MGblues

^THIS

@jonnyw - Is there really a need to take the pain down to a 3 or 4? A 7 isn't acceptable to minimize the side effects for a 4ish hour session?
You really can't handle an upcoming 3+ hour session without being seriously drugged? And even then, you still have to split it into 2 sessions? So 60mg Vicodin+valium+muscle relaxant for what sounds like less than a 2 hour tattoo?
I haven't read this entire thread in a while, but I doubt your conclusion that the general consensus is to dope up to this degree.
Unless you have some medical pain issues you are being treated for, my only reaction to this is to man up.
In full disclosure, I take 3 Advils at the start, and also 1/2 a 7.5 mg Vicodin pill at the start and the other half around hour 3. It is prescribed while I work through some very painful pelvis/spine problems that make it impossible for me to sit without a lot of discomfort. This very low dose makes sitting in a massage chair vaguely possible, and I find it does nothing for the tattoo pain.

Remembered I'd posted in here way back in October right after I got the collar rocker about how much I wanted the chest eagle.
I was worried if I could sit through it...
I could and I did!
It hurt just about as much as I thought it would!

@CaitlinBurnett10 Read this article by David Bruehl about tattoos and nutrition. I've found that some food at the right moment really gives me a good boost to get through tough sessions. Bananas are supposedly good for endorphins, so is dark chocolate. So much of pain management has to do with mental preparedness too.
@DeathB4Decaf I think we probably all feel like a wuss at some point. Tattoos hurt! I know that I always worry that I won't be able to handle it but I seem to do fine. Honestly, I didn't think that ass/back of thigh was as horrible as I was expecting. I even went to work the day after getting mine lined (it isn't shaded yet) and I was fine despite working a physical job.

Opie G. Ortiz posted this 20 year old Hardy backpiece on instagram a few days ago

Reading this thread makes me miss the whole back piece experience. We all understand the magic behind envisioning, planning and executing a full back tattoo, unlike any other piece anywhere.
Reading everyone's experiences, watching the progress is a great reminder how involved this process is, and how we all share the same mystical bond from all over the world that the full back tattoo beholds. Awesome!

I have an ass/back of thighs lining session tomorrow. I'm going to try to keep this "magic" and "mystical bond" in mind while I'm getting tattooed to try to convince myself that I'm not the stupidest person in the world.

Here's one I did tonight based on an Amund Dietzel eagle head.

Haha, I was so surprised cause I never get PMs! What a let down that was.

You're as special as @Hogrider, @Cork, @KBeee, and @someotherguy.
Weird that someone signed up just to spam via PMs, but they have received a death blow from the banhammer.

I don't know what you guys are all complaining about. I look at all the "tattoo pain" pictures on the internet and they all show the butt as one of the spots on the body where the pain is lower. I think you guys are all just looking for attention and the opportunity to show off your backsides and using this forum as a way to publicly admire butts and your S&M tendencies without the shunning of society.

Session two on my back. Mercifully we stuck to lining and shading the background on my upper back. Next time I think we're hitting the lower back, ass, and thighs, which I'm sure is going to be a lot of fun. Can't wait.

We've had two really great sessions, but there's still SO much left to do. We need to line the rest of the background, put in the scales and patterns in the snake, colour the whole thing in...I knew that a backpiece was a huge commitment before I started it, but I'm only now really understanding what that means. It gives me a deeper appreciation of the tenacity and dedication it takes to wear a backpiece, and that there's a lot more to it than just a huge, beautiful tattoo.

Especially!! full back tattoos. A lot of people just do not appreciate what is required to sit through a full back tattoo. Time is not the only factor in the equation.
Haha, I had a mate who already had quite a few tattoos. Then he decided to smash full back rolling on to arse cheeks.
He got through outline and a quarter shading and that's where it stopped.
Then made some bullshit excuse that he was hitting a needle shy stage. That was 3 years ago. What a waste of such an awesome tattoo.

This article is just a prime example of trolling. Slate has sadly turned into clickbait same as Buzzfeed and Huffpost in recent years.

Hung out with my buddy Joe today. He's like a mentor, older brother, super cool uncle all rolled into one. Joe's responsible for introducing me to Henning and putting me on the path of my ongoing tattoo journey. For fun we snapped off this pic of our Henning backpieces. Both our sleeves are also by Henning. Joe has awesome work from Tin Tin, Aaron Bell and Mike Rubendall as well. Enjoy!

My oldest daughter wanted to slam some bullshit passage down her rib panel.
I said, sweetheart...I love you, but if you ruin prime real estate like that with shit text, I'll be forced to trade you for another daughter with more brains.
She's 25 this year and has learned the sound advice given by her father.

My 10 year old niece was telling me her ideas for future tattoos... And they kind of kicked ass!
She wants a dragon on her right arm, with vines & leaves wrapped around it. Then, she wants a wolf fighting a snake on her left arm. On her back she wants a hippocamp (horse/fish hybrid). She's thinking maybe a griffin on her thigh. I was like, "Damn! I might want some of those, too!" Wonder what she'll be thinking in 8+ years...

Can we get your niece on here to give people advice about what tattoos to get? These are all killer.

After seeing @Graeme get off to a good start both here and IG, I got to thinking, my backpiece has been finished for a year and a half now. I sure do enjoy having it, but, damn I'm glad it's done! I wouldn't want to experience it again.

After seeing @Graeme get off to a good start both here and IG, I got to thinking, my backpiece has been finished for a year and a half now. I sure do enjoy having it, but, damn I'm glad it's done! I wouldn't want to experience it again.

That is an amazing piece you have going and I sympathize with the agony of the heel. Those tender areas take a good 2 weeks to be 100% and back to normal. I do love when you are in the shop and everyone is talking about their back-piece experience. How they are so glad that it's behind them. They talk about how getting a back piece just sucked. I can't remember how many times I heard "man I'm glad that's over".......

Agree with your perspective on instagram.
For me it's the methadone substitute to my addiction. Not as good as getting a tattoo, but viewing the work still stimulates me. The challenge for me has been following too many tattoo artist and get away from the "disposable" aspect that you stated. I follow and unfollow based on content. I've cut the list down considerably and challenge myself on seeing a tattoo and being able to pick the artist. By my memory I'm really good, but that's MY memory.

@deadsp0t @Mark Bee @Rob I @BrianH Thanks dudes! It went really well, I totally psyched myself out going into the session thinking that it would be so bad I would die but while it didn't feel nice, and some parts really didn't feel nice (hello where the ass meets the thigh! Hello love handles! Hello tailbone!), when it comes down to it you grit you teeth and get through it because it's all getting done sooner or later. Subsequent sessions will be the ones that kill me. Feeling pretty tender this morning, glad I wear overalls at work instead of pants.

Did the first session on my back yesterday with Dave Cummings. Really stoked on it.