A Patient Who Is Suffering from Terminal Cancer Asks a Nurse

Multiple Choice

A patient who is suffering from terminal cancer asks a nurse how massage decreases his pain. The nurse explains that in theory,

A) Massage blocks endorphins that, when released, inhibit pain receptors.
B) Massage stimulates the release of endorphins, which are thought to block the transmission of pain.
C) Massage assists endorphins in opening the gate and attaching to opiate receptors.
D) Massage stimulates opiate or pain receptors to release endorphins, and thereby essentially changes how the brain identifies pain.