Scientists reveal the worst pain you can possibly feel and it’s not what you might think

Pain is something everyone experiences at some point, but some types of pain are far worse than others. A study tried to figure out what the most extreme pain a person can feel is. We all know how awful it is to stub your toe or step on a Lego barefoot—those moments can make you want to scream. But surprisingly, neither of those made it into the top ten most painful experiences in this study.

In the past, research suggested that kidney stones were one of the worst pains a person could go through. In one study, nearly 80% of women and almost 90% of men said kidney stones were the most severe pain they’d ever experienced. But a more recent study, done in 2020, found something different. This study asked over 1,600 people who suffer from cluster headaches to compare their pain to other painful conditions, like broken bones, stab wounds, and migraines. The results were clear: cluster headaches were rated as the most painful, with an average score of 9.7 out of 10 on the pain scale.

Cluster headaches are described as an incredibly intense type of headache that happens in cycles, with frequent attacks that can last for weeks or even months. The pain is usually focused behind one eye and can spread to the face, head, and neck. People who experience them often feel restless, have a stuffy or runny nose, and may even notice changes in the color of their skin on the painful side of their face. It’s a type of pain that’s hard to imagine unless you’ve been through it.

After cluster headaches, the study found that childbirth was the second most painful experience, with a score of 7.2 out of 10. Pancreatitis, a condition that causes inflammation in the pancreas, came in third with a score of 7. Kidney stones, which were once thought to be the worst, ranked fourth with a score of 6.9. Other painful conditions that scored above 5 included gunshot wounds, gallstones, slipped spinal discs, migraines, fibromyalgia, and bone fractures.

One surprising finding was that heart attacks scored only 5 out of 10 on the pain scale, even though they are one of the most life-threatening conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 800,000 Americans have a heart attack each year, and heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the country. While heart attacks are extremely serious, the pain they cause doesn’t compare to the agony of cluster headaches or even childbirth.

It’s important to note that cluster headaches, while excruciating, are not life-threatening. They are also very rare, affecting only about 0.1% of the global population. For those who suffer from them, the pain can be debilitating, but thankfully, it’s not something that will cause long-term harm or death. Still, the study shows just how varied pain can be and how different conditions affect people in different ways. Pain is a deeply personal experience, and what might be unbearable for one person could be manageable for another.