Broken Back?

[LeMagnifique66 0]

I know I'm new here, but I mentioned in a thread a few days ago about having taken a nasty spill directly onto my tailbone from an accidental tripping a few weeks back. I knew I was hurt right away, but actually brushed it off at first as I could still move etc. (Figured I was just going to have a bad bruise or something. I mean, it couldn't be anything worse than that, right?) Well, the pain finally got to the point that I could barely sit down. So, I bit the bullet and headed to the doctor to be checked out this week. I honestly figured that the doc would poke and prod a little and send me home with some pain pills and instructions to lay low for a couple weeks. But, what actually went down was kinda scary. He said the areas specifically giving me the most problems are the sacroiliac joints which are in the pelvis itself on either side of the tailbone/coccyx. He said it sounds like I might have microfractures there. While I haven't gotten official feedback from the x-rays and bone scan yet, he is treating it as if this is what is wrong already. The good news is that I can walk (no spinal cord involvement, obviously). The bad news is that there's really nothing they can do for it other than let it heal. I'm told that will be a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks, but possibly many more for the pain to subside. Vicodin is only taking the edge off at this point. In the meantime, I've read a bit about this stuff and it sounds like recovery from this runs the gamut from full to having problems for life. So, my question is...

Anyone here ever broken their back playing hockey (or doing anything else, I suppose) and if so did you make a full recovery?

[dangle 0]

Ouch, well at least you went to your doctor and didn't post here asking for medical help.

I don't have any experience with what your describing, but best of luck to you.

[Anjin-san 29]

Out of curiosity, what kind of pants do you wear while playing?

[LeMagnifique66 0]

I was in 11K pants at the time.

Built like a tank up front, less than stellar protection in back.

[Katzenjammer 1]

How old are you? How good shape are you in? If I were you, I'd look into optimizing your hormones & keep moving as much as the pain allows.

[LeMagnifique66 0]

34. Decent shape - not overweight.

I do have an underlying arthritic condition though.

[Katzenjammer 1]

34. Decent shape - not overweight.

I do have an underlying arthritic condition though.

Personally, if I were you, I'd:

1. do a lot of movement - keep yourself in decent shape. Plus movement will help keep your joints lubricated and help healing generally. Obiously don't do anything that causes pain.
   
2. try to reduce the factors that inflame your (incipient?) arthritis. That probably means an anti-inflammatory diet - which will help to control the inflammation in your joints as well as aid in healing; I'd also use fish oil; and add in stuff like this, which my father (with major arthritis) swears by: http://www.celadrin.com/index.html
   
3. I would also optimize your hormones under the care of a good hormone specialist; this last one might be difficult if time/$ are short; but it's well worth it for your recovery. Optimal recover requires optimal hormones.
   

[shoeshine boy 242]

I've never had a broken back but I did have a broken tailbone some years ago. let me tell you, that REALLY hurts and there is nothing you can do except let it heal. I was able to go to a medical supply store and buy a special cushion that made sitting bearable. I took that thing with me everywhere for almost a year. I was able to play the whole time, I just had to be careful about how I went over the boards and do everything I could not to fall on it. for awhile even a 30 minute drive home from work was so painful that I'd practically be in tears by the time I got home. it was a good 18 months before I considered myself pain free. good luck!

[LeMagnifique66 0]

Thanks, folks. Yeah, I guess it would technically be considered a broken pelvis with tailbone involvement (?). No matter how you slice it, it's just all messed up. LOL

For now, I can barely stand without pain. Just lifting one leg or the other (to walk) sends the other side into pain. I sneezed earlier and just about wished I were dead. So, I think I'll hold off on running marathons and such for a bit.

I've never even heard of hormone optimization. So, I'll have to look into it. The arthritis is not in its infancy and conventional medicine isn't always all that it's cracked up to be. So, I've looked into alternative medicine before.

[milezone 0]

I trapped my sciatic nerve about 4 years ago when I was 19. I was in great shape. Gym 6 days a week playing hockey 4-5 times a week. Did my nerve and couldn't walk for a bit and lost some feeling in my toes.

I ended up needing an operation after about 16 months being off work I had an L4 discectomy on my lower back. I put on 24 KG's from 70KG's. I started playing Inline and Ice hockey again about 8 months ago. so a 3 year gap where I played no sport and couldn't do much.

If you are only experiencing pain in your actual back ie muscles I would not worry and just keep active. If you get the slightest inkling of any sharp pains in your lower legs or for arms go to the hospital and get on to a spine specialist immediately.

See thing with back injuries most people assume if the pain is in leg or arm it is that type of injury with your back it ins't. Your spinal canal goes through your entire body and effects everything. Also make sure you don't gain any weight as it gets super hard to lose it. I am slowly losing it with getting back in to hockey but had literally no motivation for about 2.5 years...

One thing my back injury has taught me life is too short. I'm 23 now and probably will have back problems for the rest of my life but It is how you look at it if you are positive about it you will get past it.

Good luck and if you want any advice hit me up in an IM.

[ctbatis 0]

Hey all. First post here.

I'm 34 and just started playing this past June.

In my early 20's I worked at a bar and wrenched my back lifting a beer keg. Never went and got it looked at, just kinda let it heal itself. Hadn't had any problems until back in december our group rented the ice and I lost an edge and went into the boards knee first. HARD. Didn't feel it at the time but the next morning (and two days after) I had to crawl around on my knees to get anywhere. Didn't go to doc or hospital but started seeing my wife's chiro twice a week. A neuro test (painful, btw) luckily reavealed it to just be an extremely swollen L5 disc. Apparently when I messed it up years ago it tweaked the alignment and when I hit the boards it just aggravated it even more.

Been doing decompression and adjustments for a little over a month now and am very happy to report that I hit up a public skate today and it felt pretty good. Still a little nerve pain and my right leg has gotten a bit weaker from staying off it so much, but I was stoked just being able to skate again. Chiro keeps saying I'll fully recover, but once you mess up your back it never completely goes back to normal.

Best of luck on your recovery.

[DigDug 5]

optimize your hormones

Is that what they call taking some Test these days? :)

LeMagnifique66, best of luck on the recovery man. I am no expert, but I think you should get some good rest.

[Katzenjammer 1]

Is that what they call taking some Test these days? :)

LeMagnifique66, best of luck on the recovery man. I am no expert, but I think you should get some good rest.

Only if you need it

But seriously: test, dhea, pregnenolone, & HGH.

[DigDug 5]

DHEA and Pregnenolone are OTC. I like how Katzenjammer throws those to legitimize that Testosterone and Growth Hormone he's peddling. Ahh, I'm just kidding. HGH really, really speeds up recovery, but is expensive and you'll have to find a doctor willing to prescribe off-label for this use (read: not many).