Avoiding Bondage Injuries
Rope bondage can be a perfectly safe and healthy form of play. However, we always want to take the necessary steps to make sure no accidents happen. When tying up your kitten, there are certain body parts that are near important nerves and arteries that you want to avoid. A common injury in rope bondage is nerve damage. Warning signs of nerve damage may include pain, weakness, numbness, or a tingly feeling in the parts that are bound or linked to being bound. For example, even if my upper arm is what is restrained, I might start getting numb or tingly in my fingers if there is a problem. So, be sure to check in often with your kitten to see how they and their relative parts are feeling. Nerve damage can last a few hours, days, weeks, or in extreme cases it can be permanent. It can include numbness, weakness, pain, or even partial to complete paralysis in the affected areas.
Probably the most common nerve that can be affected in bondage is the radial nerve which is located on the upper arm at the bottom of the deltoid. It is not to say you can’t tie up your kitten on the upper arms, just be careful to avoid putting tensioned rope on this area. Other areas to avoid are knees, elbows, armpits, groin, and neck. These are all locations that vital nerves, arteries, or veins are located close to the skin’s surface. For beginners, something you may want to include in your bdsm research is some basic human anatomy.
Sometimes numbness or tingling sensation can occur simply due to decreased circulation. When a body part “falls asleep.” This can also cause nerve damage but it usually takes an extended period of time for this to occur. So, you might say, well if it’s just my hands falling asleep from being in a certain position, what’s the big deal? It is always better to be safe than sorry. If you have any sort of discomfort, other than the sexy kind, it is best to get out of the restraints. Or at the very least, have them loosened or repositioned until the feeling is normal again.
I myself have had an experience where I thought my hands had just “fallen asleep,” as I’ve experienced that before.The cat tying me was very attentive and constantly checked in. When I mentioned the tingly feeling, he repositioned my hands and the feeling began to return. It wasn’t til hours later that I noticed a strange stiffness in my thumb. I believe I had slightly damaged my radial nerve but after about a week, it went back to normal. Not a big deal, but had I not said anything when I did, it may have been worse. It just goes to show that even when you think everything is alright, shit happens. So, it is always best to err on the side of caution, especially for beginners. And Kittens, never be afraid to speak up! Your health and well being are top priority! And don’t forget to keep safety shears handy in case you need immediate release.
Another way injury can occur is falling. When doing rope bondage, make sure the kitten is not in a position where they could easily fall and not be able to catch themselves. Also, never leave someone who is bound alone.
We here at Happy Kitten Rope are offering a starting place for further research and hopefully some helpful suggestions. We rely on you to use your best judgement. If you’d like more detailed information or if injuries occur, please consult a medical professional.
-Happy Kitten