A dull pulsing pain crept up my arm and getting more painful by the second. Ten seconds elapsed, followed by another ten. The agony quickly became unbearable. Shivers raced through my limbs, and my hands and legs trembled. The pain seemed to get worse and worse with each passing moment and I believed it might never end.

It seemed like the pain had been there forever, but the thought that it could hang on for a little longer was frightening. Still, unable to cope, I gave up and went to bed. A good night's sleep, or, in this case, a day and night's sleep, would certainly be helpful.

However, the...