Women can and do deny the pain,
Me too. After 136 fractures in one go and being one solid bruise from armpit to knee on front, back and both sides, not to mention 3 years in hospital and over a dozen surgeries, anything less these days is tolerable if it can't be ignored. Yup, the pain has to be pretty severe/intense before I go to the doctor/hospital these days... saw enough of 'em over 3 years (plus another 2 as an outpatient) to last me a lifetime.
I suffer with chronic arthritis and pain related mobility issues, but for the most part I fight through all that and do as much as I can for myself... though I have to rely on others for foot care/toenail cutting... cos nowadays it's a physical impossibility (joint stiffness/inflexibility) for me to reach down there myself.
However, while I generally deal with the pain because I don't want to complain too much, I will suck up big time for a back scratch.
Yup, bugger the neck rub... gimme a set of sharp nails up and down my back and I'm in 7th heaven. 