minimal compression wedges.
 

anybody else had one? have had some annoying pain in my lower back, so went to the doc finally...took some x ray's...and showed a minimal compression wedge at t-12....so went on to get MRI...which showed absolutely nothing wrong in the lower back...and i think she said a little bulge in the disc between t-12 and t-11.

so for now i've got tramadol...which is nice. but i can't get back in to see the doc until tuesday, he's thinking possibly cortizone injections for pain until it heals. which takes like six weeks.

i have a fairly physical job....do lots of lifting and walking and whatnot. since they can't really do anything for this...i wonder if i should just not work until after i talk to doc on tuesday....or...work..and deal with the pain :)

i'm just really cautious.....as...it's my back...and i only get one.

the pain i'm getting right now if i don't take the tramadol is semi sharp pains around t-12...and some tingling in my left upper back.

what would you guys do ? :)

Ok, so the mri did NOT comfirm the compression fracture? And you have a slight herniation? T12 and T11 is the thoracic spine...the part that pretty much corresponds to the level of your ribcage. Not the "lower" back which is the lumbar and would be numbered with "L". But T12 connects with L1 so there you go.

Can you where a lifting belt at work for the time being? I think this is the time for one.

yep...confirmed that is was not a compression fracture...so that's good news...just basically that the vertebrae got squished a little bit...and it's angry :)

i'd rather just not work...but a belt is an option.

If you can pull off not working for a while that would be great. But you don't want to sit around and do nothing either.

Meanwhile...the book is going to help you. Big time. It really sounds like this is not related as much to your training as probably a little baggage you carried in with you. That doesn't mean hind-sight isn't fifty-fifty, of course. Certain things in your training could have been the proverbial straw on the camel's back. But you have already started doing the things you need to do. I wouldn't stretch the lower back...that will make it feel better temporarilly and get worse in the long-run. But I think you shall heal (my fingers are crossed).

i've been pretty mobile so far..i'm not the type to just..lay around all day :) worked half a day monday and that's it this week...i probably won't go back to work till after i talk to the doctor tuesday.

i've been doing some things from magnificent mobility...my hips needs a shit load of work :)

i can't wait to get that book...hopefully it'll come by friday.

Ditto. :)

Well I dont' know much about this type of thing but I give you my best wishes!

Get Well!

IronWorker

get well soon.

thanks fellas :)

IW....instead of fracturing the vertebrae...it just got compressed....kinda smushed if you will :)