Discussion: Pain Management
Sunday April 15, 2007
the_opoponax writes: "I got my first ink today -- about half the outline of a large-ish back tattoo. And it hurt like hell! In fact, I had to finish the appointment earlier than planned because the pain was so unbearable...What are some ways I can increase my tolerance for pain? My artist has already recommended having a glass of wine before I come into my next appointment (just one glass!), and a couple tylenols. But I'd like to work on relaxing and managing the pain naturally. My friend telling me, 'Relax, concentrate on your breathing' didn't help much."
Comments
I’d assume everyone’s experiences are different and what might work for one person to take the ede off the pain might not for another, but with one of the tats I had done recently I had my mp3 player on the whole time to distract me, and it seemed to work. As well as that, I usually stretch beforehand to get my muscles nice and relaxed.
There are Pain Killers. Once the outline is done, the artist sprays it on the tattoo, massages a bit, and wait a few minutes. Then you feel almost nothing. You can get that at: ETE (Etreme Tattoo Equipment). There toll free phone number is 1 (866) 565-5559
http://www.extatequip.com/
hi there……my eldest daughter really had a hard time with a tiny 20 minute tat of a butterfly on her shoulder….she just couldnt take the pain and cant understand how i can sit for 3 hours having a major piece done….she swears she will never have another one…..haha…..my pain threshold is very high and i love the sound of the tat gun……i find the pain is just exquisite, specially in those soft places like the inside of your elbow and arm…..haha……most people just dont understand this……there are odd times when i feel i cant go on, specially near bone when it feels like the needle is drilling into me….then i just close my eyes and do deep breathing and visualise my pain as a wave and i am surfing right on the top of it…..my aim is never to fall off….when you fall off you lose control and suffer more……pain is inevitable in life and not to be avoided, just controlled and managed…..make it your own and keep it leashed……dont fear it….that makes it worse…….a couple of strong painkillers beforehand will help as they relax you….i think when you tense up you make it worse as well…..my tats are almost spiritual to me, so i can handle almost anything….they are tribal rites of passage and mean the world to me….its a matter of relaxing mind and body, so yoga would help you focus as well…..make sure you have a healthy meal before, and then afterwards as well, as i find some tats take a lot of energy out of you and can make you a little nauseous as well…..it IS an invasion of your body and can make your system go into shock with some shivers and feelings of being hot and cold all at once…….go straight home after, and rest a lot for the first couple of days, specially with a leg or foot tat….keep it elevated as much as possible…..i like to go on a friday for my tats, cos it gives me the weekend to recover…..people think tats are so cool, but they really need the best attention and you have to look after yourself…..dont have one while you are feeling ill or flu-ish……keeping your sugar levels steady while being tattooed also helps….drink coke, energy drinks or fruit juices throughout the tattoo…….keep thinking how amazing its going to look once its done and how good you are going to feel about yourself……we are all different and have to find our own way to deal with it….good luck……
Raven Darkmoon
How dare your tattooer tell you to drink and mix it with tylenol!!! LOOK A THE BOTTLE OF TYLENOL!! Geee-o-pete!!! Kidney/liver damage is possible!!! And legally no tattooer should tell anyone to take any kind of meds…over the counter or not. What if you are highly allergic to tylenol and drop dead? ‘he told her to take them’. I think they call that dispensing meds without a license???
It might be body location, it might be the tattooer is heavy handed, it might be the moon is wrong that day (!!) but for heaven’s sake don’t mix the two ‘drugs’.
Tattoos deserve to be taken ’straight up’ as it is a passage. Make sure you are ready…sleep, meals, mentally. Ladies, your period can alter your pain level.
Take yourself to another place and you will breeze through it. (hoping your tattooer checks for hooked needles, doesn’t tube the skin, etc and has adequate training and experience).
Earn it…it will mean more.
When I got my first tattoo, my brother told me 2 take about 4 tylenols about 2 hours before you go and by the time comes. You should numb as a door knob.
Don’t EVER take Tylenol or drink before a tattoo. I find it hard to believe that any reputable artist told a client to do that. Ridiculous!