Thoracic back pain after accident

leadshoes

I had a bike accident three months ago dislocating my wrist, breaking my arm and also my scapula. My back was checked and was fine at the time but since then I've been getting increasingly bad muscular back pain. Initially I thought it was posture but this has improved as I've slowly healed and yet the back pain gets worse. I've been off my bike for that period of time and have led quite a sedentary lifestyle, other than an hour on the turbo a night, and I'm wondering if my back muscles are tightening up through lack of use bouncing around over pot holes on the road. I do loads of stretching, yoga and foam rolling which helps a little but it's not showing much signs of going away. Anyone else experienced anything similar? I'm going to try the tennis ball next, failing that a golf ball!

joe2008

Stretching, yoga, foam rolling etc all have their place in recovery, but all could also aggravate more than help.

Personally, I'd see a specialist, and get some proper advice on what to do, and what not to do.

bigmitch41

Agree with Joe, make an appointment with the Doc just in case.

spinndrift

Don't forget much of your shoulder muscles are part of that region of the back - a lot of people tell me they have back pain and point to that area which is really the shoulder.

Were the wrist, arm and shoulder injuries all on the same side?

If so think how much the way your body was used during the healing process affected your normal muscle usage - you'll will have had a lot of muscle wastage and stiffness - have you had any physio to address this?

I would recommend visiting your GP and even if they send you to physio it may be worth finding a remedial massage therapist. A good therapist would examine you and check your range of movements and assess if it is a joint or muscular issue and they would then use a mixture of massage, mobilisations and tractions to get things loosened up and working again.

These mobilisations stretch the muscles in ways that are difficult to do yourself.

All the best.

diy

I agree with spinndrift, the insertion points in the traps can often make pain feel like its coming from the wrong place. The best stretch remedies for those often require a second person, do give you resistance.