explain
pain
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There aremany stories fromwartime. Take
theWorldWar II veteranwho had some
routine chest x-rays done. They revealed a
bullet that had been lodged in his neck for 60
years – he never knew!
18
Many stories involve
soldiers inwartime who have a severe injury,
even losing a whole limb, yet who report little
or no pain.
19
Those who suffered traumatic
amputations inwartime and commented that
there was no pain, usually described a ‘bump’
or a ‘thump’.
20
When President Reaganwas shot inMarch
1981 he felt no pain. On the anniversary of
the shooting he said “I have never been shot
before except in themovies. Then you act as
though it hurts. Now I know that does not
always happen.”
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In other situations, severely burnt people have
run back into burning houses to save children,
sportsmen andwomen have accomplished
amazing feats despite severe injury.
But the ratio of the amount of injury to the
amount of pain swings the other way too.
What is it about a paper cut? It’s not deep,
there’s notmuch damage, but it really hurts, it
stings, it makes you annoyed and you can’t
believe that a paper cut could hurt
thatmuch
.
Obviously what’s happening in your tissues is
just
one part
of the amazing pain experience.
Let’s contemplate a fewmore amazing pain
stories...
