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. Rexxi Avatar
    Rexxi

    lol @ T

  2. Botexty Avatar

    ARGHHHH I knew what this was going to be but I looked anyway!

    Also, I like the hover text Rob

  3. Botexty Avatar

    ARGHHHH I knew what this was going to be but I looked anyway!

    Also, I like the hover text Rob

  4. Botexty Avatar

    ARGHHHH I knew what this was going to be but I looked anyway!

    Also, I like the hover text Rob

  5. jimmieknuckles Avatar
    jimmieknuckles

    ….if it grows back. i had something similar happen over 15 years ago, and it destroyed the nail bed, there is a callous, but still no nail

  6. jimmieknuckles Avatar
    jimmieknuckles

    ….if it grows back. i had something similar happen over 15 years ago, and it destroyed the nail bed, there is a callous, but still no nail

  7. jimmieknuckles Avatar
    jimmieknuckles

    ….if it grows back. i had something similar happen over 15 years ago, and it destroyed the nail bed, there is a callous, but still no nail

  8. Nikki Avatar

    AHHH! Brave fella.

  9. Nikki Avatar

    AHHH! Brave fella.

  10. Nikki Avatar

    AHHH! Brave fella.

  11. sharkbait Avatar

    Would like to see it healed! Had to suck to heal too.

  12. sharkbait Avatar

    Would like to see it healed! Had to suck to heal too.

  13. sharkbait Avatar

    Would like to see it healed! Had to suck to heal too.

  14. MissCherry Avatar
    MissCherry

    OMG he has got some balls! That looks so incredibly painful.

  15. MissCherry Avatar
    MissCherry

    OMG he has got some balls! That looks so incredibly painful.

  16. MissCherry Avatar
    MissCherry

    OMG he has got some balls! That looks so incredibly painful.

  17. peteD3 Avatar
    peteD3

    jesus fucking christ Alan!

  18. peteD3 Avatar
    peteD3

    jesus fucking christ Alan!

  19. peteD3 Avatar
    peteD3

    jesus fucking christ Alan!

  20. JustJen Avatar

    Gack.
    That first picture gives me the creeps…

  21. JustJen Avatar

    Gack.
    That first picture gives me the creeps…

  22. JustJen Avatar

    Gack.
    That first picture gives me the creeps…

  23. The sky conspires to swallow me. Avatar
    The sky conspires to swallow me.

    I am yet another one of those people who does not flinch upon seeing genital mutilation but is freaked out by this. Yeesh.

  24. The sky conspires to swallow me. Avatar
    The sky conspires to swallow me.

    I am yet another one of those people who does not flinch upon seeing genital mutilation but is freaked out by this. Yeesh.

  25. The sky conspires to swallow me. Avatar
    The sky conspires to swallow me.

    I am yet another one of those people who does not flinch upon seeing genital mutilation but is freaked out by this. Yeesh.

  26. person Avatar
    person

    they used to rip finger and toe nails off as a form of torture. It is supposed to be one of the worst pains. Ouch?

  27. person Avatar
    person

    they used to rip finger and toe nails off as a form of torture. It is supposed to be one of the worst pains. Ouch?

  28. person Avatar
    person

    they used to rip finger and toe nails off as a form of torture. It is supposed to be one of the worst pains. Ouch?

  29. Tricia Avatar
    Tricia

    I once lost a nail too. It hurt so bad. It took forever to stop bleeding, I also messed with it to the point that I decided to just pull the nail off. It was such a strange sinsation. Once my nail grew back in it looked weird for a while until what grew in had time to grow out again. Growing the actual nail back didn’t hurt much at all though. Now I can’t see any difference in that nail vs. the others. It happened when I was like 10 though, so it’s had plenty of time to heal. lol

  30. Tricia Avatar
    Tricia

    I once lost a nail too. It hurt so bad. It took forever to stop bleeding, I also messed with it to the point that I decided to just pull the nail off. It was such a strange sinsation. Once my nail grew back in it looked weird for a while until what grew in had time to grow out again. Growing the actual nail back didn’t hurt much at all though. Now I can’t see any difference in that nail vs. the others. It happened when I was like 10 though, so it’s had plenty of time to heal. lol

  31. Tricia Avatar
    Tricia

    I once lost a nail too. It hurt so bad. It took forever to stop bleeding, I also messed with it to the point that I decided to just pull the nail off. It was such a strange sinsation. Once my nail grew back in it looked weird for a while until what grew in had time to grow out again. Growing the actual nail back didn’t hurt much at all though. Now I can’t see any difference in that nail vs. the others. It happened when I was like 10 though, so it’s had plenty of time to heal. lol

  32. Antebellum Avatar

    Oh my, that must huuurrrrt. Ouchie. Eeek.

  33. Antebellum Avatar

    Oh my, that must huuurrrrt. Ouchie. Eeek.

  34. Antebellum Avatar

    Oh my, that must huuurrrrt. Ouchie. Eeek.

  35. Muna Avatar
    Muna

    The very first, and probably only, photos on BME/Modblog to make me cringe and look away. Something about under the nail that just squicks me.

    You’re a brave brave man Mr. Falkner.

  36. Muna Avatar
    Muna

    The very first, and probably only, photos on BME/Modblog to make me cringe and look away. Something about under the nail that just squicks me.

    You’re a brave brave man Mr. Falkner.

  37. Muna Avatar
    Muna

    The very first, and probably only, photos on BME/Modblog to make me cringe and look away. Something about under the nail that just squicks me.

    You’re a brave brave man Mr. Falkner.

  38. CoryVictorious Avatar

    Hey allen, keep me updated on this! I want to know if the ink stays visible through the nail. 🙂

  39. CoryVictorious Avatar

    Hey allen, keep me updated on this! I want to know if the ink stays visible through the nail. 🙂

  40. CoryVictorious Avatar

    Hey allen, keep me updated on this! I want to know if the ink stays visible through the nail. 🙂

  41. emhib Avatar

    i’m not a squeamish person, far from it, but i can honestly say that that first picture has made all the muscles in my arms and across my back tense up rather ridiculously. aside from that, i’d be really interested to see how this looks as the healing continues.

  42. emhib Avatar

    i’m not a squeamish person, far from it, but i can honestly say that that first picture has made all the muscles in my arms and across my back tense up rather ridiculously. aside from that, i’d be really interested to see how this looks as the healing continues.

  43. emhib Avatar

    i’m not a squeamish person, far from it, but i can honestly say that that first picture has made all the muscles in my arms and across my back tense up rather ridiculously. aside from that, i’d be really interested to see how this looks as the healing continues.

  44. cwbrng Avatar
    cwbrng

    I am really interested in seeing what this looks like upon healing.

    I, too, have had nailed removed before and it is one of the most unpleasant things ever.

  45. cwbrng Avatar
    cwbrng

    I am really interested in seeing what this looks like upon healing.

    I, too, have had nailed removed before and it is one of the most unpleasant things ever.

  46. cwbrng Avatar
    cwbrng

    I am really interested in seeing what this looks like upon healing.

    I, too, have had nailed removed before and it is one of the most unpleasant things ever.

  47. NafanYo Avatar
    NafanYo

    I’m shocked!O_o

  48. NafanYo Avatar
    NafanYo

    I’m shocked!O_o

  49. NafanYo Avatar
    NafanYo

    I’m shocked!O_o

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