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FWIW...the ticks evade the detection of the host for a couple of days while they prepare a pool of blood using their secretions to anesthetize the area and cause anticoagulation of the blood. After a couple of days the ticks then engorge themselves and go from a pinpoint size to the grape size...Ixodedes(sp) or deer ticks are no exception but balloon out in size to a lesser degree. Pain is only a problem while the ticks are engorging and the anesthetic no longer works in the area due to the blood pool reduction....I have noted some real painful animals with embedded ticks in between the toes and in the ears..The dogs and horses are so painful they will not let one handle the area or pull the tick...I suppose it is also some method to allow the ticks to stay feeding in the area a little longer...