A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

You know something is painful when…

Allen makes this face.

This is Allen's O(uch) face

Wondering what could possibly be happening that would cause so much pain?  Keep on reading to find out.

Well, I got a message a couple of days ago from Allen telling me about what he recently went through.  Here’s what he had to say.

A month ago, while at a show, I tripped and fell into the stage.  As I fell forward I put my hand out to catch myself.  I’m not sure what it was, but something on one of the stage monitors was sticking up that went right between my nail and my finger.  When I pulled my hand back I realized that that nail was completely loose from the nail bed.  Yes it hurt a lot.  Well, as the night progressed I kept messing with it and eventually I decided to pull the nail off.  This was a mistake because the exposed nail bed was WAY more painful.  It felt like one giant exposed nerve.  (I do not recommend doing that)  It took over a month to finally get all the scabs to peel off.  Also, I had to file it down a bit too because it never really healed like smooth skin.  There was still a hard callused area on top.  As for the tattooing.  Yes, it hurt bad.  The pain is hard to compare, but it felt like he was drilling into the bone.

Of all the things I’ve seen in the BME galleries.  The first picture below is the one that probably makes me feel the most uncomfortable just looking at it.  If you can get past the first one, you’ll see how the healing process went, a good look at the tattoo while it was being done, and the finished product.

Owwwww!!

The man responsible for the tattoo is Mike Tidwell.

With all the work Allen has done for the world of suspension, it’s only fitting that when his nail grows back in, he’ll always have a hook inside him.

Comments

111 responses to “You know something is painful when…”

  1. UnconventionalLove Avatar

    OW!
    Interesting to heal!

  2. UnconventionalLove Avatar

    OW!
    Interesting to heal!

  3. UnconventionalLove Avatar

    OW!
    Interesting to heal!

  4. anthony Avatar

    I’ve talked about an under-the-fingernail tattoo, but as a joke. interesting set of occurrences that would lead to it actually happening!

  5. anthony Avatar

    I’ve talked about an under-the-fingernail tattoo, but as a joke. interesting set of occurrences that would lead to it actually happening!

  6. anthony Avatar

    I’ve talked about an under-the-fingernail tattoo, but as a joke. interesting set of occurrences that would lead to it actually happening!

  7. Juliette Stray Avatar
    Juliette Stray

    I have lost nails a few times now, and the pain is excruciating. I cannot even comprehend how much tattooing on the nail bed would hurt. I can look unflinching at tongue bifurcation, genital bisection, and I’m pierced, tattooed, branded and cut — but even *imagining* getting a tattoo on my nail bed makes me want to curl up and die. Ballsy.

  8. Juliette Stray Avatar
    Juliette Stray

    I have lost nails a few times now, and the pain is excruciating. I cannot even comprehend how much tattooing on the nail bed would hurt. I can look unflinching at tongue bifurcation, genital bisection, and I’m pierced, tattooed, branded and cut — but even *imagining* getting a tattoo on my nail bed makes me want to curl up and die. Ballsy.

  9. Juliette Stray Avatar
    Juliette Stray

    I have lost nails a few times now, and the pain is excruciating. I cannot even comprehend how much tattooing on the nail bed would hurt. I can look unflinching at tongue bifurcation, genital bisection, and I’m pierced, tattooed, branded and cut — but even *imagining* getting a tattoo on my nail bed makes me want to curl up and die. Ballsy.

  10. frankyb Avatar
    frankyb

    i would love to see a recap on this when his name grows back to see how well you can see it

  11. frankyb Avatar
    frankyb

    i would love to see a recap on this when his name grows back to see how well you can see it

  12. frankyb Avatar
    frankyb

    i would love to see a recap on this when his name grows back to see how well you can see it

  13. Cease Avatar
    Cease

    Well done, that made me cringe pretty hard. Tough guy

  14. Cease Avatar
    Cease

    Well done, that made me cringe pretty hard. Tough guy

  15. Cease Avatar
    Cease

    Well done, that made me cringe pretty hard. Tough guy

  16. emi Avatar
    emi

    i hope it heals well and visibly, otherwise what a lot of pain to endure for nothing

  17. emi Avatar
    emi

    i hope it heals well and visibly, otherwise what a lot of pain to endure for nothing

  18. emi Avatar
    emi

    i hope it heals well and visibly, otherwise what a lot of pain to endure for nothing

  19. VOMIT Avatar

    oh good god, OUCH!!!!!

  20. VOMIT Avatar

    oh good god, OUCH!!!!!

  21. VOMIT Avatar

    oh good god, OUCH!!!!!

  22. Kaitlyn Avatar
    Kaitlyn

    Congratulations, Allen, for making me cringe like I never have before.

  23. Kaitlyn Avatar
    Kaitlyn

    Congratulations, Allen, for making me cringe like I never have before.

  24. Kaitlyn Avatar
    Kaitlyn

    Congratulations, Allen, for making me cringe like I never have before.

  25. Brooks Avatar
    Brooks

    Sweet!!!! I’ve always wanted to do this! Just have to wait til I rip a nail off, def. not gonna do it on purpose!

  26. Brooks Avatar
    Brooks

    Sweet!!!! I’ve always wanted to do this! Just have to wait til I rip a nail off, def. not gonna do it on purpose!

  27. Brooks Avatar
    Brooks

    Sweet!!!! I’ve always wanted to do this! Just have to wait til I rip a nail off, def. not gonna do it on purpose!

  28. xposixjoeyx Avatar
    xposixjoeyx

    holy crap my hands feel so weak now hahahah

  29. xposixjoeyx Avatar
    xposixjoeyx

    holy crap my hands feel so weak now hahahah

  30. xposixjoeyx Avatar
    xposixjoeyx

    holy crap my hands feel so weak now hahahah

  31. T Avatar
    T

    Owww, I’d rather see someone mutilate their genitals.

  32. T Avatar
    T

    Owww, I’d rather see someone mutilate their genitals.

  33. T Avatar
    T

    Owww, I’d rather see someone mutilate their genitals.

  34. mfing jedi Avatar
    mfing jedi

    ive been debating getting tattoos where my two big toenails were removed but it’ll have to wait untill i get extra money. mine are already so callused though.

  35. mfing jedi Avatar
    mfing jedi

    ive been debating getting tattoos where my two big toenails were removed but it’ll have to wait untill i get extra money. mine are already so callused though.

  36. mfing jedi Avatar
    mfing jedi

    ive been debating getting tattoos where my two big toenails were removed but it’ll have to wait untill i get extra money. mine are already so callused though.

  37. g Avatar
    g

    Oh man, poor guy. )=

  38. g Avatar
    g

    Oh man, poor guy. )=

  39. g Avatar
    g

    Oh man, poor guy. )=

  40. jusgjos Avatar

    did the finger will grow again???? holly cow… that must be so painfull!!!

  41. jusgjos Avatar

    did the finger will grow again???? holly cow… that must be so painfull!!!

  42. jusgjos Avatar

    did the finger will grow again???? holly cow… that must be so painfull!!!

  43. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    hahahahhaha. I’m with T on this one… *cringe*

  44. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    hahahahhaha. I’m with T on this one… *cringe*

  45. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    hahahahhaha. I’m with T on this one… *cringe*

  46. splanchna Avatar

    That’s wicked sweet. I only hope that it heals for him though. Considering that the area in question is ALWAYS in “high traffic,” with the nail regrowing, and constantly, constantly, sloughing off old tissue underneath it. Kind of like an iceberg does to the earth over long periods of time. Best of luck Allen 🙂

  47. splanchna Avatar

    That’s wicked sweet. I only hope that it heals for him though. Considering that the area in question is ALWAYS in “high traffic,” with the nail regrowing, and constantly, constantly, sloughing off old tissue underneath it. Kind of like an iceberg does to the earth over long periods of time. Best of luck Allen 🙂

  48. splanchna Avatar

    That’s wicked sweet. I only hope that it heals for him though. Considering that the area in question is ALWAYS in “high traffic,” with the nail regrowing, and constantly, constantly, sloughing off old tissue underneath it. Kind of like an iceberg does to the earth over long periods of time. Best of luck Allen 🙂

  49. Rexxi Avatar
    Rexxi

    lol @ T

  50. Rexxi Avatar
    Rexxi

    lol @ T

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