Can I whine?

So my back has been hurting. Lots. I went to put my toddler in the bathtub on Friday night and it totally locked up and my knees went out for about half a second, resulting in me faceplanting the tub to prevent dropping said toddler. I figured I just pinched a nerve and it would be better in a few days.

Five days later, I STILL can't sit comfortably and I've had 2 more episodes of the back locking up. Go get x-rays done Wednesday, and the doctor is like.....I'm not sure what's going on, but it's not good. Sends me to the orthopedist. I saw him Thursday, and apparently I have fractured- yes, FRACTURED - the two pieces of bone that hold one of my vertebrae in place, resulting in it slipping out of place and squishing the disc/nerves. No WONDER it hurts.

So now I have to get an MRI to determine the extent of the damage. He thinks it was an actual defect in the bone that finally gave way, but it is a total *** to be told you have totally fractured parts of your spine and not know it.

At least the bright side is it's not Ankylosing spondylitis, which was my big fear. But still, ARGH.

Ouch! Sorry to hear you're in so much back pain. I've thrown my back out a couple of times and that was horrible - I can't imagine that plus an actual fracture. But as you've said, at least it's not ankylosing sponfylitls. I hope your doctors give you some good guidance, and that you're feeling better really soon!

Ow!! Leysa! That's horrible!

I hope they are doing something to help you with the pain?

leysa:  I sure hope you feel better soon-can't imagine your pain and hope you find relief soon!  Secondarily you are a hero for protecting your child- I know its small comfort when one is in agony.  Take care of your self.   

Geeeeeeeeeeeez, Leysa, you have a reason to whine. I'm sure they will do surgery but arn't they going to put you in a brace until this is fixed. You dont need any extra injury ....Hope they fix it soon and keep us up to date...

Goodness, whine away girl, bad back trouble can be a real battle at times hope you won't have any. Just to be sure ask Dr. for a bone density test, as I see your on prednisone. Hope you've had a baseline previously.

I had the same thing happen to me about 4-5 years ago.  You can look up spondylolisthesis

It is great you were diagnosed so early; I had the MRI first, which only showed a bulging disk, then 3 epidural steroid injections at hospital before back doctor would even SEE me!  He diagnosed it with x-rays in several different positions.  I was unable to sit AT ALL, or stand still for 3 months.  All I could do was lie down or walk.  The good news is that most cases will resolve over time without surgery.  2 things that really helped me were hydrotherapy; pool excercises and hanging from "noodles" in the deep end of the pool.  Being in the pool really takes the pain away; it is unbelievable. Had to go to a physical therapy place that was located in a gym with a pool for that.  The second thing was that after two months of that with much improvement, but a less than total recovery, my PCP sent me to a sports doc who does prolotherapy.  He treated the SI ligament at 2-4 week intervals.  On my way to the first visit there, I had to travel lying down in the back seat, as I could not sit at all; 2 weeks after 1st prolotherapy injection, I was able to sit to drive myself there and back on the 40 minute trip.  Two weeks after that treatment, I was back to figure skating again.   It is one of the most painful injuries I have ever dealt with; hopefully, it will resolve soon for you.

Good luck; please let us know what happens.