Veterans who were injured in what was considered to be a heroic act, always seem to need less pain control than soldiers who felt bad about the circumstances of their injury.


Then there is the issue of the 'center' of your self which feels pain.
If your eyes are in agony the pain is close to your center and is severe.
A far away ankle seems easier to ignore.

Nature is Not going to allow you to remain conscious when pain is beyond all control. So agony is still less than what ultimate pain could be. (this was my rationalization in the midst of severe migraine.)