What are the worst pains that humans can suffer?
Pain threshold can vary from person to person, but there are some conditions suffered by humans which are so excruciating that it can bring even the toughest to their knees.We're not talking about just stubbing your toe, or hitting your head, but instead about serious diseases and conditions, which can cause acute pain.See what these conditions are by clicking through the gallery!
Migraine
Migraines have no specific cause but they are one of the worst pains that we can feel. It doesn't just affect our heads, it can also cause photophobia - a sensitivity to light - as well as dizziness, tingling and nausea.
Renal colic
Renal colic is often though of as a tolerable, but in some cases it's an acute pain which needs urgent medical attention. Having these pains could mean that you have a kidney infection or kidney stones.
Muscle pain
This is not one of the most worrying pains we can suffer, but if physical exercise is carried out for a long period of time in the wrong way, then it can get much worse, even inflaming your ligaments and muscles.
Gout
This disease is not so common, but it affects a considerable amount of people. Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body, which makes the joints swell. It may not stop you from moving, but it sure will make every move you make extremely painful.
Intracranial hypertension
When there is something that isn't right in our heads, the brain ends up putting pressure on our cranium. The pain tries to spread to find a relief, something which causes an increase in liquids or inflammation.
Natural childbirth
The pain suffered when giving birth is one of the most intense pains that can be felt by women. As well as the actual pain of the baby leaving the woman's body, women will usually experience back pain, contractions, and anxiety.
Bite from a bullet ant
This large ant has a very painful bite. They are used by an indigenous tribes in South America in a ritual where boys become men.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a generalized muscle pain which also comes with strong headaches and constant fatigue. It's a very debilitating condition, and every one in four sufferers are unable to work.
Toothache
One of the most common pains we suffer is also one of the most painful. We're not referring to small cavities, but abscesses which can reach the roots of our teeth and break them. They can cause acute pain and other symptoms such as swellings.
Appendicitis
This condition is the inflammation of the appendix, and the chronic pain felt can be caused by an inflammatory disease in the intestines, a parasite, or tuberculosis, among other factors.
Abrasions
This is similar to a burn, but the pain is extremely acute and immediate. As you can imagine, having layers of skin ripped off and your nerves damaged isn't very pleasant.
Tetanus
One of the biggest diseases we are vaccinated against is Tetanus, and this is possibly because it is one of the most painful conditions that can affect the human body. It makes your muscles go into spasms and contract. People who have not been vaccinated against the disease must go straight to hospital as soon as it manifests.
Peritonitis
This condition is the inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane which lines the interior of the abdomen. The pain can be huge because of the infections caused, and if untreated it can be fatal.
Penile fracture
This is a painful injury which happens when an erect p e n i s suffers a serious trauma. The pain is excruciating and leads to swelling and sometimes deformation of the body part.
Cluster headache
Also known as a 'suicide headache', this condition causes extreme pain in just one side of the head, usually just behind the eyes. The pain can last anywhere from 15 to 180 minutes and can occur more than once in a day.
