8 Sudden Pains That Scare People to Death, But Have Boring Explanations

Photo: VICE

Sudden body aches often appear at the most inopportune moments, make you think you're dying, and disappear just as you think about going to the doctor. The good news is that most of these "oh my, what's going on?" feelings have very simple explanations. The bad news is that your brain will always treat them as something serious.

Here are 8 unexpected pains that scare people, and the (usually simple) reasons behind them:

1. Rib pain when walking/running fast

That sharp pain under your ribs during exercise has a name: transient abdominal pain from exercise. One study found that about 70% of runners experience it within a year, and one in five during a particular run.

2. A "knife" in the chest that lasts 30 seconds

Precordial catch syndrome feels like a sharp stabbing pain in the chest that gets worse when you breathe. The Cleveland Clinic (a well-known medical institution in the United States, based in Cleveland, Ohio) says it is “mysterious but harmless” and not related to the heart, although it can feel like something serious is going on.

3. Chest pain when moving strangely

Costochondritis is inflammation where the ribs connect to the sternum. It can be so painful it's scary, but it's a muscular problem, not a heart problem.

In red: Sternum

4. Sudden headache, like an ice pick

If you've ever felt a sharp twinge in your head that momentarily stops you, this is a primary throbbing headache. The pain is usually very brief and harmless.

5. Numbness and "flies" after landing in a strange position

The sensation of "flies" after sitting in an unusual position is very common and usually harmless. Doctors call it "temporary paresthesia," and it happens when pressure on a nerve or poor blood circulation temporarily interrupts sensation.

6. One-sided pelvic pain during ovulation

Pelvic pain that suddenly appears on one side during ovulation is real and painful. It's called ovulation pain (Mittelschmerz) and occurs when an ovary releases an egg.

7. Jaw pain that turns into a headache

A sore jaw followed by a headache is a typical sign of stress. Clenching the jaw puts strain on the jaw joint, a problem called temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and affects about 10–15% of adults.

8. Sudden muscle movements

A constantly twitching eyelid can be stressful. Benign fasciculations syndrome is the simple explanation: a condition where muscles contract frequently without any underlying disease.

If the pain is new, very severe, persistent, or accompanied by worrisome symptoms, seek medical help. Simple explanations should reassure you, not make you ignore your instincts.