I don't think any of my play exams have been truly painful, that's not how my partner and I roll. We are all about clinical realism and making each other's fantasies come to life. We're not into BDSM or limits of tolerance, per se.
In real life, that's another story. I think it was about 8 years ago that I developed a vaginal abscess. I went to the ER on a Friday afternoon, where the poor doc on duty tried his damnedest to I&D the thing. That didn't work particularly well. On Sunday I was in so much pain that I had my mother come to my place, pick me up and take me back to the ER for a repeat performance, which was no more successful than the first try. Same doc tho', poor dear.
On Monday I was at the gynecologist's office, where I was examined and told that the abscess (which felt like it needed its own zip code) needed to "ripen". He sent me home with antibiotics, narcotics, and instructions to take as many warm baths as needed to help ease the pain. I was going to his office every morning to be checked and after a few days of that, he switched me to rocephin by injection as my antibiotic of choice. By the next Monday, I was at my wit's end and I stood in his exam room, in tears and told him that something had to be done.
Onto the table and into the stirrups I went. He and his nurse made noises of consternation "Wow, would you look at that!" and "Gee, that must really hurt!" Out came a scalpel handle and a #10 blade and about two seconds later, the "abscess from hell" was gone.
I can't tell you the relief I felt. I would rather give birth to two more children, or even a small calf, before I'd want to go through that again. I can completely understand how Mashie felt when she had her abscess too!
That's all I know!
LadyDoc