Does a Vulcan Nerve Pinch hurt?

[Shat Happens]

I always assumed it was painless, instant uncounsciousness. We never saw anyone wake up from that though.

But Punk on Bus seemed to rememeber and be scared 40 years after.

 

[Finn]

Depends on the Plot

Being scared doesn't necessarily mean it was painful.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Pinching that muscle does generate a fair bit of pain IRL.

Ironically, it was actually a recommended site for checking pain response in an unconscious person (because it's pretty hard to ignore and relatively easy to do but avoid damage unlike the ear pinch or sternal rub) for first responders for many years, though some courses urge against any checks of this sort nowadays.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I wouldn't imagine it'd matter at the time. You might feel a twinge after you wake up.

 

[fireproof78]

Yes.

 

[Henoch]

Leslie is rubbing his neck after a Vulcan Nerve Pinch due to some sort of discomfort; perhaps pain or just a little numbness.
https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x29hd/operationannihilatehd467.jpg
https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x29hd/operationannihilatehd475.jpg

 

[Oddish]

I think it's quite painful when it occurs, since it's basically inducing unconsciousness by overloading a nerve cluster. But if it's done right, you should pass out almost instantly, and will probably wake up just a little sore.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

In all instances where we've seen somebody get pinched, they don't seem to be reacting with shock or pain. They just conk out.

So I doubt that the pinch is supposed to hurt.

As for the punk on the bus...I think it was just an instinctive reaction. He remembers the pinch itself, but he's not scared of it or anything like that. Pretty much an automatic thing.

And besides, the Vulcans would never have invented a process that was supposed to hurt. The intent is to render the subject instantly unconscious, without pain. That's the Vulcan way.

 

[fireproof78]

So I doubt that the pinch is supposed to hurt.

What about afterwards? I doubt anyone is in pain in the initial pinch, other than the shock of going to sleep. But, afterwards? As @Henoch notes, Leslie is holding his shoulder like he is sore. So, there could be some pain in there. Don't see why not.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

We don't usually see people wake up after a Vulcan nerve pinch so we don't know if there are any aftereffects. But I'm guessing there wouldn't be.

As I said, since the pinch was invented by Vulcans, I'd assume there would never be any pain involved in it, both during the pinch and afterward.

 

[fireproof78]

We don't usually see people wake up after a Vulcan nerve pinch so we don't know if there are any aftereffects. But I'm guessing there wouldn't be.

As I said, since the pinch was invented by Vulcans, I'd assume there would never be any pain involved in it, both during the pinch and afterward.

Why though? I don't see anything about Vulcan inventions automatically being painless. They invented the Stone of Gol as well. And, again, screenshots show someone getting pinched then holding their neck? Did he strain it waking up?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The Stone of Gol was invented as a weapon. And dates back to a long time before Surak.

The nerve pinch, OTOH, was never intended to be a weapon. Its sole purpose is to render the subject unconscious, as quickly, painlessly and (dare I say) logically as possible. So you can't really compare the two.

That said, I admit we don't know exactly when the nerve pinch was thought of. But my instincts tell me it comes after Surak, not before. Heck, for all we know, Surak himself came up with it.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Was it invented to be used against fellow Vulcans originally? In which case, Vulcans may not suffer the same side effects, or not show it as much (being the stoic creatures they are). Maybe the nerves controlling/affecting consciousness are not bundled with pain sensitive ones like ours.

Isn't it kind of interesting that most if not all Humanoid species appear to be affected by this tactic? IIRC, NuSpock tried to pinch NuKhan with middling results.

 

[shapeshifter]

I suppose I would liken being VNPed to getting a bonk on a funny bone, (which is actually a nerve reaction) only at the neck site and so painful that unconscious is usually instant.

But since not everyone has the same threshold of pain, those take longer - or some actors just ham it up too much.

 

[F. King Daniel]

It's definitely caused pain in a couple of instances. Whether that was incorrectly applied or some effect of fighting the effects off, I don't know. I'd imagine it as a sudden cramp followed by waking up.

 

[cooleddie74]

The way some get glassy, pained eyes or even make pained noises when being pinched I imagine it's not the most pleasant of experiences. Too many characters look like they're having muscle spasms or being punched for a Vulcan nerve pinch to be painless.

 

[fireproof78]

The Stone of Gol was invented as a weapon. And dates back to a long time before Surak.

The nerve pinch, OTOH, was never intended to be a weapon. Its sole purpose is to render the subject unconscious, as quickly, painlessly and (dare I say) logically as possible. So you can't really compare the two.

That said, I admit we don't know exactly when the nerve pinch was thought of. But my instincts tell me it comes after Surak, not before. Heck, for all we know, Surak himself came up with it.

This is all assumption at this point. We don't know it's painless, and we don't know it's invention. So, again, my question goes back to the base assumption that "Vulcans invented = painless" as previously expressed. And it is a very curious thing to learn about you in terms of your view on Vulcans. Thank you

 

[M'Sharak]

Does a Vulcan Nerve Pinch hurt?

It depends.

 

[cooleddie74]

And the transporter replica of Kirk screams in agony when Spock nerve pinches him in the Engine Room.

 

[Finn]

Does it depends on the species as well. Nerves may vary with species. For all we know, Bajorans are immune to it due to reasons, like relaxing during labor.