sensation check

You know how when your tooth hurts, for instance, how you keep passing your tongue over it? Sort of to make sure it still hurts?

This is not masochism but rather a confirmation that my sensations are still operating. Are you trying to check for improvement? Similarly, with ageing: I tend to want to check that my knee still hurts… that arthritis is still there.. that my eye sight is still like yesterday… That I still need those glasses. That I still require those 30 seconds to pull myself off of my chair… that I am still alive and… not getting any younger..