Chuck Lubeck LMT

09/10/2026

Your nervous system has the ability to turn pain down.

It also has the ability to turn it up.

And stress may influence which direction it goes.

Ever wonder why some patients under extreme stress are harder to get out of pain, or occasionally seem to feel worse after treatment?

Research suggests that the pain-modulating systems that normally help suppress pain can become altered under high stress. In some people, the balance may shift away from inhibition and toward facilitation.

In plain English?

The system that should be helping put the brakes on pain may not be doing its job very well.

And sometimes it may be pressing the gas instead.

That is a pretty important reminder that pain is never just about the tissue you are touching.

The state of the nervous system matters.

doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.011

08/16/2026

It happened just like this

08/13/2026

Do you do lymphatic drainage?

But do you ever think about Substance P while you’re doing it?

Substance P shows up in nociception, inflammation, immune signalling, tissue repair AND lymphatic activity.

Yep. Lymphatics.

Chakraborty et al. 2011 (doi: 10.1111/j.1549-8719.2010.00064.x) showed Substance P switching on both contractile and inflammatory pathways in lymphatic muscle cells, via NK1R and NK3R.

So lymphatics aren’t passive little drainage pipes. They’re active, contractile, immune-connected tissue.

Now here’s where we might ruffle a few feathers. 😬

Most lymphatic work is intentionally VERY light and superficial. Nothing wrong with that.

But if you wanted to bring Substance P into the conversation, is superficial the most interesting place to look?

Probably not.

The nerve endings best set up to release it sit deeper. Periosteum. Connective tissue.

You know…where RAPID therapists spend a whole lot of time. 👀

And therapists who do both keep telling us the same thing…

“Adding RAPID is like lymphatic work on steroids.”

Not magic. Just physiology being way cooler than we give it credit for.

06/22/2026

RAPID works differently by helping the nervous system reset the body, not just the muscles. 🔄

05/07/2026

What if inflammation is part of the solution instead of the problem? 👀

05/07/2026

05/05/2026

With permission… massage student
Jacquel Josey’s before and after photos after receiving RAPID. 2-3 minutes total and I just saw her this morning and the arm still goes there pain-free.
For contrast, I finished with five minutes of Neural Reset Therapy (9 muscles) and the effect brought a smile to her face.

05/05/2026

Neural Reset Therapy workshop offerings through June in Augusta Ga.
May 16-17 UB
June 6-7 LB
June 27-28 UB