A spinal fracture (also called a "vertebral fracture") is a very serious injury that can cause permanent damage to the body, though this is not necessarily guaranteed. Spinal fractures occur when one or  more of the vertebrae in the back crack or come apart. The most immediate symptom is intense pain in the middle or lower back that makes it very difficult or impossible to continue doing what you're doing. This pain may be similar to what you might get from breaking another bone in your body (like, for instance, an arm bone), only localized in the back. Faking this sort of pain can be a challenge. When the "injury" occurs, you'll want to cry out in pain, fall to the ground, and immediately start wincing or writhing in intense pain. If you can cry on command, this is a good time to use your skill. Like most broken bones, spinal fractures lead to persistent pain that lasts long after the initial injury. This pain is especially bad when doing anything that puts even minor stress on the back. This includes:  Standing Walking Getting up or sitting down Bending Twisting One of the worst things about spinal fractures is that even lying in bed does not reduce the pain completely. Since it is impossible to lay horizontal without putting a little stress on some part of the back, even bed rest will be painful, though not as much as standing or moving around. Typically, for real fractures, this is mitigated with pain medication and narcotics. Because a spinal fracture results in actual physical damage to the bone structure of the back, it can cause noticeable changes in a person's stance and posture (though this was more common in the past when treatments for this type of injury were limited.) You may want to imitate this sort of damage as part of your act. Specifically, spinal fractures can cause:  A "hunchback" appearance A decrease in height The inability to stand straight up When a spinal fracture occurs, the bone from the broken vertebra can press against the nerves of the spinal cord (though this does not always happen.) When this occurs, symptoms that are very similar to those from a pinched nerve caused by a herniated disc can occur. These include:  Shooting pains in one or more limbs A numb, tingling sensation like the limb has fallen asleep Weakness and stiffness in the affected limbs In severe cases, a loss of bladder/bowel control Spinal fractures are usually caused by sudden, violent injuries. It can be difficult to seriously fake these sorts of injuries — for instance, convincing your friends that you've just been in a car crash will require lots of work. However, knowing the sorts of injuries that can cause spinal fractures can still be helpful if you're pretending that you had one long ago. Examples of injuries that can cause spinal fractures include:  Serious car crashes Long falls Gunshots Violent sports injuries (tackles, etc.) Combat injuries Note that all of the examples above will usually also give you other injuries like broken bones, scars, lacerations, and so on. If you are aiming for authenticity, be aware of this. A spinal fracture is not something that can be treated in the home with a few over-the-counter pills. Spinal fractures require immediate medical attention to assess the damage done, administer drugs, and start addressing treating serious problems like nerve damage and so on. Don't seek actual treatment for your fake spinal fracture. As mentioned above, this is a blatant misuse of medical resources that can have major consequences. However, if you're pretending that you've already been dismissed from the hospital, you may want to do the following:  Wear a back brace or a spinal cast Stay off of your feet Wear compression stockings (special socks designed to keep blood clots from forming in the legs for people who are bedridden) Imitate the nerve damage symptoms indicated above Take small doses of over-the-counter medications for pain and inflammation. Don't take actual medical-grade painkillers, as these can have serious side effects if misused.

Summary: Pretend to have severe, debilitating pain in your back. Act like the pain "flares up" when standing or moving. Keep faking moderate-level pain while lying down. Keep your back curved or hunched. Optionally, fake nerve damage. Have a good story ready. Pretend to be undergoing treatment.


Instead, mix ingredients in a bowl and put in the freezer. Fill glass half full with slush and fill rest of way with 7-Up (fizzy lemonade).

Summary: Pour mixed ingredients into an ice cream maker. Stir occasionally until slushed. Skip step one if you don't have an ice cream maker. Serve.


To give the brisket a delicious smoky flavor, you need to barbecue it with wood chips. Take 6 cups of hickory or mesquite chips, and soak them for an hour in enough cold water to cover the wood. When the hour is up, drain the water from the chips so they’re ready for the grill. If you’re using wood chunks in your grill, it isn’t necessary to soak them beforehand. In fact, soaking wood chunks can actually make it take longer to get them burning. When you’re ready to start your grill, place your charcoal in a chimney starter. Use an electric starter or lighter fluid to ignite the coal and allow the pieces to burn until they are red. Once the charcoal pieces are hot and red, add them to the bottom of the grill. However, make sure to create two piles, one on each side of the grill with the center area free of coal. Some grills have special baskets that are designed for holding the charcoal in piles on either side of the grill. If your model has them, you can place the coals in the baskets. Fat may cook off the brisket as you barbecue it, and you don’t want it to reach the charcoal. To catch any fat or other debris that may fall off the meat, place a drip pan between the two piles of coal in the center of the grill. An inexpensive foil pan works well as a drip pan for your grill. When the charcoal and drip pan are in place, toss ¾-cup (177 g) of the wood chips on each of the piles of coal, for a total of 1 ½ cups (354 g). Next, place the grate over the charcoal and wood chips to prepare for barbecuing.

Summary: Soak your wood chips. Light the charcoal in a chimney starter. Place the hot coals on either side of the grill. Set up a drip pan between the piles of coals. Add the wood chips and insert the grate.


The doctor will likely order these tests first to make sure you don't have a stomach blockage. A stomach blockage can cause symptoms that are similar to gastroparesis.  For an endoscopy, your doctor will use a tiny camera on a flexible tube. You'll first be given a sedative and likely a throat-numbing spray. The tube will be threaded down the back of your throat and into your esophagus and upper digestive tract. The camera will help your doctor see what's going on more directly than they can with an X-ray.  You may also receive a similar test called an esophageal manometry test to measure stomach contractions. In this case, the tube will be inserted through your nose and left in for 15 minutes. If the doctor doesn't see a blockage in the other tests, they'll likely order this study. This test is a bit more interesting. You'll eat something (such as a an egg sandwich) that has a low dose of radiation. Then the doctor will look at how long it takes you to digest it by using an imaging machine. Typically, you'll get a diagnosis of gastroparesis if half the food is still in your stomach after an hour to an hour and a half. An ultrasound will help the doctor detect if some other issue is causing your symptoms. Particularly, they will look at how well your kidneys and gallbladder are functioning with this test. If the doctor is having a hard time explaining your symptoms, you'll likely have this test done. Basically, it's a way of listening to your stomach for an hour. They'll put electrodes on the outside of your belly. You must have an empty stomach for this test.
Summary: Be ready for an endoscopy or X-rays. Expect a gastric emptying study. Ask about an ultrasound. Be ready for an electrogastrogram.