I actually do something like that occasionally, leaving myself free of pain killer (I use OTCs) and just 'feel' it, even going over pain 'spots' in my body and kneading, rubbing over the many areas of pain; in a sense, KNOWING them and getting to know them (I find new ones all the time.)
And I do have a certain amount of Self/self protection because what it tells me is that my physiology and biochemistry is so messed up that the 'body' should not even be 'living' in the condition that it is.
I feel your compassion, that you can't help me, but your encourgement on this forum is more 'help' than you know. You have often made a difference in my day just by your kind words.