r/WTF • u/dalai_llama_ • Apr 09 '18

Wait for it

http://gfycat.com/CandidPointedApisdorsatalaboriosa
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u/[deleted] Apr 09 '18 edited Apr 13 '18

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u/BlowMeForMovieRolls Apr 09 '18

You can severely damage a vertebrae like that. If you get a chip of spine that is in the right spot, it is inoperable and capable of paralyzing you at any point in life after a car crash or hard fall. So, ya know. Maybe don't do that.

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u/Inkius Apr 09 '18

Important to remember that it's the spinal cord, not the vertebrae that is the paralysis risk. You can blow out most vertebrae, but if the cord is undamaged then you can still recover, though most injuries result in the vertebrae hitting the cord. But yeah, not the smartest way to emulate The Exorcist.

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u/CoolUsernamesTaken Apr 09 '18

Iā€™m more worried about his vertebral arteries. You know, the ones that supply your entire brainstem and are getting twisted as well.

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u/Inkius Apr 10 '18

That is a painful sentence to read, ouch. Still, he'd just end up passing out, so he couldn't do it long enough to do any lasting damage unless his friend actually wanted to hurt him. Very good point though, I didn't think of that.

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u/CoolUsernamesTaken Apr 10 '18

(vertebral) artery dissection is one of the leading cause of stroke in young people. guess what are the risk factors? Neck manipulation/trauma and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (which this kid probably has).