CLAIM:
Repeating the number sequence "55515" while focusing on a painful sensation can make pain disappear or significantly reduce it. According to the viral reel, the sequence acts as a "quantum code" that sends a signal to the brain that the pain is temporary, causing it to diminish almost instantly.
FACT:
False. There is no scientific evidence that repeating the number sequence "55515" can directly reduce or eliminate pain, nor is there any recognised "quantum code" in medicine or neuroscience that works in this way. While factors such as expectation, attention, relaxation, mindfulness, and placebo effects can temporarily influence how pain is perceived, experts say any relief is unlikely to be caused by the number sequence itself. Relying on such unproven techniques in place of proper medical care may also delay the diagnosis and treatment of underlying conditions, particularly when pain is persistent, severe, or worsening.
In a recent Instagram reel posted by Jenisha Shah, who has 66.2K followers on the platform, a claim about a number sequence allegedly capable of reducing pain has been gaining attention online.
In the reel, Shah recounts a video she had seen featuring a woman in the army and describes a technique that she says "blew my mind." According to her, anyone experiencing pain should sit down, close their eyes, focus on the sensation, and repeatedly say the number sequence "5 5 5 1 5."
"I saw a girl make a video about this and she's in the army and this blew my mind," Shah says in the reel. "She said if you're facing any pain, okay, absolutely anything, sit down, shut your eyes, feel the pain, like feel exactly where it's coming in, what's happening, everything and then repeat 5 5 5 1 5. Repeat it to yourself a couple times and apparently that pain goes away."
She further claims that numerous people reported positive results after trying the technique. "My lower back pain just went away. My stomach pain just went away," she says, adding that the sequence is "apparently some quantum code that sends a signal to your brain that the pain is just temporary and diminishes it completely."
Encouraging viewers to test the method themselves, she concludes: "I'm curious, please, if you have something hurting right now, try it."
The reel has gained massive traction on Instagram, garnering over 3.5 million views, 73.2K likes, and 215K shares.
The probable origin of the sequence is likely the declassified CIA workbook, which mentions that repeating the number '55515' helps with pain relief.
"Look with your closed eyes at that part of your body which is the source of pain signals. As you look, repeat in your mind the number 55515. When you do these 2 things, the pain signals will slowly reduce until they are no longer important," it said.
What does research say?
Research suggests that factors such as attention, expectation, belief, and mindfulness can influence how pain is perceived. However, there is currently no scientific evidence showing that repeating the number sequence "55515" possesses any unique pain-relieving properties or acts as a "quantum code" capable of eliminating pain.
A 2015 review examined the neuroscience of placebo effects and found that the context surrounding a treatment can meaningfully influence how pain is experienced. According to the researchers, "placebo effects are beneficial effects that are attributable to the brain–mind responses to the context in which a treatment is delivered rather than to the specific actions of the drug."
The review reported that placebo responses can produce measurable changes in the brain, including "reduced activity in brain areas associated with pain and negative emotion" and increased activity in regions involved in motivation, reward, and cognitive control. The authors concluded that placebo effects are mediated by processes such as learning, expectations, and social cognition, rather than by any special properties of a particular word, number, or symbol.
Subsequent research has further highlighted the role of expectation in shaping pain experiences. A 2016 review on placebo mechanisms noted that "the expectation of symptom improvement is the primary factor underlying the placebo effect." According to the authors, these expectations are influenced by past experiences, contextual cues, and individual biological characteristics.
The review also found evidence that placebo-induced pain relief is associated with the activation of the brain's endogenous opioid and dopamine systems—the same networks involved in regulating pain and reward. Importantly, the researchers described placebo responses as a well-established neurobiological phenomenon, rather than evidence of unexplained "quantum" mechanisms.
Adding to this body of evidence, a 2019 review examining placebo analgesia and pain modulation found that positive expectations can significantly influence pain outcomes. The researchers wrote that "expectancy-induced analgesia and placebo effects in general have emerged as useful models to assess individual endogenous pain modulatory systems."
According to the review, placebo effects can affect pain processing, treatment outcomes, coping strategies, and overall well-being. The authors suggested that patients' expectations may partly explain why people experience pain differently, even when they have similar medical conditions.
Beyond placebo effects, some researchers have also explored whether directing attention toward bodily sensations may alter the perception of pain. A 2019 systematic review examined brief mindfulness-based interventions (BMBIs), which typically involve paying close attention to present-moment experiences, including physical sensations.
After analysing 20 studies, the researchers found that the overall evidence was "limited and inconclusive." However, they noted that certain mindfulness interventions, particularly those delivered by a provider and lasting longer than five minutes, "showed some promise in the management of acute pain." At the same time, the authors cautioned that "more rigorous large-scale studies conducted with pain populations are needed before unequivocally recommending" such approaches as a first-line treatment for acute or chronic pain.
Expert insights
Dr Lokesh B, Senior Consultant – Neurology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, said there is no scientific evidence to suggest that repeating a specific number sequence such as "55515" can directly reduce or eliminate pain.
"Pain is a complex experience influenced by physical, emotional, and psychological factors, and there is no known 'quantum code' that can send a special signal to the brain to make pain disappear," he said.
According to Dr Lokesh, some people may experience temporary relief while repeating numbers, words, or phrases, but that does not mean the sequence itself possesses any unique healing properties. "These activities can distract attention, promote relaxation, or create a calming effect similar to meditation. Pain that improves during such practices is more likely related to changes in focus, expectation, or stress levels rather than any scientifically proven effect of the number sequence," he explained.
Addressing the reel's reference to a "quantum code," Dr Lokesh said there is no recognised concept in neuroscience, medicine, or quantum physics that supports such a claim.
"The term 'quantum' is often used in social media content to make claims sound scientific, but quantum physics studies the behaviour of particles at very small scales and does not provide evidence that repeating a number sequence can directly treat pain," he said.
He noted that pain is processed through complex networks involving the brain, nerves, emotions, attention, and past experiences. While focusing on a number or phrase may temporarily distract a person from discomfort or help them relax, "this effect is psychological rather than a unique property of the number itself."
Dr Lokesh further pointed out that psychological factors such as expectation, belief, suggestion, meditation, and the placebo effect can influence how pain is perceived. "The brain plays a major role in processing pain signals, and factors that reduce stress, improve focus, or create positive expectations can decrease the intensity of pain a person feels," he said.
However, he stressed that this is not the same as treating the underlying cause of pain. "A person may feel less discomfort from a back injury, infection, kidney stone, or arthritis for a short time, but the physical condition causing the pain may still be present. True treatment addresses the underlying disease or injury, while psychological approaches mainly influence how the brain experiences and responds to pain."
Dr Lokesh also cautioned against relying on unproven techniques in place of medical care. "Pain is often a warning sign that something in the body needs attention, such as a nerve disorder, infection, injury, arthritis, or another medical condition. If a person depends only on such methods, important diagnoses may be delayed and the underlying problem could become more serious over time," he said.
While practices such as repeating a number sequence may provide temporary distraction or relaxation for some people, he emphasised that they should not be viewed as a substitute for medical evaluation. "Persistent pain that interferes with daily life, sleep, movement, or work should be assessed by a healthcare professional. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment often lead to better outcomes and can help prevent complications," he added.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS
