The good news is that (other than the pain) it is completely harmless.

The way it always felt to me is like someone wrapped a small wire around something tender in my chest, and if I tried to breathe or straighten my posture, they would yank on it. I'd get it anywhere from a couple times a week to once a month. Then one day in my mid-30s it just stopped.

From what I understand this is relatively common. I was so grateful for the person on reddit who dropped this nugget of wisdom several years ago. It was nice to know I wasn't dying or whatever.

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[–] 13 points 7 months ago (5 children)

I'd take this over proctalgia.

It's a spasm of the anal sphincter and it feels like someone jamming a hot knife into your asshole without warning.

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  • [–] 3 points 7 months ago

    Holy shiit that has a name?! Every once in a blue moon, I'll be just sitting minding my own business then BAM! Ass lightning like Thor stabbed me in the ass with a blade that has lightning wrapped around it. Then just as suddenly as it came, it's gone...

    I've called it ass lightning for the past few years. At least I know I'm not alone!

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  • [–] [S] 3 points 7 months ago (2 children)

    lol, I told my wife about this post and she said "You might consider doing ones about Proctalgia Fugax and Exploding Head Syndrome too."

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  • [–] 7 points 7 months ago

    Yeah it's not fun. Also I'd heard about exploding head syndrome a few years back and then recently started experiencing it. I'm just glad they haven't both hit at the same time cause I'm pretty sure my body would take a screenshot then drop dead lmao

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