Why do slivers and paper cuts hurt so bad? | FerrariChat
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Why do slivers and paper cuts hurt so bad?

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by ryalex, May 10, 2007.

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  1. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #1 ryalex, May 10, 2007
    It seems like such a small wound, but it's amazing how excruciating some little cuts can be.

    Today we were at the beach and I stepped on a sharp splinter in the sand - I felt this jab in the arch of my foot and man, it stung bad. I hobbled a bit but had to sit right down - turns out it was only about 1/4" into my foot, and it ached until I got all the little pieces of it out.

    Why do things like that hurt so bad compared to bruises or scrapes?
     
  2. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 UroTrash, May 10, 2007
    Microscopically the cutting edge is very rough.

    Plus, paper cuts tend to be on fingers, high # nerves per cm2.
     
  3. Zahiba

    Zahiba Formula 3

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    #3 Zahiba, May 10, 2007
    Probably doesn't help that the arch of your foot is a very sensitive part of skin.
     
  4. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 TexasF355F1, May 10, 2007
    Folder cuts hurt worse than paper cuts.
     
  5. 1_can_dream

    1_can_dream F1 Veteran

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    #5 1_can_dream, May 10, 2007
    When you get a deeper cut it severs more of the nerves so you're not feeling pain from them, the paper cut leaves more nerves in tact so you feel more pain.
     
  6. Doody

    Doody F1 Veteran

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    #6 Doody, May 10, 2007
    'cuz you're a girlie-man, ryan.

    ;-)

    doody.
     
  7. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 wax, May 10, 2007
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_cut
    Paper cuts can cause surprisingly acute pain since they usually stimulate a large number of skin surface pain receptors (nociceptors) in a very small area of the skin. Because the shallow cut does not bleed very much, the pain receptors are left open to the air, ensuring continued pain. This is exacerbated by irritation caused by the fibers in the paper itself, which may be coated in chemicals such as bleach. Additionally, most paper cuts occur in the fingers, which have a greater concentration of sensory receptors than the rest of the body.

    Italics represent razor-sharp infliction and symptoms of throbbing pain, pain, pain!
     
  8. Stephanie

    Stephanie F1 World Champ
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    #8 Stephanie, May 13, 2007
    Agreed! They hurt like a mother!

    I was eating breakfast with the bf and cutting my bagel with a PLASTIC knife and cut my finger. WTF? It hurt like hell, but we couldn't help but laugh because it was so retarded. :D
     

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