Was the kid paralysed?
Nope.
I just had to Google (for spellchecking) another body part that he had pierced and got a mild shock (though at least I spelled it right) -- I thought it was the little cupid's-bow at the upper lip, but it turned out to be at the other end of the body. For future reference, frenulum!=philtrum.
Where on earth does one pierce one's back? On purpose?
The only back piercing I can think of (whitefonted for the squeamish) is
people who run two rows of piercings down the middle of their back so they can run ribbon through it like the lacings on a corset. It's usually only done for photos and kink play parties, because those sorts of piercings don't last. There's not enough fleshy tissue, so they won't stay.
Other than that, I don't know.
Oh, I love those belts, and I bet they would look good on me if I could find the right skirts.
Why would a person pierce his back (particularly as many times as that young man in ita's linked picture)?
I saw a woman on Doctor 90210 last night hanging suspended by from rings in her back.
Okay, now I've read Jilli's answer. Sorry for the xposty question.
The only back piercing I can think of (whitefonted for the squeamish) is
I actually think those look really cool. (And if they're temporary, well that answers my question about how one learns to sleep with them.)
Why would a person pierce his back
Why would a person pierce an ear or an eyebrow or a tongue?
Miami Vice continues with the really cool casting. Liam Neeson just bought it in the last ep I watched--they've also had a really young John Leguizamo, Lee Iacocca, Bianca Jagger...just tons of people.