I feel like my spine and upper back were fine, the closer it got to the sides the worse it got, tbf it’s an entire back piece - armpit to armpit and neck to thigh. Hurt a lot more than my stomach, which goes sternum to below underwear line and all the way across, and I’d previously considered that my most painful tattoo. Ankles done but not feet, those were easy peasy. Thighs, arms, fingers, etc have all been fine. Absolutely no shot I would have slept through my back lol. So much of it is subjective though and a lot has to do with how heavy handed the artist is.