Nothing ever happens (ableism edition)

[u/GodsGayestTerrorist]

I'm pink

Ableist is red

Subreddit is white

I'm not sure if the username censoring rule applies to myself but just in case I did so anyways.

I'm just so taken aback by the audacity of someone to make the claim that I would lie about a disability and to be honest so insulted that some loser talking out of their ass is attempting to diminish my achievement. I just cannot comprehend the nerve of some people.

[u/VanillaCurlsButGay]

I've known a few people with broken backs. Yet I've never met anyone who was wheelchair bound.

[u/GodsGayestTerrorist → u/VanillaCurlsButGay]

Thank you!

Broken backs are debilitating but don't always necessitate mobility equipment. I have a cane for days where my pain is too much to keep myself steady or if the ground is slippery (ice/rain/snow), but otherwise, I walk around just like most anyone else, albeit more slowly and groaning more often.

[u/VanillaCurlsButGay → u/GodsGayestTerrorist]

Yep. That's exactly the behavior I've seen in people with a broken back. The slow walking and occasional pained noise.

As with most things, I assume the "paralyzed", "bedridden", or "wheelchair bound" expectation comes from how uniform disability can be in media. As in- every character with a certain illness, disability, or injury will all show nearly the exact same symptoms and require the exact same care/assistance.

[u/GodsGayestTerrorist → u/VanillaCurlsButGay]

Exactly, especially with spine injuries.

When I had my car accident and was in a physical rehab facility anytime I'd ask a doctor "when can I expect to regain this, will this change be permanent, will I ever be able to do this again, etc." The answer was always "we don't know and time will tell."

[u/VanillaCurlsButGay → u/GodsGayestTerrorist]

Because of that, I can never really help but roll my eyes when a TV doctor claims a character will never be able to walk again directly after the incident. Like can you give it some time to heal at least????

[u/GodsGayestTerrorist → u/VanillaCurlsButGay]

Lol I never thought about that tbh 🤣

[u/Taran345 → u/GodsGayestTerrorist]

As someone who who until late 2023 had borderline Cauda Equine syndrome for around 6 years (whereupon it had worsened to the point it was finally deemed necessary to operate), I found your description of the nerve pain and weakness from spinal damage to be VERY identifiable!

Some people just don’t understand that having a broken back doesn’t always mean total paralysis but is still very debilitating.

When my pain levels were around 7/10 whilst resting, I could still technically walk, but the weakness would mean that it’d be hard going and cause pain levels to spike . No amount of opiate-based, nsaids or any other painkillers would touch the pain when it spiked that badly, even with layering them one on the other.

[u/GayRacoon69 → u/VanillaCurlsButGay]

Huh that's interesting

I've known a few people who are wheelchair bound yet I've never met anyone with a broken back

Strange that you've had exactly the opposite experience

[u/VanillaCurlsButGay → u/GayRacoon69]

It's a big world lol