This one goes out to all the teenagers out there. You know who you are, standing there, on top of a brick wall, ready to do a parkour backflip onto a pile of sweatshirts. Maybe slow down, take a breath, remember you're not a real life Spider-Man, and take a look at these peoples' stories below and remember that small moments can lead to large consequences.
Reddit user, u/WetBlanket75, wanted to hear about:
What is a stupid thing you did that damaged you permanently?
Never Challenge The Young Lion
homer simpson GIFGiphyChallenged my teenage son to a friendly wrestling match in the living room. He didn't intend to injure me, but my knee got totally mangled. A five-plus-hour reconstruction surgery and several years later and I still can't run. I likely never will. I tend to walk with a bit of a limp too. Once in a while, I need to use a cane.
Learn The Lesson: Never Make Drunk Choices
Backflipped from a 2nd story balcony when drunk. landed on my feet and busted both my kneecaps and broke my ankles
Something You Never Knew About Your Body
I walked on my toes exclusively from 7 years old onward. My Achilles tendons shortened because of it so I have effectively zero flexion in my ankles on top of clubbed feet. I can't squat properly, or low for that matter, so thats pretty aggravating.
Over Guitar Hero? Guitar Hero?
I hit myself in the face trying to activate starpower on guitar hero. Broke my front tooth in half to the nerve, had to get a route canal and spend 4 hours at the dentist the next morning. Initially they just built it up like a filling. Years later I got a crown.
I was dead sober.
They're Just Giant Jets. What's The Worst Than Can Happen?
Didn't wear the prescribed double hearing protection while working on the flight deck of a naval aircraft carrier for four years. The first layer is the spongy stuff we're all aware of that I left out and the second layer are the Mickey Mouse's that cover your entire ear which is lined with similar material as sound proofing in a sound studio. Then when I got out of the military, I was in a political hip hop group and played hundreds of shows without hearing protection.
Tinnitus, hearing loss, and difficulty pronouncing the "ng" sound at the end of some words like wrong or strong. I have to use a heavy "g" at the end of those words to make myself feel better about pronouncing them.
Started At Such A Young Age
Decided to start calorie counting.
Was anorexic for two years and 3 years after that I still have a horrible relationship with food.
Same here! Started calorie counting in my preteens, still have anorexia fifteen years later and nothing to show for but a sh-tty relationship with food
Protec Your Bac
Twisted my back while lifting a pallet, ended up trapping a nerve and messing up on of my discs, I was 16 at the time now 23 and it still plagues me. Been to multiple chiropractors and even spent money on private one, the second time I went there they kinda just said that I have most likely done permanent damage that can't be fixed due the lack of blood vessels associated with spinal discs.
Long and short of it, look after your back and use the correct manual handling technique.
You Only Get One Set Of Ears
Listening to loud music since childhood. I have tinnitus and it is loud sometimes.
I have severe tinnitus from childhood but I've always had very sensitive hearing and hate loud music. I think mine is from shouting matches or maybe the metal concert i went to at 16 but I wore earplugs for that. It's a constant reminder that somewhere along the line I f-cked up!
Never Think You Can Change Him
Sustaining a 5 year relationship with an abusive scumbag. Thought I might be able to change him or something. Still struggling with my appearance and identity issues years later.
Stop When There's Resistance
Bart Simpson Reaction GIFGiphyI think I got this. I was cleaning my ears after a shower and turned to turn off a light , instead smacked my elbow against the wall jamming the ear bud into my ear drum . The pain , the damn pain was horrible . Then I realised I was bleeding from my ear and couldn't hear too well. I can no longer enjoy the joys of sneezing .
I am in pain just reading this. I can't imagine the pain.
It's Almost Like We Should Be Taking This Stuff Seriously
Got the flu, ruptured my eardrums and permanently lost part of my hearing. Flu shots and frequent hand washing for life now!
Old Man Back In High School
I wanted to carry my friend. Tried sitting down while holding her. Somehow f-cked up my back. No one knows what actually happened, but needed physiotherapy for a while after that and my back has never been the same. I'm 18 and, thanks to my own stupidity, already have back problems
No Push-Ups? Why Even Be An Athlete?
Casual handstands in the park were going well so thought I could try walking on my hands. Did one step and my elbow got twisted, and it didn't heal right. It's kinda weird to be an athlete who can't do the most popular exercises like push-ups or pull-ups 😢
Learn The Lesson All Those Monkeys Learned
When I was younger, maybe 5, I was jumping around on my bed. I slipped and hit the edge with my face, resulting in a black eye. I still can't touch the area beside my eye without feeling a sting and the touch for the next 15 minutes. I also can't lean on my hand anymore. Not a real 'damage', but really annoying when you are sleepy and forget about it.
Playing Badminton? Badminton?
Played badminton for exercise and leisure. Got a little too fast in my razzle dazzle and heard a loud pop - like the sound those rubber inside out popping toys.
Goodbye knee security.
It Always Looks So Fun On Kids' Shows
When I was younger I "agreed" to let my brother and his friends give me a hanging wedgie, they left me up there for a while. I still have scars from where my underwear dug into my skin. Other youngest siblings may understand why the words "agreed" are in quotes .
It's For Something Stupider Than That
Didn't want to overpay for water at a football game, got heatstroke, collapsed and smacked my mouth into the handrail trying to get out of the stands. Broke the bottom halves of my teeth and had to get fake parts glued on. I'm lucky the break was pretty clean and didn't agitate the nerves in my teeth.
Damn doctor who checked me over accused me of being dehydrated due to underage drinking. No, sir, I'm far stupider than that, actually u_u
No. Legal. Recourse.
Donated plasma for money. Undertrained phlebotomist damaged a nerve in my arm. Permanent loss of sensation in the top of my hand. No legal recourse to sue.
From Something So Small
mocking homer simpson GIFGiphyStabbed a sharp corner of a price tag in my right eye when trying on sunglasses at the store. It permanently damaged my cornea, which is frequently "ripping" at the impact point, causing me to suddenly wake up to a sharp burning pain in my eye at night, like someone stabbed me again at that moment. It lasts for about 40 minutes. Then it heals and rips again a few days or weeks later. Had that going for two years now and it's really annoying. At least it didn't damage my vision, so..
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