View Full Version : Transverse Process Fractures
Long story short...I jacked up my back. Minimally Displaced L1-4 Transverse Process fractures. Diagnosed via CT-Scan. It has been 10 days, and I will be having an MRI shortly to check for bulging disk(s) due to sciatic nerve pain.
I feel that I am progressing well, sometimes. Has anyone here experienced a Tranverse Process fracture(s)? I'm interested in the experience of someone with determination. I'm not buying into the estimated recovery time of normal people. The nerve pain is the worst part at this point. Any suggestions on dealing with and eliminating that? I have been told that this type of fracture is rare, but I am curious to see if someone here has experienced this and can share their experience with me.
They hurt, and hurt for weeks. Of more relevance is the radicular pain along the sciatic nerve. Might be just inflammation from the injury that broke the transverse process, in which case it all should subside over a couple of weeks, or theremight be vertebral body displacement and/or nerve root impingement, especially if superimposed on already-existing narrowing of the nerve root foramen. Or, the injury may have also contributed to a rupture of the disk, in which case recovery time is uncertain.
Too many unknowns. Need to wait to see the MRI.
They hurt, and hurt for weeks. Of more relevance is the radicular pain along the sciatic nerve. Might be just inflammation from the injury that broke the transverse process, in which case it all should subside over a couple of weeks, or theremight be vertebral body displacement and/or nerve root impingement, especially if superimposed on already-existing narrowing of the nerve root foramen. Or, the injury may have also contributed to a rupture of the disk, in which case recovery time is uncertain.
Too many unknowns. Need to wait to see the MRI.
What he said.
SeriousStudent
03-06-14, 22:58
Ouch! Good luck with your treatment and recovery, I hope you get better soon.
Having never experienced a back injury or nerve pain, it is a strange feeling, even with the amount of injuries that I have had in my life. I want to push myself to recovery, like I have done with all of my other injuries, but I know that this one is different and the consequences of rupturing a disk can be severe. I feel and move better every day, but I don't want to cause further damage. I was back to work after a week. I have an MRI scheduled for Monday, and will also be fitted for a back brace.
Yeah, I wrecked myself well, C5-C7. I can imagine the nerve pain. Some days I laid in bed and whimpered, and I have a high pain tolerance.
Follow your Doc's/PT's schedule, as in don't rush ahead and risk worse injury or chronic problems. Messing with the spinal cord is not something you should do, believe me. Get plenty of calcium & vitamin D, and eat well. Give your body the best conditions to heal. If you're a fast healer those bones will heal up in no time. I had to wear a halo, screwed into my skull. It was torture. I wanted out, badly.
Good luck.
Arkansas Bob
03-09-14, 19:52
Put on the brakes and follow doctor's orders. That is not an injury to rush. Sciatic pain is a whore bitch. Wish you a speedy recovery my friend.
The first few days were rough, and I mainly stayed static. Having experienced broken and separated ribs in the past, I knew what a core injury would mean for my digestive functions. Needlessly to say, I did not eat much. I made the mistake of holding a BM for 6 days when I separated my ribs, and learned my lesson from the outcome of that. Well, this time around, the little bit that I did eat was ready to make an appearance. The first week I was unable to sit upright, due to Sciatic pain. I quickly learned that I could take care of business effectively while semi standing with a little ingenuity. So, I avoided the pain and difficulty of one of the things that I was most worried about.
Sleeping was another major concern, and I didn't get much of it. Getting into bed wasn't too bad if I eased into it head-first. Getting out of bed also wasn't too bad if I did so feet-first from my stomach. I was able to get a few hours of sleep a night by lying on my stomach. During the day I would roll over and watch TV and read M4C. But, that roll over was where I experienced the most pain of the ordeal once I made it home from the initial accident. Knowing the pain was coming, I would just get rolled over and deal with it. Trying to ease into a roll over just prolonged the pain.
After the first few days, I started walking laps around the house and climbing the stairs a few times a day. A couple days after that, I ventured outside. Muscle spasms and Sciatic pain made it difficult, but I felt that I needed to get moving. After a couple of those days, I walked approximately a mile and got to check on my cattle for the first time (I had someone feeding them for me). I had pain in the mornings from sleeping in bed or a recliner. I began gaining movement from walking and was able to sit upright to use the indoor plumbing by day six. My wife was very happy with that achievement.
I drove for the first time on day seven, and it was difficult to get in and out. Day nine was time to go back to work. I told the guys that I work with that I would be back on that day, and I did it. Walking and climbing stairs all day wiped me out, but continued to improve movement. I started feeling good for a few hours a day. By day twelve, I was back to being able to drive the tractor and UTV. Climbing up and down to drive tractor was made easier from my walking. I could feel my body gaining the strength back that the original injury took away from me.
Today, on day thirteen, I began lifting 50 lb. feed sacks very carefully and fed my cows, myself. For the most part, I feel really good compared to just a few days ago. My recovery has progressed exponentially ever since I got off my ass and start pushing very carefully. I never went past the limit. I just pushed until I got to it. I still has some Sciatic pain during the act of sitting and standing, but I think that it is getting better the more I get my muscles stretched back out. The way that I have progressed exponentially has been the biggest shocker, and I feel that I'm going to be GTG in a few weeks.
Yeah, I wrecked myself well, C5-C7. I can imagine the nerve pain. Some days I laid in bed and whimpered, and I have a high pain tolerance.
Follow your Doc's/PT's schedule, as in don't rush ahead and risk worse injury or chronic problems. Messing with the spinal cord is not something you should do, believe me. Get plenty of calcium & vitamin D, and eat well. Give your body the best conditions to heal. If you're a fast healer those bones will heal up in no time. I had to wear a halo, screwed into my skull. It was torture. I wanted out, badly.
Good luck.
I appreciate you sharing your experience. My mother is a Nurse Practitioner and she has managed me as well as I have ever let her. My wife and mom have done a pretty good job.
MRI findings came back, and aren't bad but aren't perfect. L1-L5 look good. The transverse process fractures aren't visualized by MRI. However, L5-S1 level show mild changes of degenerative disc disease were seen with disc desiccation, loss of disc height and a broad-based 3-4 mm annular disc bulge. There is a high signal intensity zone annular tear present. In concert with facet arthrosis, there is a mild narrowing of the lateral recesses and inferior neural foramina noted.
Movement and range of motion are increasing daily. Mild stretching coupled with climbing stairs and walking seem to be accelerating recovery. Mild bitching from female units is keeping lifting to a minimum.
Your problem isn't disk-related. A pretty normal MRI report for an active, middle-aged male.
I got fitted for a back brace that more closely resembles a Medieval torture device. I wore it for a short while, but I don't much feel the need right now. I couldn't get a long sleeve work shirt over it, so it will stay at the house. I can't show up to work with it on, because they would send me home thinking I have something seriously wrong. Oh well, I have it if I need it, but it will most likely get tossed into the box with all of the other braces that I've accumulated throughout the years. That box does come in handy every now and then. Most likely, my body will be thoroughly trashed by the time that I'm done with it.
scoutchris
03-14-14, 12:04
Quit being a puss.
Quit being a puss.
Don't worry. In another week, I will be GTG. There won't be anymore excuses. It will be time for you to pack your purse and meet me at the farm.
SeriousStudent
03-14-14, 20:10
I can sense the love. ;)
Glad to hear you are making some progress, I hope you continue to do so.
Haha, that's hilarious. Hopefully, he wouldn't hurt me while I'm recovering.
This all came about from me looking for info. related to my issue. Since this particular injury is rare, I had to go with technical knowledge from our medically educated guys and moral support from friends. Maybe someone else that needs this will find it some day.
And, I'm not sure that your team mantra of, "If not us, then who" applies to calling the half-assed crippled guy a pussy. Although, that kind of thing is just what some people need to suck it up, and rehab or recover.
SeriousStudent
03-14-14, 22:49
My team mantra has always been "Admit nothing, deny everything, and make counter-allegations."
My team mantra has always been "Admit nothing, deny everything, and make counter-allegations."
I wasn't aware that you were a member of Obama's cabinet?!?!
scoutchris
03-17-14, 22:46
Yeah, well my post count is higher! Looking forward to the weekend. Camping ,shooting, bushcraft. Freaking stoked.
SeriousStudent
03-17-14, 23:28
I wasn't aware that you were a member of Obama's cabinet?!?!
Shhh! Keep your voice down, I'm trying to infiltrate!
Long story short...I jacked up my back. Minimally Displaced L1-4 Transverse Process fractures. Diagnosed via CT-Scan. It has been 10 days, and I will be having an MRI shortly to check for bulging disk(s) due to sciatic nerve pain.
I feel that I am progressing well, sometimes. Has anyone here experienced a Tranverse Process fracture(s)? I'm interested in the experience of someone with determination. I'm not buying into the estimated recovery time of normal people. The nerve pain is the worst part at this point. Any suggestions on dealing with and eliminating that? I have been told that this type of fracture is rare, but I am curious to see if someone here has experienced this and can share their experience with me.
Did that occur during an accident?
Did that occur during an accident?
Well, not much of an accident, but it was bad enough to put me out of commission for a week and a half.
http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h436/bradykleinhans/IMG_01081_zpsd24fefe0.jpg (http://s1109.photobucket.com/user/bradykleinhans/media/IMG_01081_zpsd24fefe0.jpg.html)
I was on the inside of this bale ring, and didn't quite stick the landing as I was jumping out. Just imagine this at a high rate of speed...me grabbing the top rail with both hands, placing a foot on the middle rail to gain height to clear top rail, and bringing the other knee up to go over. Both legs should have gone out to the side, cleared the top rail, and I should have been on my way. Apparently, the cow shit on the bottom of my boot caused my foot to slip of the middle rail while I was already going over. It happened so fast, I didn't let go of the top rail, and I swung over the top and made contact with the middle rail on the outside of the ring with my back. Had I let go of the rail and landed on the ground, all would have been well, but it didn't quite go like that. I jump over fences and different stuff like this all of the time. I raise bucking stock, and get chased up and over fences all of the time. It is the simple mundane tasks that get us sometimes.
The sciatic nerve discomfort still bothers me a little if I sit upright for too long, but other than that, I am getting close to being back to full speed.
SeriousStudent
03-19-14, 21:00
Freaking evil cows and their fiendish plots! I hope you roasted him over a slow fire for his treachery!
Preferably with a baked potato, and an ice cold Shiner.
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