Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: i am bored on 19/12/2007 22:09:16

Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: i am bored on 19/12/2007 22:09:16
why is it that i get a paper cut and it stings but my friend cuts my finger with a sword and it doesn't? it doesn't make sense
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: Simulated on 19/12/2007 22:24:53
Ah good question there Nic.
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: i am bored on 20/12/2007 01:25:01
i know, im missing a chunk of finger(its deep but ive had worse) and when the blade cut me it didnt hurt i just saw blood. but when paper cuts me, it stings!
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: Simulated on 20/12/2007 01:50:04
yeah i feel the same way. Anybody!
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: Carolyn on 20/12/2007 05:20:45
i know, im missing a chunk of finger(its deep but ive had worse) and when the blade cut me it didnt hurt i just saw blood. but when paper cuts me, it stings!


...and you still expect me to buy a samurai sword for Christmas??? [>:(] [:o]
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: paul.fr on 20/12/2007 05:30:32
is it because you are a girlie, us tough men don't cry!  [;)]

seriously, when you got bigger cuts did you cover them? This can pervent the hurt. Also, when you get a big cut or gouge, your body will send lots of blood there and form a clot. This does not happen with paper cuts and so they are exposed to the air which can irritate you.

paper cuts are often not cleaned and any "stuff" from the paper may get cought in the cut and act as an irritant.

also it can be in the mind pain, cut yourself with a knife...or sword! and you expect the pain. cut yourself with something simple like paper and the shock of the cut may cause the pain.
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: Simulated on 20/12/2007 13:12:56
Ah I think your reasoning there Paul! I see!
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: opus on 20/12/2007 18:56:30
I think the shock of being cut by a sword may be a tad greater than the shock of getting a paper cut though Paulfr
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: paul.fr on 20/12/2007 21:20:09
I think the shock of being cut by a sword may be a tad greater than the shock of getting a paper cut though Paulfr
but, if you are sword fighting then you expect to get cut and thus it is no big shock. Shuffling papers on the other hand, you would not expect the cut, same with grass.

Also, as i said above. A big cut you will cover and protect. A small cut you may well leave to heal...try blowing accross a small paper cut, hurts like hell. Plaster to cover it, no pain.
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: Simulated on 20/12/2007 21:22:44
haha, but we know we are messing with the papers so we know that we could be getting cut?
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: opus on 20/12/2007 21:54:39
The fact that I may get cut by a sword (and suffer ensuing huge shock) is enough to put me off sword-fighting whereas the fear of getting a paper cut (and therefore suffer minimal shock) does not put me off shuffling papers..... or am I totally missing the point?
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: i am bored on 20/12/2007 23:57:34
well i was not fighting, the guy behind me wasnt paying attention and slung it open from the scabbard. and thanks, but what about smaller cuts other than paper, those still hurt
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: i am bored on 21/12/2007 02:09:07
when you get a big cut or gouge, your body will send lots of blood there and form a clot.
no wonder blood was flowing out of my finger like a waterfall
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: paul.fr on 21/12/2007 05:22:22
OK, let me try again.

when you have a cut or wound larger than a paper cut, you will tend to clean and dress it. This may just be a rinse under the tap followed by the application of a plaster / band-aid. What you have just done, is to clean the area, thus it is (relatively) free from dirt, dust, or other material and it is protected.

when you have a small paper cut, or smaller, it is doubtful that you will go to the trouble with this cut that you have with the one above. So that cut may have paper dust of other foreign matter in the cut, which can be a cause of irritation and pain. Also, the fact that it is open, even a slight breeze can cause pain to the area.

with regard to the sword injury, although this can be most things. There is a certain level of expectation that a wound or injury may occur, so you are ready and possibly expecting the pain. With paper cuts, yes you know they can happen, but you are not expecting to get cut when shuffling papers. The unexpected injury can therefore hurt more.

if i told you i was going to flick the end of your nose, you would be expecting it and the pain would be lessend. if i was to creep up behind you and suddenly flick the end of your nose, it would be unexpected and hurt more.
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: Simulated on 21/12/2007 16:39:19
It clears it up for me! thanks
Title: why do small cuts hurt more than big ones
Post by: i am bored on 21/12/2007 17:52:05
oh i see now