>It's odd how pain and the mind work together. When I was about 18, I was playing ball, and I dived into 2nd base, arms out in front grabbing the bag. The 2nd baseman stepped on my fingers, but I was safe. I got up and started to lead off 2nd. After maybe 5 or 6 seconds, somebody yelled, "Your hand!". I looked down and my finger was bleeding all over the place. As soon as my mind acknowledged what had happened (he was wearing cleats), it started hurting like crazy, and they rushed me off the emergency for a tetanus shot.

Actually, ISTR reading that the body sends some chemical to the brain at serious injury that blocks the pain receptors temporarily. That's why people report feeling no pain at first.

Tamar