12 replies to this topic

[Vanessamaee]

Alright I know this has been discussed before, but the thread was rather old (I looked it up a couple days ago) and theres been a large change in members so I was looking for some more thoughts. Has anyone gotten a tattoo post injury? What did you get? How big? Where? etc. Is there a high risk of problems if you get one below where you can feel? I had been wanting one on my hip since I was 15. Its a breast cancer awarness ribbion made into a butterfly though. For my grandma who passed away back on Christamas eve of '08 from breast cancer. My dad told me last christmas I could get it when I was 17 if I still hadnt changed my mind. WELL I had my accident, got paralyzed and now having a tattoo on my hip I feel wouldnt be the most attractive anymore. (I have slight para belly, not really to bad though) but I am wanting to still get one. This time on the side of my left thigh. I was just wondering what to expect since I have no sensation there. Any information or stories is helpful!
Thank You (:

[tsh3406]

I have one about 1"x2" on the inside of my left wrist, and area that was initially affected by my injury. I instant the needle touched my arm (and I could feel it, it wasn't painful), it started twitching enough that it was going to be impossible to finish. We tied my arm down to the armrest of a heavy chair with a bunch of 3/4" rope, and that helped enough to get the job done. I expect I'll have that problem if I get tattooed anywhere that is below my injury level, even though I can feel it now. I can't imagine there would be any complications that any other person would have, other than that. I do plan to get a much larger one of a phoenix that will cover most of my left upper body in the very near future. Whatcha plan on getting, still going with the ribon?

Edited by tsh3406, 23 November 2011 - 10:24 PM.

[Taylor818]

I've had 2 tattoos since I've been injured, one is wording down the outside of my left arm (50% feeling) and initials on the inside of my right ankle, no feeling whatsoever. I had them done at the same time and it took a total of about 30 minutes, start to finish. Towards the end I started to feel very slight symptoms of AD, other than that everything was great. They healed wonderfully ( keep it very clean and don't pick at it when it starts to scab ). These last 2 made for numbers 11 and 12, they have all been worth any minor discomfort. Sounds like you've got a very special one planned. Good luck!

[Ginny]

Good question! Tattoos are often to signify special events, people, accomplishments. For anyone on this site with an SCI, we've certainly experienced the gamut of all of those. I had never considered at tattoo before my accident but have been thinking, more and more of getting a sprig of white pine needles inked somewhere, since that's the tree that fell on me. I like the reason for your tattoo...commemoration of your grandmother. Would your physicians be helpful in advising you of a good location?

[Vanessamaee]

I plan on changing the awarness ribbion (I think I might get it at another time though on my wrist or something) and instead getting the saying "God made no mistake" or "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger" (Yes that last one is kind of generic) But both of these pretty much sum up my life. I'm leaning more towards "God made no mistake" because it has a pretty deep meaning to me.

Ginny, on 23 November 2011 - 11:00 PM, said:

Good question! Tattoos are often to signify special events, people, accomplishments. For anyone on this site with an SCI, we've certainly experienced the gamut of all of those. I had never considered at tattoo before my accident but have been thinking, more and more of getting a sprig of white pine needles inked somewhere, since that's the tree that fell on me. I like the reason for your tattoo...commemoration of your grandmother. Would your physicians be helpful in advising you of a good location?

I have talked to my physicians when I was still in the hospital (more jokingly since I was on tons of drugs) about getting sleeves on my legs lol, this is something I wouldnt actually do, but all they said is it could trigger AD and to be careful but nothing more. Ive been thinking more and more and wanted to hear what other people had experienced just to kind of calm my nerves I guess (: also I think that would be a cool idea.

[tsh3406]

Ginny, on 23 November 2011 - 11:00 PM, said:

Good question! Tattoos are often to signify special events, people, accomplishments. For anyone on this site with an SCI, we've certainly experienced the gamut of all of those. I had never considered at tattoo before my accident but have been thinking, more and more of getting a sprig of white pine needles inked somewhere, since that's the tree that fell on me. I like the reason for your tattoo...commemoration of your grandmother. Would your physicians be helpful in advising you of a good location?

Same reason I chose what I did. It's Native American, and symbolizes being reborn from the flames....

[raybonda]

my niece who has CP, has had 3 on her feet/ankles.....no problem . but that is as slightly different case.
Ray

[BillS]

I have one tattoo. It's a line connecting dots that go across my chest at the lowest level where I can feel my skin. I think tattoos should mean something and that's pretty significant to me.

I didn't have any problems getting it done.

Edited by BillS, 24 November 2011 - 08:17 AM.

[ThomasR]

I have one just below my level of injury on my back. Didn't have any problems with it. However, I consider getting tattoed on my legs and not entirely sure if this is a good idea. I mean, it could spoil the whole thing if you get spasms while being tattoed. Considering that wounds on my feet/legs take longer to heal, I assume that a tattoo would take extra long.

[bongorum]

I have a ghostrider tattoo, just the skull surrounded by flames, on my upper right arm. But then the ghostrider movie came out with Nicolas Cage playing the title role. After seeing him with that ridiculous hairpiece of his, which looks like a small furry animal trying to eat his scalp, the tattoo didn't seem so badass anymore.

[ShiftEightGirl]

Hello I was paralyzed in 1996 at the age of 15...so all I have are post-sci tattoos, and I have realized that every one of them has a different effect on my body. I am an incomplete quad, so virtually all of my body is affected...the tattoos on my arms and legs made me jump a lot and every tattoo has caused me to be exhausted for a few days after - which I am assuming is because of the extra energy it takes my body to heal now.

When I got my first and second tattoos they were small - one on my upper back and one behind my right ear...they were no problem. Now when I go in, it is for long sessions and usually, if I have to lay down to get the tattoo, I go home with a migraine and obviously it is initially difficult to function without bumping them while they are healing, but the pain isn't bad, it's kinda like a sunburn with the heat/peeling.

I have one on my right calf (the red flowers below) that took a pretty long time to heal compared to my tattoos higher up, just like ThomasR was assuming...and I did spasm/'jump' a lot while it was happening, but I knew that ahead of time and simply told the tattoo artist that it was probably going to happen.

I have never had to be tied down, but you have to go in knowing that it may take patience, and if you find the right tattoo artist you should be good to go!

If you want to talk to people with sci's about this, I recommend you find a local murderball/wellchair rugby tournament. I play locally and it is awesome to get to talk to other people about their experiences. Most of the guys have said that it wasn't too big of an inconvenience getting their leg tattos, and most of the complete sci's that I have talked to said they didn't 'jump' at all during the process

Here are some of my tattoos:

[Speed]

I am a T4-T6 Complete spinal injury and I went and got two tattoos on my legs after my accident and had no problems other than a few minor spasms. Im thinking tha tmaybe because my injury is a complete severe would be why I didnt have any AD or problems. I also had an anotomically correct spinal cord tattooed on top of my spine and scar tissue a year and a half post accident. While the doctors said this was a bad idea and the tattoo artist said it could be troublesome I still went for it and im glad I did because it looks awesome

[Norsegoddess]

I got a lower back tattoo that pretty much stretches from hip to hip about 3 inches in height. Full color as well. I got it six years after I had been injured since I had to wait for my eighteenth birthday. I'm a 95% complete t3 injury so my dad lifted me onto the table. I got a little Ad but nothing serious, also a little bit of spasming but that could have been due to being folded in half to stretch out the skin as much as it was because of the tattoo. For the most part I didn't feel anything until he tattooed over my spine then my arm pits started tickling strangely. LOL. The healing process was pretty fast and I followed all the after care instructions. In short, it wasn't a bad experience and now when my pants fall down around my hips people notice the tattoo more than the plumber crack.

Hope your tattoo experience goes well too.