Anybody else broken their back

ravenvrider

Broke my back (big bike crash) T6 & T7, 5 weeks ago and wondered if anybody else has done similar, really interested in anybody's experience with recovery times, also wondered how long before i can ride again.

Seeing my consultant in 2 weeks so will get some idea then but i guess i am getting a bit concerned by how much it still hurts after 5 weeks as well as how pathetically weak it feels that the recovery is going to be a lot longer than i guess i was hoping.

Just for clarification i never lost any feeling in anything so have not required any operations to fix it in place, i have to use a spinal brace 24/7....but still on morphine!

diamonddog

Hope you have a speedy recovery, well as fast as it takes.

fossyant

I think NapD did in a race crash.

napoleond

Yeah did mine (and my collar bone) 30 months ago. If it's stable, you look after it and do the right physio you'll be back riding with no really serious issues.

I still get a fair bit of discomfort now and it's taking a while to get my strength back.

Started off barely able to do squats with the Olympic bar but doing 110kg now and dead lifts at 140.

Think positive mate.

ravenvrider

Thanks NapD, I'll be honest your reply was probably not what i wanted to hear re still getting discomfort at 30 months, are you still on morphine or something weaker now.

I am a carpenter so my job is reasonably physical, i was hoping to start some form of phased return in a few weeks but your reply has got me nervous about that hope...the cycling is secondary but also connected as i ride to work so i am guessing you did not get back on the bike for some time.

Pretty hard to be positive at the mo...bored stiff after only 5 weeks.

napoleond

I have a rather physical job too, I'm fine with it although the body armour can agitate the bolts in my shoulder. I don't take any painkillers at all.

Edit: I was back riding after about 8 weeks, started on the turbo. I don't think it's affecting my riding now at all.

onlyahill

I fractured T6 &7 in a climbing accident. Doesn't sound as bad as yours as I wasn't on morphine. These things take time to heal and best not to push it too quickly. I was sliding out if bed in relative discomfort for 6-8 mths and felt a general discomfort for well over a year. Saying that I got back climbing after about 4mths and was back on form after about 8. Let your body heal, listen to what it says and you'll know when the time is right

Take it easy and enjoy the recovery (and morphine...)

chriscarney

Yep, crushed a couple of vertebrae 9 years ago.

For 6 weeks I was in a bad place but slowly things got better. I was back kick-boxing after 9 months.

To be honest it was a year before I was fully recovered and even now things aren't 100% perfect, but I'm walking running and riding so life is good :-)

ravenvrider

Thanks guys, gotta admit i have been getting pretty frustrated, irritated and if im honest depressed at how little improvement i have had in the 6 weeks (this Sunday)...but then i am not the sort of person that likes to go slow at anything and i guess it is hard for me to accept that this will take a lot longer than i initially thought.

Will see my spinal consultant in a weeks time so hopefully will have a much clearer idea whats going on.

Out of curiosity Onlyahill did you have a lot of discomfort/pain from your lower ribs that i assume are attached to those vertebra, 2 ribs feel constantly very tender started about 2 weeks after the crash for the past 4 weeks and and not changed at all.

onlyahill

Hi there, don't recall any rib pain in particular, I was in a lot of discomfort from bad bruising on the base of my spine which could have masked it I guess. I appreciate your frustrations but it really is a matter of time and allow the body to heal. Put a positive spin on it and enjoy the break (pardon the pun), get the reading list out and start planning for your return to fitness. I tried to return to activity too early and gave myself more pain. The dr was unsympathetic and invited to behave like somone who had broken their back... It was good advice

All the best and hope it goes well