Groundfall L1 compression fracture

Hey, just to add another anecdote (I didn't get the sense you're asking for medical advice, so much as looking for someone to say 'yea, this happened to me, it was all ok'). I had compression fractures at T12 and L1 and L2 at age 31, doctors in Russia wanted to operate and fuse them, I was sent back to the US and they decided to do nothing but bed rest and then slowly work into PT. After a year or so I was pretty much back to normal, full range of motion, climbing and skiing and Olympic weightlifting with no pain or problems.

Of course, do what the doctors say, but definitely don't think it means you're definitely screwed! Good luck man!

edit: sorry, 37 now, fwiw

Thanks for sharing your story Healyje! 

Thanks Ethan! Yes definetly I dont expect to get medical advice, just to hear what kind of movement restrictions occur such in this cases because montaineering and climbing are my life. I used to carry 15-20 kg backpack and climb. I m glad you are ok in all you love.

And update : its been 3 months post accident. I am walking fine without the brace. My neuro surgeon said that i dont need PT but i will go find one. My home is close to the beach so i can start swimming too. Good luck everone. 

JSH wrote: How are you doing, Etki?

Thanks JHS I m fine. I back to my daily life with little restrictions. No more x ray doc just said be careful and swim. I am looking for a physio in terms of flexiblity. I plan to spend whole summer by swimming. Have a nice day. 

Yea good idea on the swimming, too. I think for about six or eight months once I was well enough to move I swam instead of running or weightlifting, it helped me a lot mentally to stay active and also I imagine made it easier to come back to climbing that it wild otherwise have been.

Again, best wishes man!

Thank you very much Ethan. 

Etki:
I’m not sure what your age, 29, had to do with your not getting surgery. Ten years ago, in a fall in a gym I sustained compression fractures of T7, T8, T11 and C7. This was at age 77. My orthopedist was definitely against surgery. He knows me well enough that he said I didn’t need PT but could do appropriate resistance exercises and endurance exercises on my own. (I wanted PT if just for the encouragement if nothing else.)  It took about 3 months for persistent pain to go away. At 6 months post-accident I started climbing again. I waited until I was sturdy enough to do 6 somersaults and strong enough to do 12 chin-ups.

I lost 2.5” of height. My backbone is knobby and hurts if I sit upright in a chair with stiff chair and sometimes in a tight chimney. However, what reminds the most of having been injured is that every now and then I’ll wonder why my wife looks so tall. I’ve had very little pain starting about 3 months after the accident.
I’ve just returned from a fine climbing trip to the Needles of South Dakota, so I guess you could say I’ve recovered. Best wishes to you on getting better.

Rob.calm

Years ago, I broke my C7.  I spent the better part of three months on the couch.

My muscles went to jelly.  I nearly broke my nose attempting my first push up.  

The doctors didn’t  pay much attention  because neurologists and neurosurgeons get paid to do things not to watch a patient heal.

Keep going to the doc until you are prescribed a course of physical therapy    Go to physical therapy until you are as strong as before the accident.

Also remember, forces strong enough to break a vertebra are strong enough to dislocate other bones.  If you have other pain get it checked out by docs who don’t say it’s just a symptom of the primary injury.  My breastplate and collarbones were displaced and undiagnosed for years.

Fix and therapy everything you can now so you aren’t looking for clues years later. 

Good luck. 

Thank you for sharing this Mr. Calm. This is an  inspiring story. Its nice to know you sir. I consider your age and not words just respect. Thank you very much for  your time. 

Thanks for the reply Live Perched. Thankfully I don't have any other pain. However falling from 23 feet directly to the ground and break only one vertebra is a small miracle. 

Etki Tarrega wrote: Hi everybody ! I had a bad groundfall 8 weeks ago. I fell down approximately 20-24 feet and hit the ground as seated position. Sustained L1 compression fracture %20. Neurosurgeon first wanted to operate but because of my age (29) no surgery  he gave me brace and bed rest for 2-3 moths. Thankfully there are no nerve or spinal cord damage only exhausted lumbar area.

Its now two months ı have bern lying down 22 hours  a day. I walk short distances about 100meters  four _five times daily. İ dont have intense back pain if i dont force. I am a little bit depressed because doctor didnt talk clear about my sport life after recovery. I am very active person. I have some hope that i can back to Mountains again after the proper phsiyo but i wonder will i be able to run  full strength again.

Is there anyone who experienced similliar injury and back to such an active sports like running football bodybuilding etc.

Any advice - comment appreciated will be helpfull.

Erik, 

I had a similar landing and injury (L2) 19 years ago at about your age. I had fusion of T12 to L3 done on emergency basis because my spine was deformed and a piece of bone shifted into the spinal canal. Since healing, which took more then a year, i’ve managed to ski and snowboard, bike, wakeboard, hike, run races. I  started climbing 3 years ago. The only thing I don’t do any more is play tennis or walk on the beach or other consistently slanted surfaces because it hurts my hip. You should be able to return back to normal as long as you are appropriately treated and rehabbed. Perhaps you can seek a second opinion?

Thanks Normajean. I am on the progress of PT now but havent begin yet because the hospital is far to the small town where I live in and car Journey is discomfortable right now. But luckily the beach is close so I can swim whenever I want. I am happy about your recovery. Thanks again. 

Good morning from FL.

I was over helping my parents, my Dad cook Thanksgiving dinner and helping my daughter decorate her bathroom. She stays there to help. My Dad is in early stages of Alzheimer’s and my Mom is in a wheelchair. Anyhow, I digress. I went to take her trash can out to empty it and took a slide and landed hard on tile front porch. I have a compound fracture on my L1. I guess the start of  a little degenerative issues with the Lumbar area. Needless to say, they wanted me to have kyoplasty done. I went home 8 hours later that night after I was stabilized. No one was aloud in and I was on heavy pain meds. I just couldn’t make any decision like that. I’m 52. Healthy. Jogger/runner/Walker 3-5 miles a day.  Started to feel better it’s been a few days. I am on pain meds and I have tylonal to. Now I’m scared to have surgery. My primary says no and the ER doctor says at least get an evaluation with intervention radiology. I need to get back to normal. A lot of things and people depend on me.  Not sure what to do. Feeling a bit overwhelmed. Thoughts? 

I recommend seeking informed medical opinion from a specialist you can trust.