We all remember that one time in elementary school we broke our leg out on the playground. Sure, the class sympathy we received in the days that followed, plus the super excellent cast which all of our friends and maybe even our crush signed, but in the end that was still the most painful day of our lives. Sometimes, though, the most pain we've ever felt isn't always physical.
TRIGGER WARNING: Some stories contain graphic descriptions of a medical nature.
Reddit user, u/hannah3911, wanted to hear the worst of the worst when they asked:
What was the worst pain you have ever felt?
It Is Rather Slippery
Dislocated my hip by busting it through the front of my pelvis (destroying part of my pelvis) and tearing my hamstring 60% through - all in one swift motion
I need to know how you did this! Ouch
playing ice hockey, was in the splits - they crashed the net being like 2-4 years older and larger than me - while one person was under one leg - shoved the rest of my body back as my leg stayed in place
Call Them. Just In Case.
Ectopic pregnancy burst. They said it was the size of a softball. Luckily, I survived.
That's terrifying! Glad you made it!
Thank you. I appreciate it. It was scary because the nurses told me to call my family and say what I want to say to them because I might not wake up. Thankfully I did and I'm doing a lot better!
"Shouldn't Hurt."
Having my nail bed scraped to clean it after gauze was removed (the nail was removed in surgery) it was pretty much sandpaper on an open wound.
I cut my thumb off in the same incident and that pain was 1/10 compared to my other finger that only had the nail pop off. Nurse said "shouldn't hurt" haha...
Bad Going In, Bag Coming Out
Chest tube being put in.
Or taken out.
Not sure. They both were equally f-ing awful.
The Worst Game Of Chicken
Head on car accident; I was in a little Toyota Yaris and he was in a big four wheel drive. I woke up in the ditch with searing pain in my neck that radiated down my arm causing pins and needles and numbness.
I also had very bad whip lash, including intense bruising. I would wake up every night with crushing chest pain. On top on that I had a very bad concussion.
Because Of Course This Happened At School
Once in 11th grade I felt a small discomfort from a gas build up and so I went untill lunch to relieve my self ( no way I'm going to be the dude who stank up the whole classroom and deafened the class ) and nothing happened untill 10 seconds later it felt like my guts were trying to expand out of my torso and I couldn't move.
I [tried] to get up and get pulled my pants up and then fall down as it got worse, [tried] calling for help but my voice didn't want to work and was more focused on making pained grunts.
It took untill one of my friends in 5th period (we have 5 classes a day and lunch is after the 3rd) said "where is he -- I saw him at lunch " they checked the sign out sheet nope didn't go home so where?
They looked first in the bathroom thank God and found me [making] his awful pained grunts as my guts inflated then one of the teachers had to get the principal to get the special stall unlocked (for when a-holes lock the stall and then slide under to get out) and help me to a chair and get me into my mom's car.
I was then taken me to the er where I then had the gas expelled and now when I need to let one rip I find a bathroom so I never have to be half carried out of a bathroom again
A Loss Too Much To Forget
My step brother had killed himself and when my mom told me, it felt as though my heart was literally being ripped out of my chest. When I think about the day she told me, I can still feel that pain.
When The Emotional Becomes Physical
Not physical pain so much, but I had a major anxiety/depression breakdown where I couldn't eat for a week, was crying so much that my tears gave me a rash, literally couldn't force myself up off the bed/floor sometimes, couldn't escape thoughts of suicide for even ten minutes, and lost the ability to "want" anything whatsoever. I felt like I couldn't scream hard enough to express what I was going through, no matter how long and loud and raw I cried.
I checked myself in to the hospital for a bit, started therapy and meds, quit and moved back home, started exercising and eating better, got back to work, and I'm doing ok now. I'm actually moving out of my mom's house and into my own place next week
"Please Wake Up."
Holding my fathers cold hands asking him to please wake up after he had passed away.
"Nothing Compares..."
Walking into my mother's house to find her dead on the couch. I've broken bones. I've split my head open. I've been in car accidents. Nothing compares to the literal pain I felt in my chest that day.
Getting It From Both Ends
Physical: Kidney stones, six times.
Emotional: The unexpected death of the first love of my life after just 2 years of knowing her. Took a long time to get over that sufficiently to move on.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
To find help outside the United States, the International Association for Suicide Prevention has resources available at https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/
What's the worst pain you've ever experienced? Tell us all about it!
