Here's the info I got from my resident orthopedic surgeon: It's "in the family of vasovagal responses, or neurocardiogenic syncope." But that doesn't really explain why I, at least, experienced that when looking at injuries that distorted bones when I don't faint at the sight of blood or trauma...
My go-to translator of those terms is Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_response <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_response>Beth Benoit On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 2:34 PM, Beth Benoit <[email protected]> wrote: > > It's a fairly well known phenomenon (at least among orthopedic surgeons, > I'm told) that patients become suddenly dizzy and may faint when seeing a > limb or appendage twisted unnaturally. > > I've had many broken bones, have a pretty high pain threshold, and love > watching my own or others' surgical procedures. But the sight of a > dislocated toe and a fractured tibia and fibula - all unnaturally bent > (sorry, if you're squeamish!!) made me dizzy and almost faint. > > At the time I recall I was told the physical explanation for it, but I > can't recall it right now. I remember that it sounded a little like the > explanation for motion sickness - that your brain gets an erroneous message. > I'll try to find out. > > Beth Benoit > Granite State College > Plymouth State University > New Hampshire > > > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=9135 or send a blank email to leave-9135-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
