# In your experience, what is the worst type of pain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674 "2012-11-11T13:46:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/41 "2012-11-11T22:59:40Z")
1. Burns - Hot oil is not to be messed with, that shit ain’t in any way funny 2. Broken leg in 6 places - Thankfully I passed out a few times, unfortunately when I came to I’d jerk like in your sleep and send the pain shooting through my leg again. 3. Deep cuts - I’m slowly starting to realize I should sober up before I cook or order pizza instead. 4. Broken ribs - can’t breath, can’t sleep, ca’t even lay down, and God forbid you sneeze. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/42 "2012-11-11T23:31:08Z")
I had my whole spine realigned and fused, which was agonizing and horrid, but nothing compares with a bad tooth abscess, IMHO. OMG the misery. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/43 "2012-11-11T23:31:39Z")
That’s an easy one. My appendix ruptured back in 2003. Being the stubborn ass that I was, I refused to go to the doc for 2 days after the pain started. Now, before that happened I had had broken bones, migraines, cluster headaches, broken teeth, damage to my back, and surgery without anesthetic. After the two days of raging infection and pain in my belly, I had a new definition for pain. I was constantly passing out from pain, vomiting when I was conscious, and delirious. I couldn’t even control my bladder the pain was so bad. (If someone from the hospital where I ended up at that day is working, sorry about the mess in the bathroom!). Took a full month after the surgery before the infection cleared up, and years for me to fully recover from that. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/44 "2012-11-11T23:44:19Z")
With a name like **Mr. Accident** you just had to show up here sooner or later 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/45 "2012-11-11T23:48:25Z")
Getting smashed in the nose is the only thing that actually made me briefly black-out from pain. My mother says kidney stones were worse than natural childbirth. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/46 "2012-11-12T01:25:04Z")
Natural childbirth with a kid who turned out to be in the 99th percentile for head circumference. And I’ve had kidney stones… ETA: Second kid was born with epidural when i got to 6cm – no comparison what so ever. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/47 "2012-11-12T01:41:15Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > 1. Broken ribs - can’t breath, can’t sleep, ca’t even lay down, and God forbid you sneeze. About 6 weeks ago I was getting over a bout of bronchitis that had me coughing heavily and often. One day I was walking from my car to the office and coughed once and had a bit of a ‘twinge’ low on my right side, just under my ribs. I have idea exactly what I did but but the time I got to my desk I could barely walk and had to keep stopping and leaning on the wall to take shallow breaths so I wouldn’t pass out. If hadn’t had my appendix out a few years ago I would have been suspecting that. 🙂 I stuck it out at my desk for about an hour unitl I called my folks to come get me & the car. One doctor visit and a series of x-rays later and the official diagnosis of “I’m not sure, pulled muscles maybe?” got me a few days off work on high doses of panadine forte. I had to be as still as possible or it felt like knives were being driven up under my rib-cage. Spent 3 nights sleeping sitting up on the couch and begging my two small boys not to jump all over me. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/48 "2012-11-12T01:49:29Z")
I had an obstructed kidney stone (was small enough to enter ureter but not exit) that literally had be rolling around in a puddle of water. Thinking about it still makes me queasy. I’ve also had a burst appendix, and had to have flesh, including a part of my intestine removed, and it still doesn’t compare. Almost four years later and I’m so scared of it happening again that I haven’t had any caffeine since (at least on purpose). ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/49 "2012-11-12T01:49:39Z")
My ovary burst and I lost half my blood. That hurt pretty bad. Whatever is going on with my hand right now is pretty damn painful too. A possible herniated disk, I guess. I get these electric shocks up my arm when I bend my wrist. And my middle finger feels like it’s going to burst open. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/50 "2012-11-12T02:07:02Z")
I thought cluster headaches were considered the worst pain imaginable. > **[Cluster headache](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headache)** > > Cluster headache is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent severe headaches on one side of the head, typically around the eye(s). There is often accompanying eye watering, nasal congestion, or swelling around the eye on the affected side. These symptoms typically last 15 minutes to 3 hours. Attacks often occur in clusters which typically last for weeks or months and occasionally more than a year. > The cause is unknown, but is most likely related to dysfunction of the posterior hypot... > [@](#): > > Dr. Peter Goadsby, Professor of Clinical Neurology at University College London (now at University of California, San Francisco), a leading researcher on the condition has commented: > > “Cluster headache is probably the worst pain that humans experience. I know that’s quite a strong remark to make, but if you ask a cluster headache patient if they’ve had a worse experience, they’ll universally say they haven’t. Women with cluster headache will tell you that an attack is worse than giving birth. So you can imagine that these people give birth without anesthetic once or twice a day, for six, eight, or ten weeks at a time, and then have a break. It’s just awful.”[6] I have been lucky in the physical pain department. I’ve had cavities drill with too little or no anaesthesia. There is a split second of pain that is about a 7-8 on a 10 scale. But it doesn’t drive you insane or beg for death. ---
**Author:** ![Nerdessence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Nerdessence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nerdessence)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/51 "2012-11-12T02:24:34Z")
Collectively, I’d say my entire ordeal with fibroids. They are nasty if they grow large enough. When I still had them, I would experience monstrous, almost paralyzing cramp fits. One time, I was certain something had burst. My leg would go completely numb from compressed nerves, then ache like it wanted to fall off. And other nasty business. When you have something the size of a “junior” basketball stuffed behind your uterus, it makes its presence known. The other three were not nearly as large, but they poked my innards in all sorts of horrific ways. NOT fun. Then came the endometrial biopsy. My cervix had never opened for childbirth, so the aperture was tight. Not only that, but the warping of my uterus had tilted it. So the doctor had to cram and poke and slam the stupid tube and it was like being poked with a fiery little wire. I grit my teeth through it, just wanting it to be over. When they took the sample, I had cramps so bad, I was out of it for two days. I don’t remember that time at all. Finally, three weeks ago, I had a total abdominal hysterectomy. When I woke up, I was not high on morphine. I felt achy, scared and freezing. I kept shivering, so the nurse piled heated blankets on me. Then came two and half days of searing pain, stiff legs, being poked with needles, and the worst urination cramps and constipation pain I’ve ever experienced. I would stump like some old crone to the bathroom huddled over every hour or so. The narcotics they put me on gave me migraines and nausea. I got off of those rather quickly. My bowel was asleep, which is normal, so the first time I had a natural movement, the “matter” had gotten almost petrified. It was what I imagine childbirth might feel like. I screamed and cried and moaned. My legs are regaining sensation, so they ache. Having to sleep on my back was hell. I had only one real complication: extreme bruising. I looked like someone had battered me with a club for the first two weeks, and the entire area was inflamed and tender. It’s still fading and sore. The staples pinched, and the tape itched. I’m better, but it’s going slow. Still get hitching and irritation. Today, the muscles in my thigh and rear end are angry, because I went out for a little while. So yeah, fibroids suck. There’s nothing fun about them, treating them, or recovering from them. I’m told it will feel better soon, so I’m looking forward to that. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/52 "2012-11-12T02:53:49Z")
Bottom of the foot. jesus h Christo, was that painful. I had some kind of a growth on the bottom of my foot. Had to novocaine it. Putting my foot out there repeatedly on more than one occaision so he could put in the painkiller and then burn out the growth. Holy moley. I thought I was tough. I’ve done some dental work without novocaine but this was a whole 'nother level of hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/53 "2012-11-12T02:58:43Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > “Threw my back out” pain. I’m talking 3 days of complete bedrest, having to think about how to move so much as a finger (that is NOT hyperbole, that’s literally literal) pain, and nothing at all helped relieved it. > > After that, toothaches from an abscess surrounding an exposed nerve are the worst in terms of type, if not pain level on a pain scale. There’s just no getting away from a really bad toothache - it’s literally and figuratively “in your face” all the time. I could have made this exact post. About 6 years ago I ripped something in my back lifting firewood. I knew in 2 seconds that it was bad, and I’ve never been the same since. A month ago I had an abscessed molar extracted. I can honestly say that these two are the worst pains I’ve experienced. The molar one was worse. It affects eating, drinking, swallowing, breathing, everything! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/54 "2012-11-12T03:27:10Z")
The worst episodes of pain I’ve personally experienced have been kidney stones, gout, impacted wisdom teeth and a couple of broken bones. Of those, kidney stones were defiinitely the worst. No kidding. As I picked myself up off the floor, just realizing I had broken my right arm, my first thought was, “You know, this doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as kidney stones”. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/55 "2012-11-12T03:46:11Z")
I was on a motocycle and was hit by a car head-on at 50 MPH. Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/56 "2012-11-12T04:12:51Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > I was on a motocycle and was hit by a car head-on at 50 MPH. > Ouch. I hate to ask, but is that the reason for your disability? ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/57 "2012-11-12T06:47:47Z")
For me, #1 dental cleanings. They didn’t used to be painful at all, but tartar builds up right where I have some exposed roots in a particular area of my mouth, and the hygienists like to clean them without painkiller. Although I warn them in advance and request painkiller, they tend to focus right on that painful point since it gets the most tartar, and I think they’re attracted to the profession by their sadistic tendencies. #2 getting a “charley horse” on my lower calf. The pain is short-lived but intense. I had such an event a week or so ago. #3 pulling a hair from inside the nose. I’ve tried this a few times, and each time was excrutiating. #4 various bone breaks while skiing and other sports during childhood. I don’t remember the pain, but I assume there was some pain associated with these traumas. I don’t remember them being pleasant, although the leg cast from the skiing accident gave me some massive popularity at school with everyone signing the cast. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/58 "2012-11-12T12:18:03Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > People who have experienced dry socket after a dental extraction also say it’s pretty bad. I’m going through that right now. It’s bad, although I was diagnosed early and got on the antibiotics pretty fast. Still nasty though. I’d say toothache (on a previous occasion) has been the worst pain I’ve experienced - I might have had bits of me that hurt worse than that (a kick in the nuts, for example), but for me at least, the fact that with toothache, the pain is stuck in my head with me, makes it extraordinarily bad. I had a bad infection under a tooth a couple of years back (ended with extraction and later, bridgework) that persisted a couple of weeks - the pain was such that it prevented me eating, sleeping, or doing anything but sucking ice for three days on end. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/59 "2012-11-12T12:38:40Z")
I’ve had acute appendictis, kidney stones, broken bones and ulceric colitis. I’ve had a tooth abscess that required emergency surgery. Celtling was born by c-scetion because I had a slipped disc in my back so I’m denied the comparison there, but the lower back problem was so bad I could no longer control my right leg. None of them even begins to compare to the searing horror of a gallstone attack. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674/60 "2012-11-12T13:15:35Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I hate to ask, but is that the reason for your disability? Nope. I fully recovered from the broken bones. Now it is Multiple Sclerosis. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-experience-what-is-the-worst-type-of-pain/640674.md?page=4)