Lined up against ghost rider's penance stare

[chilled monkey]

I always thought the Stare attacks the *Soul* of the enemy Ghost Rider is facing.

It does. That's why it doesn't effect creatures that have no soul. I don't really see why you think this is somehow at odds with the Stare's effect which is to make the target experience the suffering he caused others.

Well..anaesthetic wears off eventually. I've had several serious back surgeries so I especially know how much pain one has once the stuff wears off. Granted pain medication is usually then given, but there are still times when you experience pain(I passed out from pain a few days after surgery because I tried to get up the wrong way, for example).

As Len Ikari145 pointed out, it wouldn't matter. The Stare causes the target to feel suffering they caused with malicious intent. To use your example, no, a surgeon would not feel pain from their patients because their intent was benign.

To use another example, one would not feel the labour pains their mother experienced giving birth to them because, again, no malicious intent.