Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: stana on 16/06/2007 10:55:12

Title: How many, and what of?
Post by: stana on 16/06/2007 10:55:12

Hey, Ive been wondering if i could turn my central nervous system off. I knew we felt pain because of our nerves and that paracetamol deadens the nerves in our body so we don't feel headaches or whatever. But if i take too much paracetamol, ill die. So i thought, the brain, could someone turn the central nervous system off via my brain? I know that if we go into so much pain and shock from a fall or something very painful, then our body turns our nervous system off..so could i do it to myself?

thanks

Title: How many, and what of?
Post by: Karen W. on 16/06/2007 11:25:30

Without permanently damaging you self.. sounds a bit scary to me, but I am not a doctor.. perhaps someone else might know!

When one has a spinal block is that done with anesthesia into the spine or by crimping it or what?

Title: How many, and what of?
Post by: _Stefan_ on 16/06/2007 13:14:39

The brain and spinal cord are the central nervous system. If you turned them off, you'd be comatose, if not dead. Pain killers work because they target/block pain reception and perception, without (seriously) affecting consciousness.

Why do pain killers have so many side effects, and why can overdoses cause death?

Title: How many, and what of?
Post by: iko on 16/06/2007 13:25:09

Quote from: stana on 16/06/2007 10:55:12

Hey, Ive been wondering if i could turn my central nervous system off. I knew we felt pain because of our nerves and that paracetamol deadens the nerves in our body so we don't feel headaches or whatever. But if i take too much paracetamol, ill die. So i thought, the brain, could someone turn the central nervous system off via my brain? I know that if we go into so much pain and shock from a fall or something very painful, then our body turns our nervous system off..so could i do it to myself?

thanks

To avoid untreatable pain after major trauma, burns etc,
lucky humans who reach a hospital are placed in a so called
"pharmacologic comatous state" by drugs and intubated to
keep breathing through a mechanic ventilator, a sort of
automatic air/oxygen pump.

ikod


P.S.
Comatous condition has been discussed in another topic years ago:
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=473.0