My karate instructure used to say that getting kicked in the balls wasn't all that big a deal

I'll have to disagree on that point. Even a grazing shot can leave you feeling sick to your stomach for several minutes.

I mean, I guess one could become adapted to it over time if they worked at it, I mean the Shaolin monks intentionally hit themselves in the head with bags of rocks and whatnot, but I personally don't feel like trying to find out.

it isn't just painful, but debilitating.

You can get used to it, sort of, depending on how crushy the effect was. Not that I advocate this behaviour, but it does happen. I think there's a double-bonus for surprise effect. If you know it is coming, it isn't quite as bad.

One of my favourite testicular injury stories was at the Pennsic war when a buddy of mine got hit so hard in the groin that his cup split almost in two, opened for a second, then closed again on his squishy bits. This is the same guy who was bitten by a snake on said parts too.

He's definitely a pain magnet.

Yeah -- from what I've heard the cup is some help, but doesn't make it fun. And I'm sure that bruise from the redirected impact might freak out your one night stands.

I had one guy (to whom I can only assume I had no rep) say "No, I'm wearing a cup -- go ahead and kick me in the groin for real." The next thing he said to me (after some silence) was "Uh. Maybe not."

t testicular trauma At camp, a friend of mine on a ropes course landed badly on a tightrope. He was wearing no protection and flimsy shorts. His boy-parts were rendered purple for some weeks. The good news is, we had a camp nurse who could make a detailed check of his healing progress every day or so. The bad news is that she was rediculously beautiful. t /testicular trauma

Your body is suffused with a deep, hard, spreading nausea that seems to radiate out from your kidneys, whilst you lay there in a gelid gibbering state.

Yup, and it takes a second for the pain to actually register. You're first thought is usually "Whoa, that wasn't too... YEOWWWWWWWWWWWW"

I will second both these statements. To paraphrase Stephen King, it's a pain so intense you're afraid you'll simultaneously puke and soil yourself at the same time.

The only worse pain I've experienced is 1) appendicitis, where severe, sharp abdominal pain is accompanied by severe, wretch-inducing nausea, and 2) when a very heavy door's handle managed to get my elbow exactly in the wrong place. That second was a shocker because the door didn't even swing that fast - it's just exactly where and how it hit that did it. No damage, but I actually greyed out from the pain.

Hmm, I'll add third - when I closed a car door on my finger far enough down so I couldn't pull it out, and the door was locked. My mother had to go back into the car via the driver's seat, unlock the door, and then come around and open my door because I couldn't function by the time the door was unlocked.

Juliana, how hard/long is it for you to get to Chicago?

6 hours, and given the price of gas/Amtrak/flights, a little difficult. Depending on the timing, though, I could drag Z along, have him audition for an Equity house or two, and write the trip off. When are you thinking?

My only contribution to the cup discussion is that men aren't allowed to wear cups in rugby (or at least weren't in college rugby). Too much potential for injury to others. Think about that.

t makes note to never have balls and get kicked in them

no cups in rugby here, either.

no cups in rugby here, either.

Which means I bet there is crying, unlike in baseball.

Too much potential for injury to others. Think about that.

Yes, you wouldn't want the hooker to get scraped knuckles when he is punching you in the rocks. However, the eye-gouging and ear-biting are regrettable occurrences in an otherwise gentlemanly sport.