I just did a run with an unarmed character recently, and it does start out really painfully. The amount of damage you do is in large part based on your level. Increasing your level will up your damage, even if your strength stays the same.
Here's the progression for a character with 4 Strength for levels 1-5.
- Level 1 base Unarmed damage: 1-1
- Level 2 base Unarmed damage: 2-2
- Level 3 base Unarmed damage: 3-3
- Level 4 base Unarmed damage: 4-5
- Level 5 base Unarmed damage: 5-6
Just going from level 1 to 3 makes a huge difference to your effectiveness in combat.
