.

I do not want to repeat what I presented in my articles, but I highly recommend reading them again. One key article is titled: “Multisystem Biological Mechanism of Long COVID and Chronic Stress–Related Illnesses.”

This explains why many techniques that previously produced results may no longer work. You can read more in my recent article: Medical Massage Master Class.

Understanding Pain in Long COVID and Chronic Stress–Related Disorders

In these cases, pain is not a direct readout of tissue damage. It is a decision made by the brain. By addressing the multisystem biological mechanisms of Long COVID and chronic stress–related disorders, we directly influence the brain’s decision.

Two patients with the same presentation can experience completely different levels of pain. This is exactly why technique alone is not enough.

If the nervous system is sensitized—as we often see in chronic stress conditions or post-viral syndromes—the brain amplifies signals. In that case, you are not treating tissue alone. You are interacting with a system that is already on high alert. Your touch must reflect that.

The Role of Stress in Health

Growing evidence suggests that psychological stress plays a substantial role in healthcare utilization. Estimates cited by the American Institute of Stress indicate that approximately 75% to 90% of primary care visits involve a stress-related component, with a significant proportion linked to anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.

At the same time, the long-term impact of COVID-19 continues to shape population health. Serological data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that by late 2023, a large majority of Americans had developed antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 through prior infection.

A growing body of research indexed in PubMed Central indicates that post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, commonly referred to as Long COVID, are associated with persistent cognitive symptoms—including impairments in memory, attention, and executive function, often described as “brain fog.”

Current estimates summarized by CIDRAP suggest that Long COVID has affected millions of Americans, with roughly 8% of U.S. adults reporting experience of the condition, and a smaller but meaningful percentage continuing to experience active symptoms. Together, these findings highlight the intertwined burden of psychological stress and post-viral health effects on both individuals and the healthcare system.

This is very alarming. In practical terms, this translates to well over 150 million—and likely closer to 200+ million—Americans dealing with conditions in which stress plays a significant clinical role. Long COVID has affected over 20 million U.S. adults, with millions still experiencing active symptoms, highlighting the massive, intertwined burden of post-viral and stress-related health challenges.

Clinical Application

What I presented in my articles on this subject is a simple, scientifically sound concept: simple to agree with, simple to disagree with. I have faced little disagreement, but many who have read my articles agree.

The main importance is that I am constantly reproducing outcomes in cases of combined symptoms such as dizziness, brain fog, cognitive declines, aches and pains, and sleep disorders.

For those who attended my first webinar, I am confident you are already treating people with multiple symptoms using this protocol. You should post reports and share outcomes—we should have a discussion. After my webinar became available on demand, many attended. I encourage you to apply this massage protocol and share results. Post questions.

Hopefully, we all share an emotional reaction to these alarming statistics and understand the importance of massage in such cases.

Upcoming Webinars

Because of the multisystem biological mechanisms involved in Long COVID and chronic stress–related disorders, I am planning a few more webinars proposing necessary protocols.

The next webinar will focus on full-body techniques to release acetylcholine and activate new mitochondria. This protocol will only work after applying at least 10 treatments following the protocol presented in the webinar.

You can start watching here: Long COVID & Chronic Stress Protocol.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you in my classes.

Best wishes,
Boris Prilutsky