19 replies to this topic

[Myssa]

Last night Brady got the idea he wants to get another tattoo. This would be his 4th but his first one since he was hurt. I worry but everything worries me, I know he's not the first person to get a tattoo post injury. Was getting a tattoo post injury any worse then getting one before? Did you have any bad reactions?

[Wheelsonfire]

I have had 2 full sleeves done and am working towards my chest and a full back piece, scars are been covered also, only difference is that the pain is far worse if the area has nerve damage, that makes no odds though as it's the end result that counts.
If he has some already then leave him off, for anyone who doesn't have ink, my recommendations is stay well away as once it goes on it aint coming off.

[The Black Sheep]

I got a tattoo around my ankle and on the back of my neck a couple years after my injury. The ankle was actually pretty funny because it didn't hurt at all. We took a belt and tied my foot to a chair railing to hold it down (it twitched the entire time) but it was kinda funny.

My neck hurt a little because it was only a about an inch above my injury and it's a little hyper sensitive in that area. The pain dulls after a little while because of the buzzing/vibration, so it wasn't that bad overall. No bad reactions from any of them. My dad was worried the one on my neck might hurt my spine and cause more swelling, which is what started my whole SCI... everything healed up well. Both of my tattoos were 6-8 years after my injury, and I was a lot healthier then (and now) than when I was first injured. I'm not sure if that plays any role in how people react, but if he's sick or still not 100%, it may be something to be cautious about.

[chris135]

I had one of my tattoos redone post injury with out any problems. It was above my level of injury and nowhere near where i had nerve damage. I was a little worried that I would get more spasms or maybe a case of dysreflexia but neither happened. My legs did tend to kick a little more towards the end but that was around hour 4. I'm sure he'll be fine especially if he's had tattoos before.
Chris

[BillS]

I've only had one tattoo so I can't compare. Overall it wasn't too bad.

My Tattoo is a line across my chest. It matches the feeling/no feeling spots on my skin so it varies up and down across my chest. I did feel most of it and didn't have any problems.

[Kodie]

I have a half sleeve and one on my forearm. I didn't have any problems either. At first I was REALLY worried about AD, but it never was a problem.

[Travelling Blackbird]

It's inadvisable to get a tattoo below the level of a spinal injury. It's not impossible, and it's not always going to cause problems, but spasms, poor healing and infection are all possibilities.

My two tattoo artists both said they wouldn't tattoo below the injury level - I hadn't asked them to, but we were talking generally about tattoos and injured customers. They also said that they prefer not to tattoo on scar tissue because the ink tends to spread so unless it's a big, block of black or clour, like a tribal, it'll look blurred.

To get a good tattoo, you need to be in good form and relaxed. How long is it since Brady's injury? How's he feeling lately? If he's not in good form, give it a half-year and then think about it again.

I'm tattooed from elbow to elbow across my shoulders and upper back. I found the lowest part of the tattoo on my back to be close to my upper limit of pain.

[Wheelsonfire]

In relation to covering scars, I have had them done already, you need to be very careful as they bleed like a bitch, they also hurt a lot more, left arm was been done and I could feel the pain in the back of my neck. Now on saying that I sat for 5 and 6 hours each time.

I use to tattoo some years back and did my stomach below the level of injury, my urologist ruined that on me due to bringing the stoma from the urostomy out my right side, god damn it I now have a stoma coming out of Satin's chest..

Each person is different, if it's a small tat, it might not do harm, I went the extreme, most important bit is the after care to make sure no infection sets in.

[Myssa]

Travelling Blackbird, on Jan 23 2010, 03:07 AM, said:

It's inadvisable to get a tattoo below the level of a spinal injury. It's not impossible, and it's not always going to cause problems, but spasms, poor healing and infection are all possibilities.

My two tattoo artists both said they wouldn't tattoo below the injury level - I hadn't asked them to, but we were talking generally about tattoos and injured customers. They also said that they prefer not to tattoo on scar tissue because the ink tends to spread so unless it's a big, block of black or clour, like a tribal, it'll look blurred.

To get a good tattoo, you need to be in good form and relaxed. How long is it since Brady's injury? How's he feeling lately? If he's not in good form, give it a half-year and then think about it again.

I'm tattooed from elbow to elbow across my shoulders and upper back. I found the lowest part of the tattoo on my back to be close to my upper limit of pain.

Brady has been feeling pretty good and he'll be injured one year on March 5th.

[twisted_ophelia]

I co-own a tattoo shop, as many of you on the forum know (though I haven't been posting much lately!) and the best advice I can give is to try and find a tattooer who has some experience tattooing someone with a spinal cord injury. The person who said it's "inavisable" to get a tattoo below injury is actually mistaken--many, many people have gotten tattooed below injury levels without any major issues other than spasms. There is, of course, the possibility of dysreflexia but if you notice the beginning of it, tell the artist and they will stop. Take a break, take it slow. As for spasms, the majority of SCI people will spasm if tattooed on their legs. Usually this results in the tattooer just having to hold it down and take it slow. Most experienced tattooers are used to people jumping around. Able-bodied people, I mean. People get startled, might find a painful spot, whatever, and they will kick out or jump. Anybody with a decent amount of experience will be able to feel the muscle begin to twitch BEFORE the actual movement. Don't forget they are in close contact with your body, they can feel things!

If he has sensation, he may find it over sensitive or painful. Just watch out for any AD stuff. And, of course, always find a reputable tattooer/shop. Make sure they are up to the health code, ask to be shown around the studio and look for cleanliness, ask to the see that tattooer's porfolio and make sure you give them VERY detailed information about your injury. Don't be shy. And if you need to take a break, don't be shy about that either. Any good tattooer will not mind stopping and taking a break. Hope that helps.

Mimi

[Texaswheelz]

I would say my next tattoo will be at your place, but damn Toronto is a long ass drive from Dallas for a tattoo.

[Ches]

I agree with TxWheelz

[AndrewB]

I was supposed to go get some work done on a cover up piece today, but i overslept. If Mimi gave me a huge discount (free) I would be willing to make the trip.

[twisted_ophelia]

Texaswheelz, on Jan 23 2010, 02:18 PM, said:

I would say my next tattoo will be at your place, but damn Toronto is a long ass drive from Dallas for a tattoo.

Ches, on Jan 23 2010, 03:26 PM, said:

I agree with TxWheelz

AndrewB, on Jan 23 2010, 06:38 PM, said:

I was supposed to go get some work done on a cover up piece today, but i overslept. If Mimi gave me a huge discount (free) I would be willing to make the trip.

Well, I'll let you all stay with me! :-) <3

[Heather1984]

I have gotten 3 since my accident and have had no problems at all. I would tell him to get one in a spot where he does still have feeling just to make sure he would be able to tell if he had pain in the healing process. I would like to have one below my injury but my spasms are so bad I don't know if they could hold me down haha.

[Myssa]

Brady got his tattoo done last night, with no bad reaction. He got the kids names done on his upper arm.

[GoochRA]

I've been wondering this as well. My tattoo artist has offered me a free one after my accident and I plan on taking him up on it. I'm four months fresh T4, any idea how long we need to wait on surgery areas (my upper back), or do I need to hold out and just get ones on my arms, or maybe even legs?

If it were up to me and I didn't have to impress people in this close minded society we live in (lol) I'd work on sleeves. Trust me, I'm an acception to the stereotypes!!!

[twisted_ophelia]

GoochRA, on Jan 29 2010, 06:16 PM, said:

I've been wondering this as well. My tattoo artist has offered me a free one after my accident and I plan on taking him up on it. I'm four months fresh T4, any idea how long we need to wait on surgery areas (my upper back), or do I need to hold out and just get ones on my arms, or maybe even legs?

If it were up to me and I didn't have to impress people in this close minded society we live in (lol) I'd work on sleeves. Trust me, I'm an acception to the stereotypes!!!

If you have scarring on your back, it's best to wait til the scar mellows. Big puffy keloid-y scars are a real bitch to tattoo. Buy some kind of anti-scar cream and work on getting that puffiness down. If you plan to just tattoo 'regular' skin on your back, I think four months is plenty. Do you plan to tattoo on your actual vertebrae where you had a break? Because if they are fully healed from a break, it should not make a difference. As for sleeves, many many corporate types come in a get full sleeves, back pieces, etc., and they VERY easy to cover up with long sleeve shirts if you don't want your workplace or whatever knowing. Sleeves are a big commitment though, not just in appearance. They take a lot of time and cost a lot of money. How well do you know your tattoo artist? I'd be wary of any tattooer who goes around offering free tattoos unless he is a personal friend.

Edited by twisted_ophelia, 09 February 2010 - 04:50 PM.

[DannyTO]

As good a topic as any for my first post.

I had my first tattoo done over my lower back scar over my (shattered) L4/L5. I had no problems and the tattoo healed with no issues. My avatar is actually my lower back tattoo. I later had more back tattoo work down, but it's above injury so not very relevant I suppose.

My work was done by Daemon at Urban Primitive (at the time in Toronto, now west of Toronto www.urbanprimitive.com ), he did a great job and has done a lot of scar work / etc.

D.

[Lucky]

I have 8 tattoo's. When I went wandering arond Thailand, I met my friends buisness partner (Thai bloke).
Anyways, I decided to have my mum, sister and 2 neice's name in hearts but where to have it I thought?
Then I remembered my skin's now hyper sensative but at the top of my left thigh, I have no sensation as the surgeon nipped a nerve whilst taking a bone graft and it's now totally numb.
So thats where I had it.
Never felt a thing