I’m honestly not sure that a soldier totally blocks out the pain in a circumstance like that. but again, to the degree that pain sensation is reduced and ignored, it is, according to the research cited, much more likely a brain (central attention) mechanism (which to some can also send out inhibitory messages peripherally). There could also be a punk rock concert blasting that he effectively would not be hearing unless he is primed to understand that hearing it is vital for his survival at that moment. His buddy in the distance shouting “To your left!” barely above the din, that he would hear.
taffygirl, inflammation is not just big swelling and occurs at levels that are not visible to the naked eye.
Bee sting reactions are indeed a response to a chemical in the venom, melittin, which directly stimulates the pain receptors. There is then an inflammatory response to the venom as well. Interestingly enough when I was stung it was not quite immediate but a quarter second of a delay, long enough for me to begin to think “Oh that was so baaa !!!”
I fell and broke four ribs and that hurt like hell, within less than a second of impact, although this was accompanied by internal bleeding. Another time I cracked a rib falling off a mountain bike and it didn’t register until the next day. I was laughing at my somersault and the fact I’d landed perfectly flat on my back, without any noticeable injury. I got back on the bike and completed the 35km course with seemingly no ill effects.
Once my brother punched me in the chest, which was a little painful but we were both drunk at the time. The next morning I had a stretch and my rib ‘clicked’ with a sharp pain. It took around 2 months to heal, so I guess another cracked rib
I cut the tip off my finger which was more shocking than painful, although the repairing process was irritating and painful.
The worst pain I have had was a cerebral abscess. The headaches were a lot worse than the pain when I broke my nose and the pain was on and off for weeks, until well after the surgeries were completed. I was taking the “strongest painkillers we have” according to the pharmacist, but after 3 or 4 hours of taking them the pain returned and I could barely function on any level. I had to alternatively take paracetamol + codeine and ibuprofen to not exceed the daily dosages. I was misdiagnosed by 3 general practitioners, several ENT specialists (“it’s a migraine” - even though I’d never had migraines before) and 2 ER doctors. I only got an x-ray when I was throwing up ‘coffee grounds’ in hospital - an effect of taking so many painkillers - and was told I had a shadow on my brain.
ETA (missed the window) - the cerebral abscess was from an ear infection which crossed through the skull into my brain. It was the only ear infection I’d ever had so I wasn’t particularly bothered by it. I’d had a bad ear infection (pussy, smelly) for a few months and didn’t get it treated soon enough. I ended up having brain surgery twice and later a mastoidectomy.
