I have a philisophical question along these lines, but don't want to get the thread off topic.

I have a philisophical question along these lines, but don't want to get the thread off topic.

 

You're such a tease. Come on, I want to call you a wuss...

I spent several years in college working in the psychology lab. We called it "rat patrol". When I first started I had what I guess you'd call the "PETA mindset". Once I understood the long-term goal/greater good, I was okay with shooting lab rats up with dopamine, for example.

 

PS - Who is that in your avatar?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J/K:D

You didn't go to Morehead by chance did you?

You didn't go to Morehead by chance did you?

 

That would be correct. Class of '77; back for a couple years of grad school but got married and never completed the Master's in experimental psych. Partially due to an electrical fire that destroyed quite a bit of equipment, partially due to what one might term a less than stellar work ethic.

 

Feel free to PM if you want to compare notes further...

You're such a tease. Come on, I want to call you a wuss...

Oh, I was SO hoping you'd ask.

 

Ok, here's my question. Let's say you had been paralyzed your entire life...and for the sake of argument, let's say you're like, middle age. And say science suddenly discovered a procedure to treat paralysis that would make you able to walk. My question is, would you do it? Seems obvious...but is it?

Oh, I was SO hoping you'd ask.

 

Ok, here's my question. Let's say you had been paralyzed your entire life...and for the sake of argument, let's say you're like, middle age. And say science suddenly discovered a procedure to treat paralysis that would make you able to walk. My question is, would you do it? Seems obvious...but is it?

 

You're asking a bunch of people that have walked their entire life, with the exception of a couple. Seems obvious to a guy like me.

 

Paralyzed your entire life, I'm not sure. I think, in the case of my buddy that played baseball and football with me, it is obvious.

Oh, I was SO hoping you'd ask.

 

Ok, here's my question. Let's say you had been paralyzed your entire life...and for the sake of argument, let's say you're like, middle age. And say science suddenly discovered a procedure to treat paralysis that would make you able to walk. My question is, would you do it? Seems obvious...but is it?

 

 

The obvious answer is yes, in a heartbeat. But you would definitely be out of your comfort zone.

 

This is probably a terrible analogy, but remember the part in The Shawshank Redemption where the lifer finally gets out but can't deal with life outside the institution? This reminds me of that - seems like a no-brainer but there's probably a lot more than meets the eye.

Paralyzed your entire life, I'm not sure. I think, in the case of my buddy that played baseball and football with me, it is obvious.

But his situation is different. He grew up living a normal life and doing things the normal way.

 

I think it could go either way. Yes, you would be able to do things and go places you couldn't before. But remember, this is a person who has lived completely differently all of their lives. The issues are many, and complex.

 

For one thing, there are the practical aspects. Their leg muscles will have atrophied and become rigid. They may have muscle and nerve damage that could never be detected because they had no feeling below the waist. Now they would have pain sensation. This has a lot of obvious benefits, but can be a double-edges sword as well.

 

Then there's the mental aspect of it. The person would be thrust into a world they could never imagine. It would be like a person born blind, suddenly being able to see. If a person could suddenly feel legs that were never more than worthless weights and toes that had never been there, how would their mind deal with that? Imagine what it would feel like if you grew an extra pair of arms. Would you want that?

 

If I was ever put in that situation, I would have to think long and hard about it. If you've never had something, you wouldn't constantly feel deprived of it. I've never been a movie star, won an Olympic medal, or been crowned world's strongest man; but I don't feel bad about it. It's not something that I miss, or even think about.

 

Yes, it would make life easier for the person. But it would be a completely different life, and they would be a completely different person because of it.

This is probably a terrible analogy, but remember the part in The Shawshank Redemption where the lifer finally gets out but can't deal with life outside the institution? This reminds me of that - seems like a no-brainer but there's probably a lot more than meets the eye.

You hit it right on the head. :thumb:

But his situation is different. He grew up living a normal life and doing things the normal way.

 

I think it could go either way. Yes, you would be able to do things and go places you couldn't before. But remember, this is a person who has lived completely differently all of their lives. The issues are many, and complex.

 

For one thing, there are the practical aspects. Their leg muscles will have atrophied and become rigid. They may have muscle and nerve damage that could never be detected because they had no feeling below the waist. Now they would have pain sensation. This has a lot of obvious benefits, but can be a double-edges sword as well.

 

Then there's the mental aspect of it. The person would be thrust into a world they could never imagine. It would be like a person born blind, suddenly being able to see. If a person could suddenly feel legs that were never more than worthless weights and toes that had never been there, how would their mind deal with that? Imagine what it would feel like if you grew an extra pair of arms. Would you want that?

 

If I was ever put in that situation, I would have to think long and hard about it. If you've never had something, you wouldn't constantly feel deprived of it. I've never been a movie star, won an Olympic medal, or been crowned world's strongest man; but I don't feel bad about it. It's not something that I miss, or even think about.

 

Yes, it would make life easier for the person. But it would be a completely different life, and they would be a completely different person because of it.

 

That's what I said...

 

I completely and totally agree with you. Although the extra arms example seems like a bit much. I actually deleted the part of my post that said I could see how the amount of change could be too much for someone that's been in a wheelchair their entire life...

Although the extra arms example seems like a bit much.

Not really. Just think if you had never known what an arm or leg feels like. It would be as if you had grown another body part. I just don't know how your mind would be able to deal with a thing like that.

Not really. Just think if you had never known what an arm or leg feels like. It would be as if you had grown another body part. I just don't know how your mind would be able to deal with a thing like that.

 

Oh, in that aspect I agree. I misunderstood...

Without a doubt, the rehab would be a long painful trip, but I cannot imagine anyone NOT jumping at the chance, especially those paralyzed from the neck down.

 

People who are paralyzed have multiple physical challenges besides the obvious. Bowel and bladder issues, pressure sores, respiratory issues (including some who are totally ventilator dependent), muscle spasms etc. Seems to me that most would trade that for the pain of rehab in an instant.

 

Wonder how long this will take to translate into human subjects?

 

I have worked with paralyzed individuals and have known a couple personally. To think that some day all that pain and suffering could be avoided if treated right after an injury is miraculous.

People who are paralyzed have multiple physical challenges besides the obvious. Bowel and bladder issues, pressure sores, respiratory issues (including some who are totally ventilator dependent), muscle spasms etc. Seems to me that most would trade that for the pain of rehab in an instant.

It's not at all just a matter of a difficult rehab. I can see those who are vent dependant or quads wanting to go for this. But a person who is fiunctional, well adjusted, and used to their life as it is may very well think twice. As I said, it would be a very difficult decision. Personally, I would lean toward saying no.

It's not at all just a matter of a difficult rehab. I can see those who are vent dependant or quads wanting to go for this. But a person who is fiunctional, well adjusted, and used to their life as it is may very well think twice. As I said, it would be a very difficult decision. Personally, I would lean toward saying no.

 

Good point. It would sure be nice to have that choice though.