Although I am predominently motor, I have excruciating foot pain with even light touch. I use plain old mint foot cream to massage my toes. It hurts like heck to do this, screaming pain in fact, but after they feel better and cooler. My take on this: 1. it's like hitting myself with a hammer and feels so good to stop. 2. The pain from the message releases my endorphines and I get some relief. 3. I believe it helps and I am doing something positive, there for I feel better. 4. Like your mom using Vick's Vapo Rub on you as a child, it is somewhat comforting to treat yourself well and again touch releases lots of feel good hormones.

BTW I also rub Vicks into my feet and that helps to, for the above reasons.