MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Had a bone scan today and much to my dismay, was told I had a broken vertebra but my other bones were in good order!
I was too gobsmacked to ask obvious questions and it's ages until I can see the consultant so I'll try you lot.
I am assuming this is an old break as I was told it shouldn't be a problem and I don't actually have any pain from it, so do I carry on riding or wait till the ok from a doctor?
What's the worst that could happen?
I broke T5,6,7 & 8 back in 2011 in a motorcycle accident, 13 weeks hospital bed rest and the another 13 weeks at home in bed or up in a full body brace, the brace came off in February 2011 and I was riding MTB by March, plenty of crashes since and no issues.
You’re gonna take advice from strangers on the internet about a broken vertebrae? Good luck.
So you've got broken vertebrae and you're asking if you should carry on riding, FFS man unless you're paid to ride your bike don't do it.
Jimmy's case isn't really relevant if you read it properly, he broke several, had 6 months of getting fixed up / healed and then rode again 4 weeks after that. You actually have broken bits in your spine.
Obviously I will actually speak to a doctor.
I was naively thinking someone might have had a similar experience and had a useful comment to offer.
Why did you have the bone scan - and why would you assume the vertebral fracture is an old one....
If you're asking the question you already know the answer don't you.....
In theory it shouldn't be an old break. Old breaks are generally healed breaks, unless the 2 pieces of bone are too far apart to mesh, in which case i'd guess it would in fact be a serious problem in your spine.
No doubt someone will be along to correct me soon though
Ring your consultants secretary and ask them to ask your consultant. They will ring you back.
Don't chance it, one of my fractured vertebrae collapsed and put pressure on nerves, I ended up losing feeling in my left leg and had to have rods and pins to stabilise it. (Spine not leg)
As above really. What caused you to have the bone scan in the first place?
For what it's worth I have an old T12 compression fracture along with bad bones. This was initially discovered via a routine chest x-ray looking for pneumonia. I then had CT scans, bone density scans and lots of tests (there's some old threads on this). The actual accident that caused it was likely 2 years prior when I knew I'd hurt my back but didn't realize just how badly it'd been damaged.....
No surgery in my case as clearly old "healed" break. I still ride but wear a protector back plate even for chill rides with the 7 year old.
I'd try to understand the cause and severity before I start hitting the gnar.... My (limited) understanding is that by the time someone is in their 50's they'll quite often have some damage to their back and "broken" covers a broad spectrum which is presumably what the consultant will help with....
This all started with a stomach problem for which the doctor couldn't trace a cause so she sent me for a scan 'to see if we've missed anything'. The scan revealed a hernia which I am due an operation for but also the vertebra damage. The doctor then referred me for the bone mass scan. I had never actually complained about my back so was surprised.
I did have a major motor bike accident seventeen years ago so could be a left over from that?