UKC

Hi everybody! I had a bad accidend two months ago. I had 23 ft groundfall and hit as seated position. Sustained L1 compression fracture. The neurosurgeon gave me brace and bed rest for 2-3 months thankfully no pin metal work etc but he didn talk cleat about my sport life after recovery. Now a little bit cruious about i know maybe i can back to Mountains again but will i be able to play football ? ?am really down hopeless.

Is there anyone that experienced similliar injury and get back to such high active sports like football.,running etc?

Any comment is appreciated. 

? will update progresively. God protect anyone from this accidents. Thats scary. 

In reply to etkiisback:

Obviously you should take advice from a specialist but...

At the age of 14 my son compressed two vertebrae in a skiing accident. The French resort clinic sent him down to Moutiers where he stayed in an orthopedic clinic for five days, flat on his back and feeling very guilty, until they made him a brace and allowed us to take him home. During the five days, admin staff from the clinic came to see him every day and every time they said: "Don't be in a hurry to leave!" knowing we were fully insured. 

When we got home we took our son straight to an orthopedic consultant. Both he and my cycling buddy, himself a physician, said on seeing the X rays: " Um... here in England he would have been sent home with paracetamol and told to take it easy for a few weeks!"

My son had no side-effects and he now leads a completely normal life, fit, active and sporty. Bones are reactive and they adapt to stresses by changing shape and size. 

Obviously it's better to err on the side of caution and take professional advice but I have a strong degree of cynicism when commercial interests become involved in treatment.

 

In reply to etkiisback:

I know lots of folk who have had crushed vertebrae in climbing accidents. Everyone who did not end up in a wheelchair has got resumed  climbing, usually eventually back  to  the same standard.

Regarding medical opinions, Neil Foster on here once pointed out that " there is a glorious tradition amonst climbers to confound medical predictions of recovery."  It may of course be a deliberate bluff to make you try harder. Follow the advice, do the physio, and take it one step at a time back onto the rock.

In reply to Rigid Raider:

Thanks for the comment. I am happy about your son. Now he is inspiring. Definetly such in this situations should be consulted to  different specialists just unfortunately i live in a place like rural the next hospital little far but i am going to go. Till then i wanted to take hopeful informations cause i am really depressed as since never before. I can walk about hundred meters pain free but not properly however i rejoice this too. Thank you very much again. Good bye! 

In reply to etkiisback:

My lovely other half managed a burst fracture of C7 and a wedge fracture of L6 I think along with a concussion and (I can’t spell it) big bruise on her lungs and sore elbow.  She’s right as rain now and does everything.

Broke my leg and same thing, exploded bones, pins, screws, very messy, all fine now.

If a positive recovery is possible the one thing you must do is make it happen by ruthlessly and religiously doing all your physio even if you don’t feel you really need it.  Make sure you get as much functionality and mobility back as you can.

Good luck, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience (bar a few moments) just treat it as another challenge.

cheers

toby

 

In reply to Rick Graham:

Thanks for your encouraging words. I am aware that climbers are so brave and this take them glorious points. I was brave but also idiot  now feel bad. You must be right maybe its just bluff make me try harder.  I saw my self in bed lying down weird position and a lot of people sitting arround me in my dream in the morning of the day accident happened. I have considered this just in seconds before accident but the die is cast. God warned me or opened my mind. Beause if you want the ultimate you have got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. The price made of brave, patience.

Thank you  very much. Good luck. 

In reply to Toby_W:

Thanks for the positive feedback. I was illuminated very well by this accident. I realised many mistakes i have done before and how important to be healty. ? realised money sucks dijital world sucks,  humanity is the only pure energy. Now as you told i am going to try ruthlessly.

Thank you. Good bye

In reply to etkiisback:

I suffered a moderate crush of T8 five years ago, going over my handlebars.  I tried to climb after 8 wks, just VDiffs, but it certainly wasn't pain free.   However, some physio worked wonders - your physio will want to see the hospital sign you off before they will touch you.

I got back to climbing at 6b after 4 months but i think the effect on the back muscles took a year to dissipate.

I took up yoga and that really helped to loosen everthing up - i was getting occasional back spasms for the first year.

Five years on, i am climbing better than ever.  Don't despair, just accept that its going to take a bit of time to heal.

In reply to Dave Cundy:

Thanks for reply. I am out of social life for two months now yes i accept that it will take much time to heal. I will try hard and get better. Your encouraging replies work. I appreciated. Vaya con dios. 

In reply to etkiisback:

I cratered off the very top of something easy at World's End some years ago, fractures through L3-5 vertebral bodies. No neurological damage so up and about straight away (which really hurt but was the best way forward for me). Had an arse like the a Celebes Crested Macaque on heat for some weeks.

I'm still rubbish but it's not my back that causes that. I can run (slowly), telemark ski (badly), stagger around mountain marathons and carry huge packs very slowly for days in NZ. There shouldn't be any instability at this stage, you "just" need to get going - gently but surely. I can't be sure as I don't know what degree of compression fracture you had and how it relates to the spinal cord  (L3-5 is below the end of the spinal cord which lies at about L1-2, so you might have had a more complex injury) but management of back injuries these days is very much about early rehab and mobilising as soon as there is stability.

Over time you can do more and it hurts less, over months to years it will be back to roughly where it was before, and eventually you will forget all about it (although psychologically I found any falling, even on a top rope at the wall, pretty unpleasant for some years). 

Good luck!

b

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In reply to ben b:

Thanks for the reply. My L1 compression  fracture is %20 and thankfully no nerve damage an spinal cord. But i am weak now. Just short walks (about 100 meters) short sits (max 20 minuthes) then bed rest all the day for two months. I dont want this to limit me in the future i hope so someday i will forget about it. Thanks again Good luck to you too

In reply to etkiisback:

You will be fine.

My L3 was 50%. Top trumps

In reply to Rick Graham:

Thanks Rick. Hopefully i will be fine and climbing harder again. 

In reply to etkiisback:

I hit the deck and broke my L4 in 2013. I had fusion from L2-Th12. I was worried how things would be future, but talked with friends that had also broken necks and backs and everyone said to stay active, build up slowly and everything will be ok. Climbing feels good, but I do have a fear of falling these days. I can't snowboard like I did before, but I'm 40 anyway, I have to accept I'm getting older!. I do a lot of gardening and tree work, and my back feels great. Most of the time I forget I've ever broken it. Be kind to your body, eat well, and you'll be be back climbing.

In reply to Andy Lagan:

Thank you very much for sharing it Andy. Good to hear you are active and even you are snowboarding in 40. Good for you. Yes i am also afraid of falling now but i remember it was my own idiot mistake. Thanks again Good luck

In reply to etkiisback:

I have 3 friends who have had stable compression fractures around L1-3.  As others have said each one is different,  but they all are back to living pretty normal lives,  some were more active than others.  Its not an overnight thing though and I'd recommend finding a good physio when the time is right,  routinely do the exercises given,  and keep your weight down so you're not carrying too much.

Good luck....

 

 

In reply to etkiisback:

I fractured L3 and a thoracic in a fall in 2015, along with other injuries. 4 weeks on my back in hospital then outpatient x-rays & physio. Happened in July and I was on OK for easy winter climbs in March. The lumbar area felt a bit unstable if I stubbed my toe on a path, and that prob took 12 months to feel normal(ish) again.

My hip hasn't been great so I can't run distances, I would have been too nervous to try any high impact or contact sport during early recovery. Physio recommended swimming then I did easy hillwalking and cycling, try to be patient (not easy!) and find some safe activities you enjoy. Good luck!

In reply to etkiisback:

I'm not a neurosurgeon, but... there is variation between neurosurgeons around the world. Round here (NZ) then I haven't really seen 2-3 months of bed rest as management of an uncomplicated L1 fracture. Bracing and stabilisation yes, but not wasting away in a bed physically and emotionally. Most bone repair occurs within 6-8 weeks, and compression fractures are inherently more stable than full thickness ones or burst fractures that might affect the cord. Generally we'd be looking at active rehab and physiotherapy and preventing your muscles from melting away. I think a trip to see your doctor and working out a plan for how to do this sounds like the way forward. And remember only you (with the support of others) can make this work when you get to the rehab phase - no one else can do the hard yards for you. I think outdoor folk generally are better at this as no-one else does the ascent for us either

good luck'

(dr) b 

In reply to GrantM:

Thanks for sharing your story. You must have shown great patience as staying on your back 4 weeks in hospital. They kept me just on day and sent home. Yes its feels weird when toe is loaded. Good to hear your recovery. I am glad. 

In reply to ben b:

Thanks for the reply. I am considering your advice and you must be %99 right. I feel the same in this way. So i will be looking for some physio and handle the situation. So you tell me such in cases, 8 weeks of bed rest is mostly sufficient. I ve just left behind 8 weeks so i can increase walking frame day by day. Of course no force impact rush. ? will feel and pay attention. Thank you for your time.it really helped. 

In reply to etkiisback:

Well, I'm not your doctor - I think that discussion needs to be had with them, rather than a well-meaning stranger on the internet!

But the 1 day in hospital then 3 months of bed rest seems rather old-fashioned and odd to me, albeit from the other side of the world.

b

In reply to etkiisback:

One of the better things about the British health service is that it is well organised for disseminating the latest ideas and techniques amongst consultants. I'm sure there is a strong efficiency imperative attached to this but on the whole I think our doctors take a modern pragmatic approach to treatment without the commercial influence we experienced at a private French clinic, see my post up-thread about my son's treatment. 

My cycling buddy is a consultant physician and my BIL a recently retired hospital GM and I'm always impressed by their interest in understanding and using the latest, most efficient treatments as far as resources allow.

In reply to etkiisback:
I've had the skill to break my back twice (both times fracturing 3 lumbar vertebrae). I had surgery three years ago and am climbing harder than ever sport climbing. I'm careful with outdoor bouldering and don't push my limit too much on trad. A big part of my recovery (in my opinion) was doing lots of work on my core muscles. It improves posture, supports your back and helps with climbing. 

Also, I've found that I've gone back to falling bouldering indoors normally. I'm careful to downclimb when I can and to fall properly taking the force away from my spine through bending my legs and rolling.

I'm pretty much back to normal, just a few aches on long (4 hour+) car journeys.

Hope your recovery goes well.
Danny

In reply to mop449:

Thanks for sharing your story. You broke twice and you keep on climbing huh. Thats very encouraging. I hope you never broke third times, anything at all. Good luck. 

In reply to etkiisback:

Sorry to hear about your injury. A lot of people can go on to have normal activity but as others have said it depends on the extent of the injury. Most successful recoveries require a lot of physical therapy and work strengthening the supporting muscles. Just my 2 c

In reply to jencamp:

Thank you very much. Yes there are a lot of people with positive outcomes and this is big hope for me. My fall 23 feet was very bad and I'm still in a little bit shock and nervous about permanent insufficiency. Extent of the injury is about %20-30 loss height in L1 and the shape of the vertebrae will always stay asimetric trapezoid. As much as i know,  according to the official regulations for the  disability rates  of lumbar vertebrae fractures, in one vertebrae %20-30 collapse is equal %10 disability in person. I dont know how little restruction it causes but even so scary. 

In reply to etkiisback:

I crushed my L1&2 20 tears ago falling out of a tree pissed  

it took a year in a corset but I was back walking and climbing fine. I’ve had a bit of related hassle with burst  discs since  but nothing too bad

you’ll be fine youth

 

In reply to blurty:

Thanks for the reply. ? am glad you back to climbing. Good luck. 

In reply to etkiisback:

Back in 1978 I fractured L3 or L4 (can't remember which now). Also had hair line fracture of skull and broken nose. I spent 5 weeks lying flat on my back in the hospital at Fort William. I did various exercises to try and keep my leg muscles in shape. On the second day out of bed I managed to stagger as far as the pub. It took me about a year to get back to full fitness, but apart from being careful when lifting heavy objects and the odd ache my back is OK.

I lost the knee jerk reflex in my right leg and can't feel pain on the inside of my right calf muscle, but luckily no other neurological damage.

Back in those enlightened days the consultant prescribed me two bottles of Guinness a day. Can't imagine that happening now!

In reply to wilkesley:

Thank you for sharing your story. You deserve two bottles of guinnes a day. Good luck !