Hey folks,

Back in February, I landed on the snow hard and ended up treating myself to a stable, wedge fracture of my L1 vertebra. It’s now compressed down to between a third and one half it’s original height 😯 . Six months on, and I’m still struggling with pain in my lower back and still being prescribed what I think is a lot of painkillers (a daily mix of 400mg Tramadol / 4000mg Paracetamol and 1600mg Ibuprofin). My GP has referred me back to the Orthopedic clinic at the hospital to try and figure out why I’m still in a lot of pain, but of course, my appointment isn’t till the 25 October. 🙄 .

I’m just wondering if others who’ve pranged themselves in a similar manner have encountered similar problems? If so, do you have any advice?

Cheers

C.xx

p.s. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell the wife, as she’ll only tell me to stop doing fun stuff. 😛

Get off the brufen right now for a start!
Lethal to your stomach – ask for Naproxen. It actually works.
400 of tramadol is bugger all though for pain relief. My daily is up to 2000mg.
Most of the pain will be referred due to nerve compression on L1 – I have C5/6, L1-5 and S1 along with RH pelvic so know all about it.
You’ll learn to balance an acceptable level eventually using medication and exercise – make sure you strengthen the core and spine though or you will end up with compensatory issues – they can be worse than the damage as it then takes years to resolve.
Keep pushing the GP and if need be walk in to the local clinic if it gets too much citing a “relapse” and you’ll be dealt with – cheating a little I know but sometimes it pays to play the system.

Did T6 and T7 on the bike. Stable compression fracture. Actually thinking about it I think they said wedge fracture also.

Aside from the initial pain where the fracture was (middle of the back) I then developed lower back pain which oddly was more of a problem sleeping, especially towards early morning. Get up and walk about, stretch a bit and relieved it a bit and it would ease off after an hour.

Wasn’t painful enough for constant pain killers though, and it went away eventually. Can’t remember how long now. 6+ months I remember. Along with whiplash that took a year to go away fully.

Didn’t really have huge amount of pain generally even for the fracture point. I just took Paracetamol for even though they gave me a cupboard full of Tramadol and Codeine.

I’m no medical expert, but if you’re still taking a lot of painkillers maybe there’s a chance of a trapped nerve or something. Don’t know really.

I’d try and bump the appointment if it’s causing distress. Often they can juggle priorities.

p.s. best thing for my back I reckon was riding the bike. It just happened to be the same back stretching exercise in riding position as the physio was getting me to do when sat on a chair.

Naproxen and Ibuprofen are from the same family of drugs with the same effects on your stomach – in fact naproxen may be worse.

Cheers for the info Hammy. To be honest, what you’ve told me is probably more reassuring and informative than my GP! Good to know that I’m actually on a low dose of Tramadol, that way I can reassure friends and family a bit more. Not having any stomach bother with the Ibuprofen but I’ll look into the Naproxen, cheers.

Not keen on the idea of the back pain being chronic, hopefully that won’t be the case. Just hoping that my present activities aren’t causing any more damage! 😯 I’m currently getting back into mountain biking, and the lower back pain can be bad (particularly on long climbs sat in the same position, but background manageable for most of the rides. Same as it is for most of the day at work (pain builds up if I’m at the desk too long, or working in the same position at the lab bench till I have to stop what I’m doing). Don’t really want to jump in ahead of the queue at the hospital as, day to day, I’m coping reasonably well, but I’ll bear that wee trick in mind if things get really bad. Cheers againfor the reassuring advice.

definitely give up riding, I’ll give you a tenner for that nice Orange 4 and won’t tell the missus 🙂

Hmmmm…let me think about that one Iain

Just a note on “compensatory issues” as I know all about these and muscle wastage atfer an injury. You do need to get back into activity slowly and have the right physio excersizes which you an do at home every day if not more than once a day. Your body will be compensating to protect the damaged area which as people say above can cause even more issues.

Take care and listen to your body (its telling you something is wrong !) just carrying on as things are could make it worse.

IMHO GP’s are pretty clueless and somewhat disinterested, you need to see a specialist even if that costs £250 for a privae appointment imo thats well worth it and better than months waiting for a “free” appointment with a potentially less qualified person

Beagleboy – Member
Hmmmm…let me think about that one Iain

POSTED 10 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

🙂 😀

Hi Craig. You have had a bit of a time of it 🙁

Two words. Alan Hay!

Although it may be hard to get hold of him as he is winding down. I am really not sure what to do when he gives up altogether. (and he will charge about £30 not £250!) He will deal with issues arising from poor posture/compensatory muscle use etc.Worth a chat with him anyway.

The NHS physios in Stirling are v good – at least the ones Alison and I have seen. Maybe cos they are used to encountering crocked mountainbikers – so insist on an appointment with them.

Stirling doesn’t really over the best easy recovery trails – maybe accept that regular circuits of Callander Trails might be better at the mo than hauling yourself up Dumyat.

PS our doc issues Naproxen with a large dosage of gastro protecting tablets so as TJ says it may well be worse than Ibu. We don’t find it particularly good as an anti inflam, so I guess its a personal thing. We used to swear by Diclomax but the doc wont issue it anymore – apparently it is responsible for ulcers and internal bleeding! Safer mountainbiking.

£250 was a guess for a consultant, however a great physio is money well spent. The most important thing is to get seen soon and not wait weeks and weeks imo

Voltarene (prescription strength) is excellent, my mrs was prescribed it after her serious neck injury and I took it after I bust my knee. Always took a stomach pill too. Issue with stomach is you have “no problem” until you domamd then it can be very serious

Naproxen and Ibuprofen are from the same family of drugs with the same effects on your stomach – in fact naproxen may be worse.

Yep Naproxen can be much worse for the stomach.