L1,T11&T12 fx's Will I ever NOT have this pain?

Specialties Orthopaedic

Published

Sorry, I don't want to sound like a whiney baby but, here goes...

I need some advice...

I was rear ended about 3 years ago by a drunk driver who just didn't think about applying the brakes?

Anyways to make a long story longer, I had 3 compression fractured vertebra, T11, 12 and L1. Two they said looked "old"? (cant remember ever breaking my back in the past though?)

I think there was something wrong with my left hip too because I couldn't hardly cross that leg and still have pain in it if I do too much walking but they said the "1" xray that was done did not show anything there.

Okay so the ortho doc said I'd be just like normal in about 6 months...

He did repeat xrays that showed normal healing.

Okay so here's where I need advice or? I just realized that it's been now 3 years since the accident and my back still hurts! It's like a chronic pain... I try stretching forward, backwards, twisting, bending, tylenol and motrin!

I was going to make a repeat visit to the doc but... my insurance really sucks!

Maybe a chiropractor would help? Maybe if I just have one of the big guys at work grab me from behind, lift and jerk that would help?

What do you guys think? Am I doing something wrong or should I be doing something else? Anyone else have this happen?

Any replies would be appreciated!

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I'm not an ortho nurse but darlin' you need to be seen and evaluated...I really think you need to be worked up by an ortho or neuro. You need an MRI and possibly a myelogram, the hip stuff you are discribing makes me think a disk problem at L4-5 or L5-S1 which would not have shown up on tie '1' x-ray. I know chiropractors can be a very good thing, I don't want to sound like I am down on them at all BUT I think when it comes to a situation like you are discribing you need the type of diagnostics they can't provide.

I tend to get kind of freaked out over backs...I had a little bitty herniation at L5-S1 from bending over to open a narc drawer, thought it wasn't that big of a deal...I do occasionally talk about it here but rarely go into detail but lets just say that the end result for me has been 5 back surgeries, severe stenosis from T10 to S1, 1/3 of my life in a wheel chair and monthly appts at a pain management clinic (I am very grateful I am not incont. and I can work).

See a doctor please.

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Ohhhh.... poor Guiseppe---

I also have chronic back pain. And no, you're not a whiney-butt .... back pain is nerve pain and it's the worst!

((((feel better soon!))))

Suggestions:

Relax the Back: products/furniture for back pain relief:

http://www.relaxtheback.com

American Academy of Ortho Surgeons back exercises

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_...pcategory=Spine

__________________

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Oops forgot to mention that the pain usually also extends from my spine into both buttocks but mainly into the left.

I'm just pretty much thinking that I will just live with it?

I really do try not to complain because I know how lucky I was to be able to basically walk away from that wreck! I'm just curious to get a few opinions...

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Guiseppe,

Think about it! What would you guess a patient was discribing if they told you the same sx?

Sciatic pain!

Ya know I'm gonna be on your case about this until you see a doc, don't you?

-nancy

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I'll bet a good stretching would do wonders for me! It really feels good when I thrust my pelvis forwards and backwards in a... well sort of... motion LOL Yes when I am at work and my back is sore and I'm standing at my med cart thrusting my pelvis forwards and backwards and... Now I know how I got that reputation at work! Really it's for my back! LOL

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Awwwwww You all are so sweet to me!

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LOL, when my back is really bugging me I arch as far back as I can then bend over and grab my ankles! (for me it hurts so much to bend like that so it is a relief when I stop)

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Please see a doctor, you don't have to live with constant pain. I have had a spinal fusion. I had 2 herniations and one idiot doctor actually had the nerve to tell me stop whining and go back to work, when I nearly crawled to get into his office, what a moron!!! Funny thing, for something that was in my head, it sure quit hurting fast enough once they did the surgery.hummmm.....Please don't go to a chiropractor, I was told by the Doc that did my surgery that if I had chosen that route I would have most likely been confined to a wheelchair for life. Please see a specialist, get an MRI and then make your decisions. If your back hurts, everything hurts. I was in so much pain for over 7 years while workers comp. argued about how they wanted to deal with it, that I was dragging my right leg. This is not anything to mess with, especially at your young age. You have too many years left to spend them suffering.

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Specializes in burn, geriatric, rehab, wound care, ER.

I used to have chronic back /buttock pain until I started doing yoga - then it miraculously disappeared, but since you have an underlying pathology and a 3 year history of pain you might want to try to get a referral to a pain management specialist. I would avoid a chiropractor - in my opinion an osteopath is a better option.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

1) No chiropractor PLEASE

2) Pain is a call for help

3) Bite the bullet and GO SEE A DOCTOR!

It may or may not be related to the accident, but how would you know unless you are checked. I assume you didn't have any legal representation after the mva?

Anyway, PLEASE go see a DOCTOR about this, ask for an MRI and or a bone scan. Something is wrong.

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