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Engineering Paralysis is Indeed Possible - Part 2
Written by Lane on Wednesday, July 15, 2009
In Part 1, we dealt with some unnecessary constraints that we may be putting on ourselves – which hinder our progress toward resolving the core BIID conflict between our minds and out bodies. OK, now how do we actually get it done?
Sorry, but you won’t be able to go to your pubic library or to Amazon.com to find a DIY book on self-paralysis. I’ve had BIID my whole life and I’m not even sure that engineering paralysis is a good idea. As much I as I yearn to be paralyzed, I yearn more for resolution to this conflict in my head.
In any case, I’ll give some hints on how I came to discover the three methods that I feel would be successful as creating the transection that I need. Before I proceed, I must mention that there is one true constraint: No Math. Let’s say, for complete ridiculousness, that you plan to jump from a flying aircraft onto a brick in order to produce your desired injury. If so, you will have a lot to consider. You’ll have to consider the aircraft’s vector, altitude, wind-speed, your wind resistance, your angle of descent, the relative position of you to the brick, etc. Failing to do the math on this will result in…failure.
"Math", BTW, doesn’t mean math. Sean has already suggested, in a way, of using animal carcasses for study. Take his advice. "Math" can mean practical experience. What we actually need is research. That means dedicated study toward solving each of the problems posed by each of the methods suggested by board members, as well as one you may derive, discover, or otherwise invent. There will be roadblocks – you will be tasked with working around them.
If you’re using metal in your design, a rudimentary understanding of metallurgy may be required. I’m not a fan of knife methods for reasons already mentioned by Sean. In addition to the concerns he brought up, the properties of various blades will cause then to behave unpredictably when faced with a variety of heterogeneous materials. If you don’t understand what this means, go back to step 1- do the math. Better yet, put your knives back in the kitchen drawer.
Hint: Nature. Or, in other words, Physics. Nature is stronger than you are. Use it. How can air, when simply heated, lift thousands of pounds miles into the air with ease? Ask the Montgolfier brothers. How can a light press of your brake pedal stop an immense vehicle in a few seconds? Physics, my friend. You wouldn’t get out in front of the car and push hard to stop it instead, would you? An unamplified human can only do so much. You probably can’t break a swine spine, either. Open your text and see how you can make nature work for you.
Taking a peek at your emergency medicine text wouldn’t hurt either. What, you don’t have one? Go back to "Part1:Cheap:Knowledge is power".
Ask a lot of questions of people with medical training. What would happen if ____? You don’t want to be carried away in a straitjacket, but you’re not ashamed are you? Are you ashamed about asking - well, see "Part1:Without Shame". Actually, most people are pleased to talk about their work – especially unusual aspects of it. They’ll be more interested in talking about themselves and their work than they will be in questioning you. You’ll be greatly aided by those who are experts in medicine. They have likely have followed a focused course of study for a decade, whereas the majority of us have more of a hobbyist’s understanding of the medicine.
Approach the problem with vigor. Document your thoughts. List the roadblocks. Approach each of these problems, step back, ask friends – they may be able to ethically solve sub-problems – without becoming involved in the grand plan.
If you want it bad enough, you’ll suck it up and accept some peer review. I don’t recommend throwing random questions at random personnel, but after a while I was able to find a doctor who didn’t mind me trying out what-ifs with him. We have an (only slightly unprofessional) arrangement that suits us both. Again, shame can’t be part of the equation.
Anyone who’s watched a spy movie knows that guns favored by snipers have sights. They’re used to aim the gun. However, how many of those highly trained individuals would be able to shoot backwards – their heads and eyes just don’t go that way. How would they engage a target that approached from behind – without moving themselves? We are NOT going to be using a gun, but what additional gear would HE need? What if the target was hard to see, such as at night? He’d need to adjust for that too.
If it was kill or be killed, I’ll bet that the spy would find a way to get the job done. He wouldn’t worry about his next paycheck, whether his actions were legal, what the people at back at the safe-house would say, or how hard it was. He’d take the shot, if not a few to be sure.
Best of luck and don’t give up. The procedure is indeed there if you know where to look. Peace is within our grasp.
Tags: DIY, Engineering, Para, Paralysis, SCI
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12 Comments
@Becs I’m quite sad that the posts did not hit the mark for you. They were intended to restore hope after some earlier posts that essentially said that all hope was lost.
It is terribly frustrating to me that we cannot discuss methods. It’s not that I don’t want to. We could run into legal trouble. We may also unexpectedly influence those who may not have enough skill or self control to carry out the methods properly.
In this second post, I felt like I gave pretty good hints. I actually edited a number of things out because I felt they were too direct and descriptive. I wish I didn’t have to do that. We could accomplish so much together if we could compare notes.
I strongly believe that there is a future for us all. I hope that I have not added to your troubles!
well, wait. first you’re saying that we shouldn’t worry about legal trouble, but now YOU’RE worrying about legal trouble? i’m so confused.
also, more physics? oh noes! ah well, i see math in everything else (i was reaching the bottom of an escalator in japan and my first thought was “exponential decay!”) so why not in this too, right? =P
random thought: (feel free to delete this i guess) speaking of research, what sort of accidents yield spinal cord transections the most, and what factors are there? approximately how much stress is put on the spine? that would be interesting to find out and would probably help us a great deal, don’t you think?
did that make any sense? it made sense in my brain but things that make sense in my brain don’t always translate well to text. XP
I kind of know where you’re coming from Becs.
For myself I spent many years in denial, didn’t do a scrap of research because I felt so guilty. But now the BIID is so strong I’d give a lot to find out how I could achieve a result ‘the quick way’. It’s terribly frustrating. And I doubt I’d have the skill, the flexibility or the physical strength for a DIY job, and yet…
Makes me wonder if we couldn’t all get together somewhere and help each other out…
@Tora re: legal. No one here can TELL you HOW to do it without causing great risk to themselves or to the site owner. However, an adult can make their OWN choices about whether to engage in legal or illegal activities - taking into account the consequences.
@lane- here we go again with the “an adult can do such-and-such”… is there anything a kid can do? o_O
and yes, i see your point. but it still irks me that only adults can do stuff. why can’t i do anything? x-x
Being a kid, I think I know how to answer that: wait. Yea yea yea, not the answer you wanted, but you won’t be a kid for long. The truth is, there’s not much stuff kids _can_ do, of course, your parents could turn a blind eye and you could somehow smuggle something into the house (not that I advise doing so).
However, you could always attempt to see what your parents would do for you (without saying “I have BIID!” which will probably not go well for you). Example: my mom (before that stupid email got sent) assisted me with purchases and such, and I’m sure, eventually would have included a wheelchair. See what your parents think (or rather, how open-minded they are) and see if they can help. (Yea, I know this doesn’t make sense if you’ve been following what I’ve been talking about for the last few days, but its true.)
@L- heh. the thing about my mom: she can’t even accept that my girlfriend is transgender. she can’t accept that i would *want* to go out with someone the same gender as me. she can’t even seem to accept that i probably have asperger’s syndrome. (yeah yeah sorry to bring it up again guys, but it’s just an example) heck, i’m amazed she took it so well when my uncle came out of the closet. so asking my mom for help? not gonna happen. as for my dad? well, he laughed when i tried to tell him about asperger’s. he doesn’t seem to care about rena being trans, but that may be connected to the fact that he barely ever has to deal with me.
it’s nearly 6 in the morning (i stayed up all night, go me!) so i’m probably not making any sense, so i’ll just sum up what i’m trying to say here: i can’t see my mom accepting this at all. she claims to be openminded, then says really stupid things that make me feel like she’s not openminded at all. =P
also, out of curiosity, about how old are you, L? obviously you don’t have to answer that but i’m just wondering. i myself am 16 (17 in a month). =)
Hmm… that strange feeling that you discover to be true: when your parents are lying to you about being open minded, seems oddly familiar… Well, its too bad about the parent situation (but at least nothing terrible has come out of it yet).
And to answer your question: I’m about 17 and a half (I really don’t care if people know how old I am, I just care when they forget that that day is my birthday, kinda like last year…).
Just remember, college is right around the corner, and, if you’re like me, will probably take advantage of your new private life, away from not-so-open-minded parents.
Good luck,
L
but but… another YEAR! that’s soooo long… x-x
i did eventually go to bed… around 6:30 am. then i woke up at 3 pm. XDD yay messed up internal clock!
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1 On 15 July, 2009, Becs said:
I don’t understand the purpose of these two posts. “I know and I will hint but I won’t tell you”?
“I know but I won’t do it myself”?
How is this supposed to be of comfort?