Neither childbirth nor kidney colic: this is the most unbearable pain for a person, according to science

Only the sufferer can describe it, and no one can directly know how the person facing it feels. Pain is so subjective that on a scale of one to ten, the numbers will be the same as the sensations and tolerances of each person.

Although several techniques currently exist to attempt to approximate its measurement and establish appropriate analgesic treatment, the truth is that pain is a personal perception, which, according to scientific literature, is described as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience, the tolerance of which appears to be influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.

Of course, although pain is difficult to quantify, experts in this field have some insights into the most painful experiences for humans. When we think of severe pain, most of us think of childbirth without an epidural for women, and of a bone fracture or kidney colic for men.

However, The Guardian points out, based on several testimonies and other data, that none of the aforementioned conditions is the worst pain. This is called a "thunderclap or cluster headache," an ailment that patients describe in the British media as a stabbing sensation that pierces their eye, blurring their vision and making it difficult to maintain balance. A type of migraine that occurs suddenly and can be a warning sign of life-threatening conditions.

“Cluster headache is a rare headache disorder that affects up to 0.1% of the world's population. More men are diagnosed than women. People with this pain have rated its intensity at 9.7 out of 10: worse than childbirth (7.2), a gunshot wound (6), and a migraine (5.4),” The Guardian reports. “There are several triggers for cluster headaches. The most common is alcohol consumption. Other triggers can include changes in the weather and certain medications,” the Mayo Clinic states on its website.

Although its technical name is cluster headache, many refer to it as "suicidal pain" because it is linked to high rates of suicide attempts. More than 20% of those who suffer from this condition have lost their jobs due to their inability to function normally.

According to data from the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN) , approximately 50,000 people in Spain suffer from this disease, and 20% suffer from its chronic form, in which attacks last for more than a year without remission or with relief periods of less than three months. Despite being a disease with well-defined characteristics, it is also one of the most underdiagnosed headaches.

The delay in diagnosing cluster headaches can be more than three years for many patients, and more than 57% receive misdiagnoses before receiving the correct one. In this context, many patients, according to The Guardian, resort to strategies such as ice baths, stimulant drinks, or even self-inflicted blows to counteract the attack. There is a Reddit thread with millions of interactions in which thousands of people share their solutions.

Treatment for cluster headaches usually includes triptans, pure oxygen, or, in some cases, local anesthetics. To prevent attacks, medications such as verapamil and corticosteroids may be prescribed, or, in some cases, other medications such as topiramate or lithium carbonate, experts point out.