Uncomfortably Numb

Uncomfortably Numb is a recurring endurance challenge in Survivor. The challenge debuted in and has since re-appeared in , , , and .
==Rules==
Each person will balance their feet on a very narrow perch adjusted for their height while holding a handle above their head. If at any point, they let go of the handle or a foot comes off the perch, they are out of the challenge. The last person left standing wins.
In , in order to increase the difficulty of the challenge, there was an additional rule that the person's back must maintain contact with the stand.https://robhasawebsite.com/survivor-42-episode-11-recap/ (0:25:00)
==History==
=== United States ===
The challenge debuted as the final nine Immunity Challenge in . In addition to staying on the perch, host Jeff Probst also tempted castaways throughout the challenge to step down in exchange for food. After over three hours, the challenge came down to Natalie Anderson and Reed Kelly. Realizing that she was not going to be able to outlast Reed, Natalie bargained for a large platter of food from Jeff before stepping down, giving Reed immunity.
The challenge re-appeared in as the final ten Immunity Challenge. Early on, Jeff Probst announced that he would only offer food at one point in the challenge, causing several castaways to drop out and take the large platter of food. Eventually, the challenge came down to Cydney Gillon and Tai Trang. After over 40 minutes, Cydney dropped and Tai won immunity.
The challenge appeared in , once again as the final ten Immunity Challenge. Before the challenge, Jeff Probst offered the castaways a large plate of nachos, margaritas, and beer in exchange for not competing in the challenge. Angelina Keeley, Carl Boudreaux, and Nick Wilson decided to opt out and take the plate of nachos. After over five and a half hours, the challenge came down to Alec Merlino and Christian Hubicki, the latter of whom employed the strategy of irritating Alec with a prolonged monologue. Despite desperately needing immunity, Alec could not hold on, allowing Christian to win immunity.
The challenge appeared in as an Immunity Challenge where the Viakana tribe was divided into two teams of five for a Double Elimination that evening. The last person standing on each team would win immunity, and the last person standing overall would win their team reward and the right to vote second. After over 10 minutes, Erika Casupanan beat out Naseer Muttalif to win immunity on the yellow team, but immediately stepped down afterwards, giving reward to the blue team. Xander Hastings then outlasted Deshawn Radden after 33 minutes to win immunity on the blue team.
In , the challenge appeared as the final seven Immunity Challenge in conjunction with the twist. The Kula Kula tribe was allowed to sit out to avoid being subjected to a potentially game-ending gamble at Tribal Council; the entire tribe opted out, sans Jonathan Young and Lindsay Dolashewich. After around 12 minutes, Lindsay fell from her perch, giving Jonathan immunity and leaving her fate up in the air at Tribal Council.
=== Australia ===
The challenge appeared as the Final Immunity Challenge of . Set against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, the final four stood on a perch with their hands maintaining contact with a handle behind their back at all times. At regular intervals, a winch will be turned, pushing a set of spikes deeper and deeper into the contestants' backs. The challenge came down to a showdown between Liz Parnov and Matt Sharp, both of whom challenged Jonathan LaPaglia to give the winch one final crank, leaving both of them to brave the full 32 cm (12.6 inches) of spikes. After 4 hours and 10 minutes, Matt let go of the handle, giving Liz the win.
=== France ===
==Winners==
<tabber>United States=
Episode	Challenge Type 	Winners 	Winners
 	Individual Immunity	colspan="2"	
 	Individual Immunity	colspan="2"	
 	Individual Immunity	colspan="2"	
 	Individual Immunity	 	
 	Team Reward 	colspan="2"	
 	Individual Immunity	colspan="2"	
|-|Australia=
Episode 	Challenge Type 	Winners
Episode 24	Individual Immunity(Final Immunity)	
|-|France=
Episode 	Challenge Type 	Winners 	Winners
Episode 10	Individual Immunity 	colspan="2" 	
Episode 1 	Sudden-Death Challenge	None There is no winner, the challenge stops when a castaway falls first. Fabienne Lefebvre-Trehoux is eliminated.	None There is no winner, the challenge stops when a castaway falls first. Fabienne Lefebvre-Trehoux is eliminated.
Episode 5 	Individual Reward 	 	
</tabber>
==Gallery==
<tabber>United States=
 
S29_press_images_ep10_0001.jpg|The challenge in .
0003-s29_press_images_ep10_0003.JPG|Jeff Probst tempts the players with food in San Juan del Sur.
S32 press images ep8 S32 Ep8 SG 0004.jpg|The challenge in .
S32 press images ep8 S32 Ep8 SG 0006.jpg|Aubry competes in Kaôh Rōng.
Alison_uncomfortably_numb.jpg|Alison competes in .
Kara_uncomfortably_numb.jpg|Kara competes in David vs. Goliath.
Deshawn xander uncomfortably numb.jpg|Deshawn and Xander compete for immunity at the Double Elimination. ()
shan uncomfortably numb.jpg|Shan holding on in 41.
Jonathan lindsay uncomfortably numb.jpg|Jonathan and Lindsay go head-to-head in .
|-|Australia=
aus10e24 faamolemole uncomfortably numb.jpg|The final four competes in the Final Immunity Challenge. ()
aus10e24 liz uncomfortably numb.jpg|Liz endures the pain in Heroes v Villains.
Aus10e24 matt uncomfortably numb.jpg|Matt getting drenched in Heroes v Villains.
|-|France=
Kls7.ep10.jpg|The challenge in .
KLS14 Ep1 Uncomfortably Numb.jpg|The challenge in .
KLS25 Ep5 Uncomfortably Numb.jpg|The challenge in .
</tabber>
==Trivia==
* This challenge's name is a reference to the song by .
* All five times this challenge appeared:
** It was used as an individual Immunity Challenge.
** A man won the challenge.
* Despite food being offered each of the first four times this challenge appeared, it has been done a different way each time:
** In , host Jeff Probst tempted the castaways with food throughout the challenge.
** In , Probst announced that he would only tempt the castaways with food once at an early point in the challenge.
** In , Probst offered food to the castaways before the challenge, provided that they sit out and give up their shot at immunity.
** Though no food temptations were offered in , food was provided as a team reward to be claimed following the challenge.
* is the first time that no food was offered in any form during the challenge. Instead, a disincentive in the form of the Do or Die twist was introduced to discourage players from competing in the challenge.
*Erika Casupanan is the only woman to win this challenge individually.
==References==
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Koh-Lanta
Category:Challenges
Category:Recurring Challenges
Category:Survivor: San Juan del Sur
Category:San Juan del Sur Challenges
Category:Survivor: Kaôh Rōng
Category:Kaôh Rōng Challenges
Category:Survivor: David vs. Goliath
Category:David vs. Goliath Challenges
Category:Survivor 41
Category:Survivor 41 Challenges
Category:Survivor 42
Category:Survivor 42 Challenges
Category:Australian Survivor: Heroes v Villains
Category:Australian Survivor: Heroes v Villains Challenges
Category:Koh-Lanta: Palawan
Category:Koh-Lanta: La Revanche des Héros
Category:Koh-Lanta: Les 4 Terres