Broken collarbone

Three weeks ago, I was involved in an accident that left me with fractures in two vertebrae (C6 and T10). 😢
I’ve been wearing a hyperextension brace along with a plastic neck collar. My doctor advised strict rest, though I haven't been particularly good at following that advice. At my follow-up yesterday, it was determined that there hasn't been significant improvement, so he scheduled me for casting this Friday—apparently, they'll be putting me in some sort of plaster body cast or a Minerva cast. Does anyone have any insight into what that actually entails, what it looks like, or how long it needs to be worn? I managed to find just one photo online, and frankly, it terrified me. Please tell me they aren't going to cast me like that??? Are there any medical professionals in the group who can help?

Exactly. You've really got no choice—you either deal with it now or prepare for even more headaches down the road.

Yes, I certainly understand the likelihood of ending up in a cast. However, do you happen to have any personal experience regarding what that entails? Specifically, will I maintain my mobility? From what I have gathered, the cast extends from the waist all the way up to the top of the head.

I had to wear a torso brace once... though with one major difference, I could take it off at night. At first, it was just miserable, especially since I was wearing it during the heat of August... but on the bright side, there wasn't any actual pain. In any given situation, anything that restricts your movement isn't exactly ideal, but you just have to grit your teeth and deal with it if you want to actually get better. Otherwise, you might end up dealing with long-term issues. Good luck...

I honestly think there might be some better options than just sticking with a standard cast for what you're dealing with. It’ll probably cost a bit more out of pocket, but it might be worth it, so maybe try checking in with a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic specialist, or even just browsing through a specialized medical supply company here in the States.

Yes, this is what I'm currently wearing—an orthotic brace and a neck collar. However, due to my own lack of discipline, it looks like I’ll be testing out a good old-fashioned cast instead...

So, I was in a car wreck recently and ended up breaking a few things. Most notably my C1 vertebra. Since I'm just a regular guy, I showed up at the ER having no clue what that actually meant. Honestly, I was more stressed about my broken hip and my right hand than my neck because I couldn't even feel any pain in my spine. Turns out there wasn't a dislocation, but they still made me lay perfectly flat on my back for a month and a half wearing a Schantz collar. It wasn't until my physical therapist sat me down and explained the situation that I realized I could have ended up paralyzed. On day 43 in the hospital, I finally got the green light to take the Schantz off, though I had to keep it on while sleeping. After 50 days total, they sent me home with instructions to wear it while sleeping and whenever I'm using stairs. Told me to come back for a checkup in 4 weeks.
Just went in for that follow-up yesterday, and after checking the X-rays, the doctor told me I can finally ditch the collar for good...
Now I'm wondering, how long does it actually take for a vertebra—or bones in general—to start knitting back together? Anyone here dealt with something similar? I’m totally lost on what movements are safe now. To make matters worse, the doctor basically kicked me out of his office; he was in a terrible mood, but honestly, that's just how he is. Just my luck to get him as my doc...
Basically, is it possible that once the cervical vertebra heals, it'll be like nothing ever happened? Like, if you break an arm, it eventually feels normal again since it's just bone, right?
Thanks in advance!

Three months ago, I had an "accident" resulting in the diagnosis mentioned above. I'm currently wearing a brace. Every time I go in for a routine X-ray, they tell me there’s no dislocation, yet the pain remains constant and excruciating. My surgeon just keeps insisting it'll heal on its own—claiming that since I'm young, I just need to suffer through this brace for another six months. I'm looking for specifics on this diagnosis and potential complications. Also, should I be doing any exercises? No one has mentioned physical therapy, though in my opinion, it seems necessary. If anyone has dealt with something similar or knows the specifics regarding s.22, I'd appreciate some insight or advice. Thanks.

It would be a good idea to check out the scans to see exactly what kind of fracture we're dealing with. Either vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty could likely fix the issue and help dial back that pain.
I believe this is only handled at Trauma—within the Medicare system. If you're looking at private options, Dr. Drazen Kvesic is the one to see.

Best,

Back in February, I took a hard fall. Ended up in the hospital where they diagnosed me with a compression fracture of the T12 vertebra. Spent 12 months in a brace, and now I’m dealing with serious issues—intense pain and numbness in my left leg. I just got an X-ray, and here is the report: at the thoracolumbar junction, the T12 vertebral body shows an antecliped formation with narrowing of the intervertebral space at the T11/12 segment. There is also early subchondral sclerosis of the adjacent vertebral endplates, where the anterior portion of the T12 endplate appears irregularly contoured.

I've tried everything—physical therapy, various treatments, you name it. Nothing works. The pain in my left leg is brutal, and there's this numbness stretching from the T12 area all the way down to my tailbone. It feels like nerve entrapment; that whole section is numb, leaving me completely immobile. I need advice or anyone with experience on what to do next. I'm only 26; I can't live like this for the rest of my life. P.S. At the hospital, I was barely seen by anyone—just a quick glance and nothing more. They clearly couldn't care less. Thanks.

I was in a car accident about two months ago, and I ended up with a broken T12 vertebra. I had to undergo surgery, and since then, it’s been a lot of bed rest and wearing this heavy brace. Right now, I’m staying at a rehab center in Scottsdale, and they have me slowly weaning myself off the brace—basically taking it off for a few minutes every day and gradually increasing that window.
The thing is, my doctor has been incredibly vague about what I can and can't actually do, which honestly leaves me feeling pretty lost and, frankly, a bit terrified of overdoing it. I'm particularly anxious about getting back into fitness; I really want to get back to some kind of training routine eventually.
If anyone here has gone through something similar or actually knows the drill regarding recovery, please reach out. 🙂

Ronald Green31 said:It would be a good idea to check out the scans to see exactly what kind of fracture we're dealing with. Either vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty could likely fix the issue and help dial back that pain.
I believe this is only handled at Trauma—within the Medicare system. If you're looking at private options, Dr. Drazen Kvesic is the one to see.

Best,

Looking back at a post from 2011: I’ve been advised to undergo vertebroplasty for L1 and L3. They perform this in San Diego now—has anyone here actually had the procedure? And more importantly—is it still covered by Medicare... or is it an out-of-pocket expense via supplemental insurance?
Regards,

Has anyone here dealt with a broken C7 vertebra? I’m curious how the recovery actually went. About three months ago, I was in a car wreck and ended up breaking my C7. It’s been a confusing mess from day one. One hospital told me there was no fracture, then another one claimed there was, and after a few months, they pivoted to saying it was just some kind of process that broke. Then my physical therapist suggested I might have just bruised a nerve or something. Honestly, I don't even know what's going on. This is all new territory for me, so I have no idea what it's supposed to feel like when you actually crack a vertebra or whatever. When can I get back to work? When can I hit the gym? How am I supposed to navigate daily life? Right after the crash, my neck didn't even hurt—it was my right shoulder instead. My whole right arm and finger went numb. The pain is gone now and my finger feels normal again, but I spent two months stuck in a neck brace. Naturally, my neck and back muscles just withered away during that time, and now they’re, shall we say, "pleasantly sore" whenever I try to do my PT exercises.

Charles Young56 said:So, I had a fracture in my L3 back in 2013. Since then, I’ve tried basically everything—electrical stim, physical therapy, tons of painkillers... honestly, I still grab some pills now and then when it flares up. My question is, how much can I actually push myself at the gym or get into this whole fitness thing? Obviously, I can't just go in and do every single exercise, and I don't even do them all the time. Even just walking for a long stretch can make my back act up. I guess I was hoping maybe an expert here could give me some advice or point me in the right direction regarding what I should actually be doing.

You should work with a physical therapist to develop a structured exercise program rather than simply heading to a gym on your own.

Go see a physiatrist first—then head to a physical therapist who can set you up with a proper exercise routine. Based on what you're describing, I’m guessing your spine took a compressive fracture, which means lifting anything heavy would be incredibly dangerous right now.

Thanks for all the replies and the advice.

I finally managed to get an appointment scheduled with a physiatrist, though I have to wait a few months for my follow-up, so I guess I'll just see how things play out then.

Hey everyone! So, about three weeks ago I got into a car wreck and ended up with a lumbar injury. Right now, I’m stuck in a back brace and just waiting on an orthopedic brace to arrive... If there are any pros in here who can take a look at my diagnosis, I’d really appreciate it because I'm totally lost when it comes to this medical jargon.... thanks!
Link to the diagnosis photo https://ibb.co/87Gr2Mq

silvertiger97 said:Hey everyone! So, about three weeks ago I got into a car wreck and ended up with a lumbar injury. Right now, I’m stuck in a back brace and just waiting on an orthopedic brace to arrive... If there are any pros in here who can take a look at my diagnosis, I’d really appreciate it because I'm totally lost when it comes to this medical jargon.... thanks!
Link to the diagnosis photo https://ibb.co/87Gr2Mq

I took a look! Once you get that brace, you'll probably be wearing it for about 12 weeks. How long have you been stuck in the cast?

Lawrence Wells said:I took a look! Once you get that brace, you'll probably be wearing it for about 12 weeks. How long have you been stuck in the cast?

Been more than 3 weeks now... Any idea when my doctor might finally give me the green light to move around? Right now I'm on strict bed rest to make sure nothing goes sideways...