pain & drugs...

i am planning on getting a tattoo on my foot, the inside of my right heel. i know its going to hurt- but what if i could get a vicodine or something else that is a pain killer? i can understand that being frowned upon- but is it really a bad idea? and if it is, what about taking motrin ib before you go in for the tat to reduce the swelling and whatnot. should i ditch the painkiller idea and just do it au natural? thanks!

That's cheating.. it's supposed to hurt.. not to mention vicodin being a controlled substance and all, and doctor's won't give it to you just for getting a tattoo.. And it takes awhile to kick in.. and you know.. you have to be completely non-alkyed/drugged up.. not even Aleve

Fuck some painkillers...If you can't take the pain you don't deserve the work!!...And of course ya know that the tattoo will not heal well in that area...I wouldn't even do one there

That's right, if you can't handle a little bit of pain, you have no business getting a tattoo. It isn't going to hurt that much, and a Vicodin isn't going to do shit for this type of pain anyway. There's a lot of hype about how much foot tattoos hurt, and I realize everyone's tolerance level is different, but it's not all it's cracked up to be. The swelling later on.....................well, that's another story. TCE

ok for all you sissies that think you need a pain killer for tattoos, I am going to hook you up with the solution, this is non habit forming, non alcholic, non narcotic. when you go to your tattooist to get work done, explain to him that you are nervous about the pain, and you want the Mortis method. which is sit down and have a really nice, big cup of shut the fuck up. Mortis

I hear that some painkillers make your blood thinner and will complicate the tattoo process.

I though nothing could offend me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but I can only liken the thought of someone cheating a time honored tradition in such a manner to athletes who use performance enhancing drugs................ TCE

Instead of drugs, why don't you try controlled breathing? I have tattoos on my toes, about an 1/8" from my toenail. And I wouldn't describe them as painful, exactly. More like an annoyance. I would try controlled breathing. I used it on both my shoulder tatt and my toes. It's almost a yoga-style breathing excersize.. think lamaze. It helps you concentrate on something other than the tattoo (mind over matter type dealie).

If you think that it is going to as much as you say it is, then do this; Concentrate on something that thoroughly pisses you off.... Like all of us here that are giving you shit for wanting to take a drug to get a tattoo.... And you're from Jersey!? You should be ashamed of yourself!

I wouldn't take anything. Who knows what kind of problems it might cause. I have a semi large tat (probably small to some) on my upper/mid back and the artist has been using the tebori method. It hurts like a bitch, but I just remind myself that it'll be over soon. I think about everything but what he's doing. Suck it up or don't get one.

there is a switch in your brain ....you just have to meditate to find it ,but once you find it you can turn the pain on and off at will ..............sounds like b.s. but its true .

Is IS true.........................just like nothing was even happening.

Umm. Vicodin? Stupid. This is just my opinion.... I don't take painkillers when being tattooed, but I understand if you want to. If you're REALLY worried, get EMLA cream. My mother-in-law always does for her tattoos, and while I don't really like the idea, it helps her. ... But if you want to take a normal painkiller to help... take two extra strength Ibuprofen (Advil). Its a big dose, but its okay for most people. It doesn't thin your blood, doesn't react with anything (almost), and will specifically work to reduce inflammation. It probably won't do much besides reduce how irritated your skin is getting at the site of the tattoo and dull the overall pain a little bit, but a little may still help.

Take the pain. As a matter of fact, concentrate on it. Enjoy it. A needle is getting shoved into your skin at amazing speeds...how much better can you get? Don't worry about the pain. You'll forget about the pain in no time. However, you won't forget about that kick ass piece of art on your body. (assuming you did your research and got a good tattoo ;)

While the ink marks your flesh, the pain marks your mind/spirit. Personally, i like both - that way i get my money's worth!

That's right Ras,no pain no stain.

If you can't feel it, it's a sticker, not a tattoo.

I've worked on a few high paying folks who insisted on pks but Its not a good idea nor does it respect the others out there that have endured for the result. To get a tattoo is an acomplishement (at least in my nind) simply because you were will to get past the pain. If you don't get past the pain its no acomplishment.

pain killers not only thin your blood creating problems but rushing the adrenalin and mixing with the chemicals cause a lot of people to vomit and pass out. so do what you want. any artist that's worth going to, wont do the work if they know you have taken it anyway and they should ask. they ask for a reason.

it all depends, im currently having a large polynesian tatto done on my back in black ink ofcourse, and trust me, if i could find a pain killer that didnt thin blood i would fucking take it, after 15 to 20 hours of tattooing i think most of the u would understand, smoke a spliff to yourself and think about other shit, if its a big tat, smoke another after a few hours, all tattoo artist more or less smoke weed neways, for a small tattoo like the majority of u have, u dont need anything, and as for the old tattooing style such as tattooing with sharks teeth, they all smoke some grass or eat some funges u idiots.

ALL TATTOO ARTISTS SMOKE DOPE? You are a fuckin MORON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

seriously....is it screwed up to have a couple beers AFTER getting some tattoo work done?????

No, in fact I think it should be mandatory!

I went to Ireland for spring break and had been brainstorming for a tattoo for several months prior. I knew it would be painful, but to be honest, it hardly mattered to me. It's all part of the experience. Anyway, once I got in, I decided to get two red 50-cent-peice sized hearts atop my feet, right about where the bone sticks out on the top of your foot. She started out doing a line to see if I could handle the pain, and it really wasn't as bad as I'd expected. In fact, it wasn't that bad at all unless she moves up toward my ankle (which were the curves at the top of the heart) or toward my inside arch. She told me that the outline was the worst part and that since she was switching needle types to fill in the hearts that it would be much less painful. I found that to be completely untrue for me, and my pain tolerance methods were as follows: a) Clench my eyes shut/stare at ceiling and control breathing - This worked pretty well and I used it most of the time between other methods. b) Flexing muscles - This method made everything hurt even worse -- I wouldn't reccommend it. It only took a few times for me to realize that this was a bad move. c) Singing, looking at pictures, or focusing intently on what she was doing - These were my best methods; ones where my attention was directed from the pain to something else. I'd focused on her the entire time, but my friend got out my digital camera and we began flipping through pictures when my artist started filling in the second heart. I began singing toward the end when everything hurt the worst, and that helped me out loads. All in all, it was very painful, but worth it. However, unfortunately, my artist didn't tell me much about foot tattoo maintenance, and I think I may have messed them up a little, so I'm going to be looking forward to touchups in a few months.

Is it your 1st tat or something? Cause you talking bout doing a lil too much. TATTOOS HURT. I've never even thought about or heard of anyone taking pain killers and I have 5. Going to get my 6th one soon. Suck it up and take the pain.

i say crack, or rock cocain. Is crystal meth still in season?

you foot isn't as bad as people say it is, i sat for a 3 hour sesion on my foot but it wasn't that bad! suck it up! and don't tense up! try your best to stay relaxed! thats the best thing! i don't find it nessessary to stare at something or sing or whatever, focus on relaxing and breathing, go to a nice brook or stream, or a beautiful beach somewhere, and take yourself away from the pain! the guy who did my foot is an amazing artist, but he has lead hands! and still i got through it

Alright, to play devil's advocate: Who said that pain is an essential part of getting a tattoo? If that's how it works for you and you value the experience, fine.. but it's kind of stupid to force that belief on others. If a painkiller makes a difference medically (affecting blood pressure/blood thinning, etc.) I can see that being an issue with the quality of the tattoos. But otherwise, why not "to each their own" on the pain deal? I choose to take it. Others may not.

Hey, what about weed? I've looked through the properties of standard THC and theres nothing that acts as an anti-coagulant, so no blood thining. I've been a regular smoker for a few years now and have found it's the best thing to calm my nerves. I've had anxiety and depression for years (long before using any drugs aside from alcohol) and have found - through all the bullshit therapy, CBT, drugs they pile on top of me - that the most effective solution was weed. It stabilsed me to a certain extent. Now, the amount I smoke has dropped off somewhat, becoming more of a weekly-weekend thing rather than several daily sessions. That said, it still calms me and helps me get through the initial few minutes, and while i don't expect it to kill the pain (I know weed isnt that effective with acute traumatic pain like a tat or piercing, it's used for more chronic pain such as that induced by malignant stage 4 carcinomas) I did want to use pot to calm me down before I go in, and to distract me a little at the start so I don't chicken out (hey, if Im stoned, once I get in that comfy seat, all i'd need is music and I wouldn't move for a while anyway :P) Thanks for your help ModernMyth

this may sound silly, but i found laughing really helped. when it hurt i just made myself laugh, and that detracted from the pain. I'm not gonna say it doesn't hurt, some parts do, but it hasn't even been a week since i got mine done and i've forgotten it hurt, just love the work.

Hehe, I can see how laughing would help! Anything to disract you aye? ;) Alot of people have told me that - you forget the pain, the nervousness and you remember a great fucking tat! Thats what I'm hoping for. I've only ever got my eyebrow done, but while I know it did hurt, I really don't remember... ;) Thanks mate MM

Suck it up...if you have to do something just control your breathing. Throughout most of my tats I'll breathe normally and when it really starts hurting in certain areas, I do the following: Take a deep breath right before the needle touches and let it out slowly as the lines or shading are completed.

Pain tolerance differs in all of us. I personally found my first tattoo unbearable. (thai bamboo method) Some of my friends who are covered in tattoos swear by morphine or over the counter anti inflammatory medication. And it doesn't make you a pussy, a little pain medication isn't going to make it feel like butterfly kisses. Remember there are NEEDLES being jabbed into your skin. The medication is just going to take the edge off.

I'm not gonna get into the do or don't schpeel, but my personal advice, suck it up and save the pain pills for when you get home.

ok, so all the people that don't feel pain: take a bow, good for you. now, for the rest of the folks out there, who feel pain, there are many people, including incredible tattoo artists, that take pain killers for the special spots. some shit hurts more, we all know this. true, the pain = the pleasure, hence why it is a mythic rite not to be taken lightly. however, who is one to say what one needs to do to endure this? indigenous societys have always had some form of "painkiller": be it breathing as my friend said below, or meditation, or simply "taking the pain". what matters most is the fact that anyone undergoing this experience is going to be forever changed; hence the decision to irrevicably alter the body in the first place. every time that they see that tattoo, they will be reminded of that experience, and, even better, of the reason why they got that particular tattoo.

while i agree that pain is definitely part of the experience, there is also the medical aspect to consider: most pain relievers, including the narcotics and aspirin, thin your blood - that is, you bleed much easier and more profusely. and you're about to get lots of little holes in your dermis? ... not a good plan. some bleeding is normal. but the pain will be WORSE if you bleed so much that your artist has to keep taking breaks to clean you off. another note, narcotics are not just pain medications but technically considered to be 'mind-altering'. would you rather have a painful tattoo you want? or a pain-free tattoo you've never seen before

Man, some of you need to get off your high horses about pain control and actually give some good advice aside from "LOL SUK IT UP FAGZ". The pain is a part of the rite of passage of getting a tattoo, true, but your attitude isn't. For the rest of you who suggested laughter, distraction, acceptance and exploration, and breath control - thanks! I'm getting my ribcage done in a couple of hours, and I'm bringing a book and a headful of songs to hum.

whoa nelly. no need to get hostile everyone. i personally agree that part of getting a tattoo is enduring the pain. im geussing that this is your first tattoo and dont know what to expect? yes tattoos hurt, i mean its needles being drug across your skin. i dont think any pain killers are nessecary though. if your serious about getting the tattoo, be ready for the pain. what i did the first time i got worked on was expected it to be the most painful thing i was going to endure..so that when the artist started working on me i was like wow..this is not that bad at all. you may be surprised. my vote: a big N O on the painkillers

ahaha vicodin ill sell you some 10 a pill :P j.k

vicodin isn't going to work to stop the pain from a tattoo anyways. I pulled a muscle in my back the day before a tattoo appointment and went to get tattooed anyways. Was the worst tattooing experience ever. Vicodin only lessened my ability to focus away into my happy place and all I could concentrate on was the pain. Not a good idea. Some suggestions of things to help you cope with pain of a tattoo (not that it's that bad anyways).....1 sleepy time tea-makes you feel relaxed and comfortable; 2 a good meal before hand- keeps blood sugars level and relaxes mood; 3 a good night's sleep the night before- (for obvious reasons) If your really worried about pain, any one or all three of these things will help (even if it is a placebo effect it is still an effect.)

There are many painkillers that are not blood thinners - wherever this urban myth started, let it die right now. Ask any reputable med doctor and they'll tell you that percodan isn't a blookd thinner. Also, to the people who say "tough it out", it's just ego posturing and trying to push their bent "purist" opinions on the world. The fact is, if people want to take measures to reduce pain during a tattoo it's their own business. It doesn't make the art any less beautiful, and it certainly doesn't make the process any less permanent. The bad boy days of tatooing are over - women, children (for all practical purposes), accountants... it's a new world - If you want to have your pain managed, do it. It'Get a doc to write you a scrip for something and just get your ink. Cripes people, wise up.

I don't know about using pain killers....in all honesty, it's really not that bad of pain when you get a tattoo. Although everybody has a different tolerance level...most will admit that the pain is just annoying. In regard to the foot, it will be sensitive; however, on the pro side it's not that big of an area, and usually it doesn't start getting real annoying until 3 hours...after 4 hours I usually want to get out of the chair and say, "fuckin stop already!" It sounds like this might be your first, and I would expect your artist will just do about 1-2 hours....if it's going to be longer, they may just do the outline for your first! Good luck! Do what you gotta do, but drugs aren't necessary and I prefer those for recreational use anyways!!

t.v! one of my favorite things to do is watch t.v its distracting and helps make conversation.next thing i know were done and ive got a new peice in my life.i couldnt agree more about pain being controlable .

I keep a lidocaine benzocaine cream and spray in my studio. I don't offer it up on a silver tray, but I don't let a piece walk out of my studio half-baked either. And I don't let nagging and twitching ruin a work. If it takes offering a highly distressed customer a topical pain reliever in order to finish the work to my satisfaction then I offer it. I try to discourage its use by putting a hefty additional fee on it. I feel this encourages the customer to really think twice about the necessity of using it. One thing I do not do is verbally abuse my customers, berate them for expressing pain, give them the impression that they are "pussies" (as is so often, so unfortunately said of people who express sensitivity or pain), or throw around statements in their presence like "if you can't take the pain (like a real man) then don't get the ink." People are all different. Being the real tough guy(or gal) who can take the pain without a whimper doesn't mean a thing. It just isn't a heroic act. Helping an old lady with her groceries is a heroic thing. Proving that you don't feel shit just isn't that impressive. Pain does usually belong to a tattoo. You sit for a few hours hoping you don't get a head of gray hair from the pain, then it's over. Most of us can deal with it. Some just can't. Big deal. *** Pot is a skin sensitizer. If you really dig the pain then smoke a whole bunch of it before you get your work done. Now there's a way to show the world how tough you are! I ask my customers NOT to drink a beer (or any alcohol) for about two hours after the work is finished. Alcohol does thin the blood, and may cause an open wound to seep if the healing process doesn't get a head start before you drink. Oral painkillers generally work on muscular and internal pain and have no effect on the skin except as an anti-inflammatory.

A) Vicodin does NOT thin the blood B) Every person's pain tolerance is different. Their appreciation for body art and the skill of their tattoo artist should not be affected by their tolerance, or lack-there-of. If you honestly don't think you can take the pain, try a vicodin. However, the anticipation and the waiting to get it over with are the worst parts.

I always take a couple of extra strength tylenol and it works, it definately is painful but it is a tolerable pain. The most painful is when you do touch ups specially around the ribs. That was horrible pain. It felt like the artist was slicing my skin with a knife. Made me realize how getting a tattoo the first time is nothing compared to a touch up.

Alright heres the info i am 15 and my mum has recently passed away and i have never met my dad, so i am alone, well no i am living with my friend. But i want to get a tattoo in remembrance of my mum. I want it on my lower back. I have already got a tattoo and i am not going to lie it hurt real bad but i felt soo good after, i have heard that it is lpainful to get it on your lower back, well of course its a tattoo! But i dunno what to do, i was gone try and use some pain killer but i am scared that it wont heal properly......help me out here!

I went to get my third tattoo yesterday, this time it was a large back piece that went up my spine (top to bottom) across my shoulder blades and then across the shoulders. I wanted to test out the Tylenol (extra strength) theory to see if it really helped (I took 2 tablets about 45min before the tattoo started). The only thing I noticed is that it took the edge off (anxiety, adrenaline, etc.). Like everyone has said, tattoos hurt, and if you can't stand pain then you might want to reconsider the tattoo in the first place. I didn't notice any difference with the Tylenol .vs. no Tylenol from a pain perspective. I go back in to finish it up in a few weeks and I can't wait. I would recommend a few things...(1) eat something light before the tattoo and (2) bringing in some water, OJ, gum, and a candy bar...that usually takes your mind away from things while you sit there for hours at a time. One more thing...make sure to take breaks (if you have a long session), it helps...

NO painkillers- period!!!

hey guys about using vicodin fuck it im taking one tonite to finish my back piece a dragon tat all in black i sat 6hours last nite in the chair totally sober and i wanted to die i couldnt take it anymore after 6 hours my husband is doing the tattoo and he said i could take whatever i wanted to get rid of the pain so if i can take six hours sober and mind you this is my 16th tattoo i deserve to take the edge off so whatever belive what you want i take it both ways with and without pain depends on my mentality that day

I wouldn't bother. I remember when I was 15 I got my first tattoo and I was thinking about getting some oxycontin or something before I went in but I just said fuck it and went in for a 5 hour tattoo. I'll admit after the 4th hour it starts to get a bit annoying if it's a detailed tattoo and requires alot of going over spots and shading etc. but it's nothing unbearable. Also I find foot tattoo's don't heal too well. I won't do them. Since my first i've got half sleeves, shoulder 2 shoulder collar rocker, skull on each side of the collar bone, neck and legs, probably about 10-15 hours worth of needle in skin if not more. I hate the twitching more then the pain to be honest.

When i first started getting tattoed heavily (about 8 years ago) i was very determined to take the pain. I thought that was cool. but now that i have had so many tattoos done im just fucking over it! I sat for my entire sleeve with no painkillers (except a tiny session where we experimented with emla cream) but yesterday i sat for a massive outline on my ribs and was in total agony. I have tattooed my chest, stomach, legs and arms and that was by far the most excruciating. That normal 3-4 hour pain threshold was hit in about 5 minutes. If i can find a painkiller for the next session i sure as hell would take it. My experiance with most people who get heavily tattooed is that after awhile painkillers are no longer such a taboo.

I think some of you are absolutely pathetic with your dogmatic thinking. The pain of getting a tattoo is not usually that bad for most people in most locations. There are only a few locations where I wished I was numb for the experience, but usually is entirely bearable without drugs or exotic meditative practices. Peoples pain tolerance can vary, as well as their sensitivity, but usually is not that bad. However, people who are stuck up and consider the pain some sort of criteria to deserve your tattoo are fucked in the head. Tattoos for most people are about the aesthetic beauty or symbolic meaning, not about inducing self mutilation or masochism. If you get a tattoo even partially because you want or are addicted to the pain associated with getting needled, then you have a mental illness and there is something seriously wrong with you, and you should probably get some help for whatever issues you are dealing with. Saying that "cheating" is disrespectful to those who endured the pain is a horrible outlook on par with 'I got kicked in the balls, so you should too'. Its not a very compassionate way of looking at the world or respecting others and their personal decisions. As for the effects of taking drugs, alcohol, aspirin, and ibuprofen prevent blood clotting which will increase bleeding and possibly affect the quality of the tattoo. You should avoid all blood thinning medications and NSAIDs. Tylenol is safe for tattooing and wont thin the blood, but it doesnt help that much. Codeine is also safe and does in fact reduce the pain significantly. The drawback is that its not good for your liver and you should not take more than the recommended dosage or you will risk serious side effects. The tylenol is actually more toxic to the liver than the codeine, while the codeine is a more powerful CNS depressant, but these medications are typically combined. If you choose to take pain killers, which for most people is unnecessary but a valid personal choice, Tylenol with Codeine or Vicodin are the preferable choices.

Um, some of you guys who a re so "manly" that you have to take it like a man or you don't deserve a tat (first of all, you wouldn't call your Country a Cunt.. so don't call a tattoo a tat).. that's bullshit.. Try 5 hours on your ribs/side/belly... I'm working on a body suit and quite frankly it sucks getting tattooed. My ribs have been beyond endurance and he is lining the next stage so it's gotta all be done at one time. Can't space it out in multiple sessions lik I can with background and shading.. I've taken vicodin during tattoos and healed and bled just fine. But as some people mentioned.. it didn't help that much. I've switched to a stronger pain killer for this next session. Am I less of a man, or not deserving of my tattoo? I say go fuck yourself. Get your little "tats" and say how manly you are. I'll stick with my true commitment by working on a body suit and take painkillers as needed. Once it's done who cares how it's done.. What matters is the beauty of the artwork, the talent of the artist and your personal satisfaction. and quite frankly, I'm satisfied

in the fifth session of my first tattoo, and aye it's sore, the pain comes and goes on your "tickly bits" i find it sorer on the bone but i'm assured that, whether it's on the bone or on the flesh it's personal sensation, i definately agree that the mind over matter approach works, however i'm not mentally strong enough to reach this state for prelonged periods of time but i'm a firm believer that anyone who can achieve this state of mind can sit for longer than the hour and a half that is my "limit" i came across this page looking for painkilling solutions but after reading comments and thinking about the experience, i no longer feel i need any medication, i don't enjoy a single minute of the session but once it's over, it's over

Vicodin should be okay since it does not interfere with the clotting ability of blood as aspirin and other NSAIDS's( Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) do. As for the pain management, it's a free country bro. To each their own. Until someone starts paying your taxes, do as you please.

Try Emula Cream it helps a little , there are also different pain killer that can be used after skin is broken. The other would be for Pre Tattoo before the outline.

Ha - I have about 12 tattoos large and small and I am heading to my artist in about 5 minutes, but I get very anxious prior to the tat experience. I once was on pain killers because of a busted up tail bone and I had gotten a tattoo on my ribs and they couldn't believe how well I sat (for a girl) - anyway 4 tattoos later - I realize - those pills were nice. Today I am getting my largest piece worked on - the big center flower in the middle of my back on my spine. Call me a big pussy, but I wish I had a zany or something to put my mind at ease because right now - I am freaking out. UGH... Even Pussy's rule...

I have a tattoo on my foot that took 4 hours. best suggestion to anyone scared of the pain is ACUPUNCTURE i bit my lip the whole time, the more my foot hurt, the harder i bit my lip. by the time it was over, my lip was more swollen then my foot! just kidding.. but it was pretty damn swollen. Also, grabbing onto another part of your body or pinching your leg, arm etc. could focus the pain elsewhere. I also agree that if you can't take the pain, don't go through with it. And if you're getting you're first tattoo, get a tough spot first, like you're side, foot, or shin. then everything else will be easy! And you'll look like a total sav.

Also using BACTINE SPRAY helped TONS when the pain started irritating my skin. suggest that to you're tattoo artist. i've also noticed that if the tattooist only has 2 or 3 years under his/her belt, they tend to not pay attention to how deep they are going, the deeper the more it hurts, and doesn't heal nicely at all. So invest in a good, experienced artist because cheap tattoos aren't good and good tattoos aren't cheap!

Right ok, I've never had a tattoo done so you'll probably be thinking why the hell are you commenting then, but I think if your getting a tattoo done then your doing it for the artwork and not for the so-called "amazing feeling of a needle being jabbed into your skin repeatedly".Therefore anyone who says that someone else is less of a person cause the can't take the pain needs to get a life and a sense of compassion for others, it's rude and disrespectful. If you can take the pain then good for you but nobody has the right to make anyone feel bad for not being able to.

i took some narcotics one tme and it turned out fine... i was on them for post surgery pain though. and the other time i took a kpin for anxiety just so i could stay still for 4 hours. im not sure what caused it. i think overworking but one tat has scarred and raised a bit, but i do have sensitive skin and psoriasis. so im not sure. i got 2 tats from the same guy. one turned out great , the other is a raised in some spots and scarred a lil. like i said. i think it was a mixture of my skin haven a reactiion to the pigments, overworking, and sensitive skin. the tat still looks great, but bugs me a bit that it its raised a bit and scarred. i will just make sure to tell the artist i have very sensitive skin and try not to go as hard.

I have a really strong pain thresh-hold and I can sit for a tattoo for a crazy amount of time. Having said that, I think the "no pain, no gain" attitude is both outdated and foolish. As long as the pain killer (or topical anesthetic) doesn't thin the blood, it should be up to the client to decide. If I was doing a rib or foot piece, I would rather the client take something to handle the pain then be flinching all over the place. Tattooing today is about art, not proving yourself as a badass.

I have 8 tattoo's so far and i have felt all of them to a degree the worst was on my back and that only got annoying towards the 5 hour mark when it started to get very tender but my sister swears by ibuprofen you will still feel it but it will take away the edge of it not to mention the axiety Either wat good luck with the tat

What a bunch of bullshit I'm reading. Everyone wants to be a tough guy and everyone likes pain. Are you guys fucking retarded? Tattoos aren't about pain...they're about ART. Just like giving birth isn't about pain, it's about having a fucking baby. Do you think women are weak and wussies because some take pain relievers when giving birth? "Of fuck, they don't even deserve to have a kid if they don't want the pain!!!" Yeah..... Get over yourselves and quit trying to sound all tough and upitty on an internet forum. Who gives a shit if someone doesn't like the feeling of a hot piece of glass scrapping the shit out of you (at least that's how it felt to me). Hey, next time you fuckers get a headache why don't you not eat any aspirin because you know, headaches are a right of passage for us humans and you're a fucking wuss if you do anything about it... Like someone above said, try Emla cream or better yet Dr. Numb if you want to relieve a bit of the pain. Everyone handles it differently and I've found that you just can't pretend to know how it feels for someone else. I have friends that have fallen asleep while getting their back tatted. They had a lot of 'padding' so maybe that helped. I've had other friends, who like me think it hurt like hell. I tried the breathing, looking around, all that shit but what it really amounts to is you going crazy in your head for a couple hours, wanting to get up and leave every other minute. I'm going in for more ink today on my obliques scrolling over to my back, and yes I'm gonna use some numbing cream for this one (first time). Call me a wuss, I give a fuck what you think. My ink will look just as good as yours, and probably better. I know some of you fuckers twitched when getting inked..

What a bunch of bullshit I'm reading. Everyone wants to be a tough guy and everyone likes pain. Are you guys fucking retarded? Tattoos aren't about pain...they're about ART. Just like giving birth isn't about pain, it's about having a fucking baby. Do you think women are weak and wussies because some take pain relievers when giving birth? "Of fuck, they don't even deserve to have a kid if they don't want the pain!!!" Yeah..... Get over yourselves and quit trying to sound all tough and upitty on an internet forum. Who gives a shit if someone doesn't like the feeling of a hot piece of glass scrapping the shit out of you (at least that's how it felt to me). Hey, next time you fuckers get a headache why don't you not eat any aspirin because you know, headaches are a right of passage for us humans and you're a fucking wuss if you do anything about it... Like someone above said, try Emla cream or better yet Dr. Numb if you want to relieve a bit of the pain. Everyone handles it differently and I've found that you just can't pretend to know how it feels for someone else. I have friends that have fallen asleep while getting their back tatted. They had a lot of 'padding' so maybe that helped. I've had other friends, who like me think it hurt like hell. I tried the breathing, looking around, all that shit but what it really amounts to is you going crazy in your head for a couple hours, wanting to get up and leave every other minute. I'm going in for more ink today on my obliques scrolling over to my back, and yes I'm gonna use some numbing cream for this one (first time). Call me a wuss, I give a fuck what you think. My ink will look just as good as yours, and probably better. I know some of you fuckers twitched when getting inked..

What a bunch of bullshit I'm reading. Everyone wants to be a tough guy and everyone likes pain. Are you guys fucking retarded? Tattoos aren't about pain...they're about ART. Just like giving birth isn't about pain, it's about having a fucking baby. Do you think women are weak and wussies because some take pain relievers when giving birth? "Of fuck, they don't even deserve to have a kid if they don't want the pain!!!" Yeah..... Get over yourselves and quit trying to sound all tough and upitty on an internet forum. Who gives a shit if someone doesn't like the feeling of a hot piece of glass scrapping the shit out of you (at least that's how it felt to me). Hey, next time you fuckers get a headache why don't you not eat any aspirin because you know, headaches are a right of passage for us humans and you're a fucking wuss if you do anything about it... Like someone above said, try Emla cream or better yet Dr. Numb if you want to relieve a bit of the pain. Everyone handles it differently and I've found that you just can't pretend to know how it feels for someone else. I have friends that have fallen asleep while getting their back tatted. They had a lot of 'padding' so maybe that helped. I've had other friends, who like me think it hurt like hell. I tried the breathing, looking around, all that shit but what it really amounts to is you going crazy in your head for a couple hours, wanting to get up and leave every other minute. I'm going in for more ink today on my obliques scrolling over to my back, and yes I'm gonna use some numbing cream for this one (first time). Call me a wuss, I give a fuck what you think. My ink will look just as good as yours, and probably better. I know some of you fuckers twitched when getting inked..

I don't know why some people say it doesn't hurt. For me, it was the most excrutiating experience of my life. I got wings on my back, and after an hour and a half I just couldn't handle it anymore and had to make another appointment to come back and finish it. My artist told me to take some painkillers next time, like Tylenol, because it might help me, but he said definitely don't smoke any weed because it will make you all paranoid and definitely won't be good for that sort of setting. He's an experienced guy and did a great job, but no matter how experienced someone is, it's still gonna hurt if you have a low pain tolerance. I feel like a stronger person for getting through it though and it's definitely worth it...but if you think it might help, go ahead and take 2 Tylenol.

im getting a tattoo from the top of my ribs to my stomach, last week i took my first step and had a rose tattooed on my ribs it was very painful but i could cope. today a week later i went to get it carried on down my ribs, forgetting about this a decided to painkillers cause i had a headache. during my session i couldn't handle the pain had to get him to keep stopping , it felt doubly painful. DONT take painkillers it actually ends up being more painful and you end up bleeding loads more and annoying the artist.

The vicodin is for the artist, the pain is your right of passage into OUR world simple as that

Vicadin? Why bother? Regardless of what you take, it's not gonna make you so blissed out that you aren't going to notice needles jabbing you for hours. It's a good life experience to have, knowing what you're like under pain-- that said, I think some people are into it all the more for the fact that it hurts, and I'm not one of those. I'm there for the art, the fact that it hurts and it's permanent just means that I've considered the image, the artist and desire for a tattoo damned carefully. Some hurt a little, some hurt a lot, but you will most likely impress yourself with your ability to endure it if you choose to. I remember getting all of my tattoos listening to jazz records in my artist's kitchen (I have the good fortune of having an exceptionally talented professinal tattoo artist as a friend)-- and despite the pain, or maybe because of the pain, they are all fond memories, just as permanent as the ink. As for irritation and swelling afterward, I would reccomend 1.) a couple of Ibuprofin after you've stopped bleeding and 2.) Scotch, neat.

I have to take vicadin every day for my condtion and it did jack shit for my tattoo just a waste

I have a tattoo appointment this week. I'm getting a big piece and am contemplating taking a norco if only to relax me. I understand why this offends people, but to that I must say- Childbirth dates back farther than the art ot tatooing. I have two children. I know getting a tattoo PALES in comparison to that pain. But do people who use epidurals not deserve children? To me the bottom line is this: If I want something to make me more comfortable, it doesn't mean I don't deserve a tattoo. I won't feel any differently about the end result if it hurts or doesn't hurt to get er done.

Alright... if you don't wanna feel pain... take a frekin' iPod with you, Mp3... anything, if u dont have one borrow one... but take ur favorite songs...(metal not recommended by me) I've gotten 2 on my back. And they didn't hurt cause of the music.. maybe cause im a music lover btu still try it damn!!

dude break out a little snort of coca.

I have many, many tattoos and my first one was pretty damn big too. I didn't take any painkillers, although admittedly, I did consider it! Once you get used to the pain it's really not that bad. And for those of you slating someone for simply ASKING whether or not that can take pain killers, grow up. You should be alot more supportive. I have tattoos, and I don't have this arrogant 'man up, take the pain, don't diss the art' attitude and you shouldn't either. Anyway, that's enough time wasted on these dickheads. I took painkillers before one of my tattoos for stomach cramps, completely forgetting about what effect it could have. However, my tattoo turned out great, I didn't bleed a great deal and honestly, the tattoo actually was VERY easy to sit through. This could be a total coincedence or could actually be the painkillers working. Who's to know?

Alright im gonna be the bad guy Ive gotten tattoo's on my ribs, feet, center chest, and all over both arms all without drugs Now im going to admit, i dont like the pain, and its easy for everyone to say "man up and get the ink" I had a 8 hour session yesterday, with a terrible head cold, sooooo i took a o40 (thats 40 mg of oxycotin) and took some nyquil for the cold now i dont suggest anyone take any drugs they havent before, or are unsure of, but for the first 3-4 hours of that tattoo, i felt good, it hurt, but not nearly as bad as it woulda without the help. Call me a bitch all you want, but this is comming from someone with 30+ hours of time under the gun without drugs Just be careful!

see not one of you have even answered this persons question, youre all sitting on here talking about how much you can deal with pain. thats cool pretty sure no one cares. most of you prob have some sort of stupid ass tattoo anyway and dont know what the hell youre talking about anyway. try getting the webing of your fingers tattooed. try getting your entire throat tattooed. id love to beat all of you.

Why do you guys have to be so rude and errogant? Do YOUR reserch. Pain tolorance is controlled by the brain, but is built best in childhood and teen years, often through sports. Some people (like me) have a SHIT pain tolorance, and no, i dont hide the fact, im a puss when it comes to pain, but i can ignore it. The problem why people might want drugs to reduce it is usually somthing similar to my scinario. I got a peice done on my back, it hurt, but whatever, talking, breathing, and music all were good distractions. But i had a peice recently done on my arm aswell. Now it hurt more, alot more in my mind, lipsingin to my music helped, as well with breething, but everytime the needle moved my arm tried moving in the same direction, cauzing alot of juppiness. i tried to hold it still using different methods but in the end, the tattoo as not finished. The lines are all jaggety and the fill is not solid. i have to go back in in a few weeks to finish it but my problem remains is my movment, not necisarily the pain. Thats why im reserching some drugs that i can take that dont fuck up my state of mind or mess with the blood. So the tattoo will be smoth. Pain tolorance is not the same for everyone. But sometimes you got my shitty luck of having horrible tolorance and it becomeing the demise of a good tattoo. Dont be so rude to him. Its not his fault his tolorance isnt as good as yours. some people just dont feel pain atall. its not a choice. He asked a question, instead of being a self-righchous asshole and giving him shit for a fuckin question, try being mature and awnser it like a man, not a bitch.

Hmmm... All I can say is NO. If I even THINK your on something I won't work on you---too much of a liability. I had a client who lied when I suspected and once she relaxed and confessed her "altered state" I threw her ass out---- I agree with everyone-if you can't take the pain then you should just get a henna tattoo and call it a day.

Just get the tattoo and don't be a little pussy. I'm a girl who just got one on my rib cage that was huge without any painkillers or special breathing exercises. It's totally worth it. Pain isn't pleasure but a little does the body good.

Hey hun, ignore these guys who say if you can't take the pain you don't deserve the work. Just relax, tattoo's hurt, there's no denying that. But Vicodin is safe to take as it is not a blood thinner (they will make you bleed more which makes things harder for the artist). DO NOT take motrin B (it's a blood thinner). Bring some water and something light to munch on during the session, and make sure to eat a good meal before you get inked.

very few painkillers (outside of an overdose scenario) will have any kind of nocticeable effect on pain which is currently being inflicted. one exception is alcohol, but as it has already been mentioned, that is fuckin cheating! (pussy)

You're all retarded. Tattoos hurt and painkillers don't make you a sissy who doesn't deserve one. Painkillers don't completely remove all elements of pain, they just make you care less. You're not a hardcore badass just because you don't want to take anything, you're just a loser who thinks that makes you cooler than everyone else. Newsflash: you're not.

"Posted by [email removed] from IP: 24.233.134.104 on 08/12/06 there is a switch in your brain ....you just have to meditate to find it ,but once you find it you can turn the pain on and off at will ..............sounds like b.s. but its true . " --- Actually, it ISN'T true. Research has shown that meditation does not help with this type of pain. Save your BS for the people without an education. As for the rest of the replies demonstrating self-justification, you people are just sad. I have personally never taken a damn thing for pain prior to getting inked. However, everyone has different levels of tolerance and pain doesn't have a damn thing to do with the ink. It is a form of expression and something the individual is going to have to live with forever (short of getting it covered up, lasered, etc). They don't owe it to you or anyone else to suffer through the experience. That is their decision and one they have every right to make.

Listen,im 19 and am working on my 8th tat ok. its on my ribs and its the most painful thing ive ever experienced. i happen to have one on my foot/ankle. it was nothing!! pop a vicodin one hour before your tat and youll be ok. its not cheating ppl grow up. its making it through with a good piece cause your not sqiurming. dont tell the artist of course but vicodin doesnt thin your blood so youll be ok =) you want to enjoy your tattoo hun trust me =) i hate pills but it really does make a world of a difference

When I got mine I was/ am really excited about getting the tat- I think if you're THAT into getting the end result then the 'pain' is not an issue. Also, after a few minutes you produce endorphines which settle everything down anyway. The fact is, the WHOLE process is great- Minor discomfort for something you really want( a sense of earning it), endorphine rush, watching how it's done and your end result- I woudn't interfere with any of it with pills.

Wow. Absolutely no one helped you. Everyone read the post and still continued to say you have no business getting one. Well fuck all of you who did say that. Pain is annoying an at times, if thought about constantly, hurts even more and becomes unbareable. I am working on a piece on my left rib cage and have also been looking into taking vicodine as a pain reliever. Vicodin does not thin your blood. You just have to use a high dosage of it to numb the body, two to three. As for finding it, well that's quiet simple WITHOUT a doctors note. Good luck ??