Very few of us can say we’ve never felt pain in some form—whether it’s a splitting headache, a throbbing stubbed toe, or something a lot more excruciating. How much pain we can tolerate before it becomes too much seems to vary wildly from person to person. Sometimes we can suck it up and keep moving; other times, even the smallest twinge can feel utterly unbearable.
ER doctors and nurses see it all. So when someone on Reddit asked them, “Have any of your patients surprised you with their amount (or lack) of pain tolerance?” the responses did not disappoint. People chimed in with story after story. Some described unbreakable “little old ladies” whose fortitude held strong even when their bones didn’t. Others recalled patients who seemed to feel absolutely everything. We’ve gathered some of the most memorable stories below. They’re a fascinating reminder that pain is a deeply personal experience—and that the person you’d least expect might just have the highest (or lowest) pain tolerance in the room.
#41
Not a doctor, but once I was bouncing at a club in a historic part of the downtown district where my college was located. Being in the historic district, the building had high ceilings and big, tall windows with thick, heavy glass.
One night some kids got upstairs and decided it would be a good idea to kick one of the windows out... right over top of the crowded smoking patio out front. I felt a great weight come down on the top of my head and heard the sound of breaking glass. I thought (being that it was a pretty rough bar) that someone broke a bottle over my head, so I turn around raising the dukes and ready to fight when I feel what only could be described as my ear peeling off the side of my head.
What had happened was, a shard of glass about an inch wide and over a foot long connected with my head at the top most point of where my ear connected to my head, slid down through my ear canal, and lodged in the back of my jaw bone, making it impossible to close my mouth properly.
I turned to my boss who was standing next to me (apparently, because I don't remember this next part, this is what bystanders told me) and said "Hey Mike, would you pull this out for me?"
Went to the hospital, got stitched sans numbing aid, and made it back to the bar before close for a beer.
**tl/dr: piece of glass almost cut off my ear and part of the side of my face. Got stitched without numbing agent, went to get a beer after**.
One night some kids got upstairs and decided it would be a good idea to kick one of the windows out... right over top of the crowded smoking patio out front. I felt a great weight come down on the top of my head and heard the sound of breaking glass. I thought (being that it was a pretty rough bar) that someone broke a bottle over my head, so I turn around raising the dukes and ready to fight when I feel what only could be described as my ear peeling off the side of my head.
What had happened was, a shard of glass about an inch wide and over a foot long connected with my head at the top most point of where my ear connected to my head, slid down through my ear canal, and lodged in the back of my jaw bone, making it impossible to close my mouth properly.
I turned to my boss who was standing next to me (apparently, because I don't remember this next part, this is what bystanders told me) and said "Hey Mike, would you pull this out for me?"
Went to the hospital, got stitched sans numbing aid, and made it back to the bar before close for a beer.
**tl/dr: piece of glass almost cut off my ear and part of the side of my face. Got stitched without numbing agent, went to get a beer after**.
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7points
#42
I was biking home and my shoe slipped off. I reached down to pull it on and my middle finger got peddled between the chain and the crank. Well Blood starts a squirting and I bike 5 miles home and my dad takes me to the hospital. I get there and the nurse asks me how much pain I am in and I say about a 3 or 4 I think i just cut it and if they could stitch me up as I needed to get home as 2 a days were starting. She sends me to xrays and I thouhgt that was a little odd as I just cut my finger albiet badly I didnt break the bone. The Xrays come back and whoops the bone in the tip of my finger is gone. Not broken in there it is back on the road somewhere. The nurse whacks me with her clipboard and goes how are you at a 3 or 4. I am man enough to admit the next morning waking up REALLY sucked. The throbbing was no bueno.
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6points
#43
Well, I'm not a Doctor or an ER nurse but I wanted to share this one. About 6 years ago now my mother wasn't feeling well and hadn't been for about 10 days. She had been going to work, doing her normal routine but thought she had a cold or the flu. One evening she asked my brother for a 3rd blanket to put over here because she was cold. He ended up calling one of her friends who came over and made her go to the hospital. The doctors in the ER quickly ascertained that it was a ruptured appendix. She had been walking around and working for 10 days since it had ruptured. She went in for immediate surgery and is still alive and kicking to this day.
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5points
#44
Not a doctor, but my doctor seemed kind of surprised when I went back for a post-surgery appointment and told him that I had not taken any of the (prescribed) pain medication after getting my tonsils out.
I had what I thought was a good reason at the time, though. At the pre-op appointment, he said that the pain is usually worst on the second day. Therefore, he suggested that I take a partial dose of the painkillers on the first day, then take the full dose on the second day, and use as prescribed until I recover.
For some reason, I decided that it was a better idea to not take anything at all on the first day, and just wait to take the painkillers when the pain got unbearable.
I kept waiting for it to get worse, and eventually it got better. Oops?
I had what I thought was a good reason at the time, though. At the pre-op appointment, he said that the pain is usually worst on the second day. Therefore, he suggested that I take a partial dose of the painkillers on the first day, then take the full dose on the second day, and use as prescribed until I recover.
For some reason, I decided that it was a better idea to not take anything at all on the first day, and just wait to take the painkillers when the pain got unbearable.
I kept waiting for it to get worse, and eventually it got better. Oops?
4points
#45
ER doc here. 54 year old guy comes in with a heart attack keeps telling us he's fine. He looked SICK. When we begin switching out the EMT's monitors for our own on his chest, he says, "don't worry about that, it is my elbow that is the problem." Not 2 seconds after he finished that sentence, he was d**d.
Luckily we were able to revive him. I kept track of his case while he was upstairs, and he left the hospital alive and without any neurological deficits. feels good!
Luckily we were able to revive him. I kept track of his case while he was upstairs, and he left the hospital alive and without any neurological deficits. feels good!
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4points
#46
Med seekers and junkies coming down have the same level of pain tolerance. Barely touch the junkies and they flip out due to pain, whereas the med seekers attempt that s**t and overact. I saw a guy try to fake a seizure and it was the funniest s**t ever. He was curling his hands up like he had CP and leaning his head back to gather spit so he could "foam at the mouth". Med seekers will always be allergic to morphine and need dilaudid and ativan.
I don't think i have met anyone with a high pain tolerance. Some chick came in with cysts on her ovaries and declined meds because she was in recovery, so that is actually pretty bad a*s.
I don't think i have met anyone with a high pain tolerance. Some chick came in with cysts on her ovaries and declined meds because she was in recovery, so that is actually pretty bad a*s.
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3points