Tidbit Tuesday: Back Pain? Not Really...

"DON'T TOUCH ME THERE!!!!!!!!"

Whoa...did that first sentence put a 0_0 expression on your face?  It sounds wrong doesn't it?  But those words is what you'll hear when anyone tries to touch me in a specific area right in the middle of my two shoulder blades on my upper back.

When I was in the 4th grade, my parents found a tumor growing in my upper back, near my spine, but not ON my spine.  It sounds more horrible than it actually was, because it was a tiny little bump.  But it scared us nonetheless.  My dad was susceptible to tumors, and have had ones removed from his throat, hip, and the bottom of his foot.  But for me, at such a young age, it was quite scary.  My parents took me to the doctors and it was tested to be benign, which was a huge relief. 

But the tumor had to come out.  Since it was a small surgical procedure, the doctor only locally administered the anesthetic.  Which meant that he had to stick the needle right into my tumor, while I was awake.  When the doctor told me this, I felt a little nervous, but as a  kid, I was typically more daring, and wasn't as aware of pain as I am now.  The doctor told me to be brave and stuck the long needle straight into my back.  I won't lie, it hurt like a MOFO!!!  But I didn't even move since he told me not to...and I was a good kid that listened to adults.  If he told me not to move, I knew I couldn't move.

At least the painful part was over.  For the remainder of the procedure, I felt no pain.  And my doctor was making coversation with me, telling me how brave I was.  Meanwhile, I felt him scraping away at my back.  I think this was my main issue.  Although I didn't feel any pain, the scraping of the scalple and whatever other instruments he was using definitely left a permanent mark, psychologically.  At the end of the procedure, I had a whoppipng FOUR stitches to showcase how brave I was.  But the scraping and needle sticking remained with me for the rest of my life.  Now...more than 20 years later, I still cringe when someone, out of kindness lets say...pats my upper back.  Or playfully poke their forefinger on my shoulder blade.  Just thinking about this gives me goose bumps.

Am I the only one that feels this way?  Has anyone else had small surgery like this but have issues with the scarred area?  Am I just crazy?  :)