Getting a tattoo can be a cool way to convey a meaning or hide an unpleasant scar. If you are considering getting a tattoo on your spine most probably this is not your first tattoo as beginners won’t even think to get a spine tattoo as their first one. You may have a scoliosis scar or other type of scar that you would like to convert into beautiful art.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to get a spine tattoo. They might not be very common but from time to time you will see some cool spine tattoos here and there.

The spine is quite a delicate part of our body. So getting a tattoo on the spine can be a difficult process. That is why many wonders can a spine tattoo paralyzes you or is it completely safe. I will elaborate on this delicate matter in detail below.

Key Takeaways

Can A Spine Tattoo Paralyze You?

Simply put, yes a spine tattoo can paralyze you if done incorrectly. Getting a spine tattoo from a professional tattoo artist who knows what they are doing would not cause any issues like paralyzing or anything else. But how come a simple process like tattooing can cause such an adverse issue as paralyzing? Let us take a deeper look into the matter.

Our spine is a very delicate part of our body. The spine contains vertebrae which give it a curved shape and plenty of nerves surrounding it. We don’t have much of a cushion between our spine and skin. Meaning we don’t have a decent protective layer of fat or muscle in that area. So in the tattooing process, the tattoo needle pokes deep into the spine area to insert ink, the needles may damage vital nerves and end up causing serious issues. Even though it is very rare for tattoo needles to reach nerve ending but it can happen. And nerve ending getting damaged can cause some areas on the spine to be paralyzed.

Do Spine Tattoos Hurt?

Can a spine tattoo paralyze you
Can a spine tattoo paralyze you

Yes, spine tattoos hurt. Getting any permanent tattoo that requires a needle poking into the skin will give you some discomfort. You may ask how much spine tattoos hurt. If you got multiple tattoos before then you know from experience that not all tattoos hurt the same. Why is that? The pain can be more if you don’t have much of a protective layer of fat and muscle over the tattooed area. Fat and muscle work as a cushion between tattoo needles and your nerves. A tattoo needle touching nerves or getting close to the bone will defiantly hurt more than usual. And your spin has minimum fat or muscle layer.

That is why spine tattoos hurt a lot compared to other body parts. That said, a tattoo on the rib, head, or shin would still hurt more than a spine tattoo.

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What Does Spine Tattoo Pain Feel Like?

What does spine tattoo pain feel like
What does spine tattoo pain feel like

Spine tattoos may cause different types of pain in different individuals. To give you a clear idea of how the spine tattoo pain feels like I have made a list.

1. Burning or ablaze pain

The tattoo needles that constantly poke your skin may feel hot after a while. If you get a big spine tattoo, then the process will be lengthy and you may feel more of a burning or ablaze sensation on the tattooed area.

Note: Unbearable burning sensation may be a sign of an allergy. Be informed about the pain to your artist and stop the tattooing process immediately.

2. Stinging pain

Stinging pain is usual and it happens because of the tattoo ink being inserted into your skin.

3. Tormenting pain

Longer tattoo sessions and tattoos that contain a complicated design will give you more tormenting pain in the spine area. The spine contains a lot of nerves and next to no protective fat layer. So, the longer you get poked by a needle in the area the more pain you will feel. You may also feel tormenting pain while getting a spine tattoo if you choose an inexperienced tattoo artist to get the tattoo done.

4. Dull pain

There is next to no protective layer on the spin area that could prevent the needle from reaching nerves and the bone. So when needles come very close to the bone you may feel a dull sensation.

Note: This pain is not intense but still you should be cautious not to make any student movement or the tattoo needle may damage the bone.

5. Dilatory pain

Getting a spine tattoo can cause nervousness and fear. This dilatory pain can occur due to fear of getting a spine tattoo. A stressed body releases the adrenaline hormone and this hormone is responsible for this dilatory pain.

Note: Try to stay as relaxed as possible. Do not get tensed or fear the spine tattooing process.

7 Factors Determining the Amount of Pain You Will Feel

There are quite a few factors that determine how much pain you will feel while getting a spine tattoo.

1. Size of the tattoo

Size of the tattoo
Size of the tattoo

Size matters especially when it comes to tattoos. Tattoos that are big in size will cause you more pain compared to smaller tattoos. Because big tattoos require more work and more needle poking. The spine area is very sensitive, so getting a bigger tattoo would mean getting poked by a needle more time that’s why a bigger tattoo would cause more pain.

2. Type of tattoo

Type of tattoo
Type of tattoo

You can choose a simple tattoo or a complicated tattoo as your spine tattoo. A more complicated tattoo would require more time and more work so obviously it would hurt more. On the other hand, a simple tattoo would require less work and less time so it would hurt less on the spine area.

3. Ink color

Ink color
Ink color

Yes, ink color can also cause more or less pain. The ink itself will not because you pain, but some ink requires multiple strokes and as a result, it hurts more. For example, white ink requires multiple strokes to appear clearly so getting a white-inked tattoo as a spine tattoo would hurt more.

4. Placement of the tattoo

Placement of the tattoo
Placement of the tattoo

Your spine covers a long area. So the placement of the tattoo is crucial. The lower area of your spine is more sensitive, so getting a tattoo on the lower spine area will hurt more.

5. Amateur tattoo artist

Amateur tattoo artist
Amateur tattoo artist

Choosing an amateur tattoo artist to get your spinal tattoo may end up being a very painful experience. So try to choose a professional tattoo artist to get your spine tattoo done.

6. Pain tolerance level

Pain tolerance level
Pain tolerance level

Not all of us have the same level of pain tolerance. Those who have a low pain tolerance would have more pain getting a spine tattoo than people who have a high pain tolerance level.

7. If it’s your first tattoo

If it's your first tattoo
If it’s your first tattoo

You probably heard that the first tattoo hurts the most. Well, it is true. Your body is not used to such type of pain so the first time getting a tattoo would be more painful to you. And if the spine tattoo is your first tattoo you will surely feel more pain.

6 Ways to Reduce Spine Tattoo Pain

Spine tattoos are very painful. But there are a few things you can do to reduce the pain quite a bit.

Ways to reduce spine tattoo pain
Ways to reduce spine tattoo pain
  1. Get a smaller sized tattoo
    There is nothing wrong with getting a smaller-sized tattoo. You can do some research and choose an amazing small-sized tattoo for your spine area. Smaller-sized tattoos hurt less as they require a small area to work on and less work to be completed.
  2. Choose a professional artist
    A newbie artist with no experience can cause you more pain while doing the tattoo. So choose a professional tattoo artist to get your spine tattoo to minimize the amount of pain you feel while going through the process.
  3. Get the tattoo on upper side
    The lower area of the spine is more sensitive, so try to get the tattoo on the upper side of the spine.
  4. Avoid white ink
    White ink requires more work to appear on the skin which causes more pain. So try to avoid white ink while getting a spine tattoo.
  5. Stay relaxed
    Fear or tension can cause more pain while getting a tattoo. Try your best to stay relaxed which will reduce the amount of pain you feel.
  6. Get a simple tattoo
    Instead of going for a more complicated design for your tattoo, choose something simple. A simple tattoo requires less work and hurts less. There is plenty of amazing simple spine tattoo designs out there. Talk to your tattoo artist to get some ideas regarding simple tattoos.

Spine Tattoo to Cover Scar On Spine Area

Spine tattoo to cover scar on spine area
Spine tattoo to cover scar on spine area

Getting a tattoo can have many meanings and reasons. Primarily people get tattoos to beautify their bodies and carry meaningful art on their bodies. Apart from that, many get tattoos to cover up scars. Not feeling comfortable with scars and covering them with tattoos is a clever idea. There is no shame in that. If you have a scar on the spine area or scoliosis scar you can cover it up with a spine tattoo.

Many people hesitate on getting a spine tattoo to cover up their scar as they fear it might make the scar worse. People with back injuries also fear that spine tattoo may worsen their condition. Let me assure you, getting a spine tattoo will not make your scar worse or worsen your back injuries. Just make sure to get your tattoo done by a professional tattoo artist. Regardless of the placement of the tattoo, if you get it done by an amateur tattoo artist then there can be complications.

Spine Tattoo: Pros & Cons

In this portion, I have prepared a simple pros & cons list of getting a spine tattoo for you. It can help you determine if you want to get a spine tattoo or not.

Pros

  • A bold choice: As I said earlier, spine tattoos are not very common. So whenever you see a spine tattoo automatically your eyes will be glued to it for a while. As it is an uncommon and bold choice to get a spine tattoo. It can be a bold statement to get yourself a spine tattoo.
  • Various design: The spine is naturally curved, so getting a tattoo on the spine makes the design pop. As a result, you can get pretty much any design as your spine tattoo. The option of designs for spine tattoos is limitless.
  • Cover scar: A spine tattoo can be a great way to cover up any scar on your spine area such as a scoliosis scar.

Cons

  • More painful: It is more painful to get a spinal tattoo compared to other body parts.
  • Longer healing: It takes more time to heal a spinal tattoo. Keeping the area clean and dry for a longer period of time can be annoying and uncomfortable.
  • Limited option for clothing: While the tattoo is healing you won’t be able to wear a suit or any formal dress. And after the tattoo heals you will have to choose clothing that can show off your spine tattoo. If you can’t show off your tattoo what’s the point of getting one?

Is It Worth to Get Spine Tattoos?

Is it worth to get spine tattoos
Is it worth to get spine tattoos

Just because spine tattoos can be more painful and if wrongfully done can cause many complex issues, you may wonder whether it is worth getting a spine tattoo or not. I can’t speak on behalf of everyone but in my opinion, getting a spine tattoo is definitely worth it. Getting a spine tattoo can be a bold stand and enhance your personality. Men and women both can get spine tattoos as there are unlimited designs to choose from. The spine naturally has a curve which helps the tattoo to pop. Even a simple design on the spine can look amazing and majestic.

Apart from beautifying your body or boost personality, it can boost your confidence by covering up any scar you have on the spine area. Having a scar and being ok with it is cool but getting a tattoo on the scar to create something meaningful is even cooler. If you have any scar on the spine area do not hesitate to get a spine tattoo and create fabulous art.

FAQs

On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad does a spine tattoo hurt?

Spine tattoos are painful, on a scale of 1 to 10 I would rate them as 9/10.

Can I get a spine tattoo if I have scoliosis?

You can get spine tattoos even if you have scoliosis. Getting a spine tattoo can be a great way to hide a scoliosis scar.

Can I get a spine tattoo if I have a back injury?

Yes, you can get a spine tattoo even if you have a back injury. If the injury is severe just make sure to consult with your doctor and tattoo artist before getting the tattoo.

Final Thoughts

Getting a spine tattoo is a cool and bold choice. But since the spine is a delicate area you should be careful getting a tattoo there. Make sure to choose a professional tattoo artist to avoid any complications such as damaging nerve endings or getting infected. Complications regarding spine tattoos can be serious and they may even cause paralysis in the spine area. Spine tattoos are generally more painful but to reduce the pain you can get a smaller-sized tattoo, avoid white ink, choose a professional artist, etc. Considering all the pros and cons I would say it is definitely worth it to get a spine tattoo, just make sure to get it done by a professional.

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