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Anomaly-Friend OP t1_jd8afoa wrote

Reply to comment by Gonzo_B in (Biology) How far down your spine can you break before respiratory impairment? by Anomaly-Friend

You're good! This was exactly what I was looking for. I am now less worried about accidentally breaking my spine and not being able to breathe lol

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ImAScientistToo t1_jd8buvj wrote

Keep in mind that a injured spinal cord can temporarily lose function higher than the injury due to inflammation.

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Anomaly-Friend OP t1_jd8es1o wrote

Thank you! I am now just as worried as I was originally lol

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ImAScientistToo t1_jd8g4td wrote

If it’s a stable fracture then you don’t have to be too worried about losing respiratory function.

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foolishbison t1_jd9url0 wrote

Also might not be a thing you do to yourself. I received a "nerve block" for routine shoulder surgery that damaged my phrenic nerve, resulting in a loss of diaphragm function on that side. I now have two good shoulders, but only one good lung.

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Tectum-to-Rectum t1_jd8urhq wrote

It takes a lot of effort to do that. The overwhelming majority of cervical fractures do not result in neurological injury. I’ve been involved with probably 2-3 high cervical injuries requiring ventilator dependence and most are old people with bad bones and a type 2 dens fracture that pinch their cords.

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