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Broken back or muscle issue ?

G

guy93

Senior member
So today I was at rugby practise, i made a tackle and a 200 pound guy falls on me, and i hear a crack sound, and i was in pain. but after 3-5 mins i got up and i could walk, i did some stretches even though it hurt, and as im sitting here i can feel some pain, and if i bend over or do twisting i feel pain. Could this be a broken bone or did i just really pull a muscle very badly? Im only 16 so im farely scared of losing my legs due to a back issue.
 
Does it hurt to tap on your vertebra? (the little bumps on the middle of your back)

What if you press on the muscles on either side?
 
Most likely, it's a muscular injury, but when it comes to your back and cracking sounds, it's just not worth taking the chance. Go see a doctor.
 
Originally posted by: brikis98
Most likely, it's a muscular injury, but when it comes to your back and cracking sounds, it's just not worth taking the chance. Go see a doctor.
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Yep, not worth the risk. Go see the orthopedist.
 
Yep, it sounds like muscle.

Rest / Ice / Ibuprofen should be all you need.

However, if doesn't get better soon (atleast some improvement), you feel any tingling, weakness, problems peeing/pooping. Then you should see a doctor ASAP.

 
I wouldn't even play with this one. You get cracked in rugby and you hear a pop - just go see the doctor. You could have a ton of things that could be wrong and you wouldn't even feel it until it contributed to a degeneration of a vertebra or something. Some examples: bulging disk, herniated disk - both of which can lead to degeneration of nerves in your back, leading to a greater number of problems - spondylolisthesis just to name a few. Go to the doctor. This one is not something to play around with. You don't ask internet forums to diagnose a back problem. Nobody has a place here even trying to do so.
 
You know how often when you stretch you can make your back crack? This is probably what happened. Go see a doctor for sure, but I wouldn't be too worried.
 
Originally posted by: rezinn
You know how often when you stretch you can make your back crack? This is probably what happened. Go see a doctor for sure, but I wouldn't be too worried.
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Huh? There's no way you can draw that conclusion from this situation. It was a rugby tackle + a rugby player falling on top of him. I've dealt with patients that have seriously damaged their back doing everyday things - ie walking and stepping into a dip. I'm not saying he's 100% injured, but I'm also saying there's no way you should say he shouldn't be too worried about it.
 
Don't you have an athletic trainer you can go to. You mentioned being 16, at my high school we have an athletic trainer. I would see the trainer before I go to the doctor.
 
Okay, I got my x ray reports, turns out I have 2 fractured vertabrae :\ . Done for rugby and any activities for 8 weeks.
 
Originally posted by: guy93
Okay, I got my x ray reports, turns out I have 2 fractured vertabrae :\ . Done for rugby and any activities for 8 weeks.
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Good thing you went to see a doctor. I know many people who were too prideful and avoided seeking professional help. My gf is one of them...she just waits until the problem escalates to the point where Motrin stops helping.
 
I just hope I'm back to normal after the time i was given, I really want to get back into rugby again by September for my next season.
 
Originally posted by: guy93
Okay, I got my x ray reports, turns out I have 2 fractured vertabrae :\ . Done for rugby and any activities for 8 weeks.
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Yikes, damn good thing you went. A guy I new a few years ago also had some fractures in his vertebrae from rugby, and he did manage to recover fully and play again. However, for the time being, give your back as much rest as possible.
 
Can somebody explain how bones get fixed by themselves please? I would feel a lot less fearful about my recovery. This is my first time I ever fractured anything. Thanks
 
Originally posted by: guy93
Can somebody explain how bones get fixed by themselves please? I would feel a lot less fearful about my recovery. This is my first time I ever fractured anything. Thanks
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It would probably be best if you asked your doctor especially referring to your back in particular. Bones heal and ossify, but I'm not exactly sure if vertebrae do so any differently and if the close proximity of nerves affects this.
 
Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
Originally posted by: guy93
Can somebody explain how bones get fixed by themselves please? I would feel a lot less fearful about my recovery. This is my first time I ever fractured anything. Thanks
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It would probably be best if you asked your doctor especially referring to your back in particular. Bones heal and ossify, but I'm not exactly sure if vertebrae do so any differently and if the close proximity of nerves affects this.
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I can't quite explain how the vertebrae does it specifically, but I can explain it in general.

You have to understand that your bones are very much alive. They aren't just 'mineral'. They live in a matrix just like any other cell, except their matrix is very strong (lol calcification does these things 😉 ). Bones have nerves, blood supply, need oxygen, etc. or else they will die. This is going to be a generalization, but you have two basic bone cells. Osteoclasts and Osteoblasts. Osteoclasts remove and eat up the bone, and Osteoblasts lay down bone. Your bones are always changing as opposed to being static. This is called a dynamic equilibrium (and if you are curious about how bones choose to eat up and lay down bone, they generally do it parallel to the forces that are felt). So your bones will naturally, over time, heal themselves by laying down more bone. Of course, your osteoblasts have to be more active than the osteoclasts. Osteoblast response is a measure of the force upon it - the more stress results in more osteoblast activity (although this goes to a limit). If you don't have as much stress and the area does not feel a load, osteoblast activity will subside and the rate of bone uptake by osteoclasts can overtake the rate at which bone is laid down. This is why old people who are often sedentary have weak bones, because they spend most of the time sitting down and can have their bones break easily.

Soo....if you can still walk around, but you must be very careful...you are naturally aiding the healing process. Your bones will still feel the load of the weight of your body pulling down on it, and will naturally heal over time (but check with a specialist if they recommend a certain physical therapy program). I don't know about only 2 months though. If I fractured my vertebrae I would wait much longer than 2 months. Talking about general tissue healing (Which the bone is) is a process that goes for a long time - typically on the scale of 1-2 years till you hit the final stage as opposed to 8 weeks. I may still play in September if I feel strong and I'm okay, but no chance would I be up for such a rough sport after 8 weeks.
 
Well here I am again, 2 months later. Got my second x-ray reports back, and nothing has really changed. My pain is going away, but I cannot play sports for 1 year minimum, and something about my back is going to stay the same for the rest of my life, can't remember what. This means no football, or rugby for me anymore, only light exercises. Can anybody suggest me here something that is not too heavy load on the body but fun and athletic at the same time I could enjoy doing? Thanks.

BTW, Magomago, you were right, 8 weeks is nothing, will take much longer.
 
Originally posted by: guy93
Well here I am again, 2 months later. Got my second x-ray reports back, and nothing has really changed. My pain is going away, but I cannot play sports for 1 year minimum, and something about my back is going to stay the same for the rest of my life, can't remember what. This means no football, or rugby for me anymore, only light exercises. Can anybody suggest me here something that is not too heavy load on the body but fun and athletic at the same time I could enjoy doing? Thanks.

BTW, Magomago, you were right, 8 weeks is nothing, will take much longer.
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Fun and athletic... There are a wide array of any martial arts (tae kwon do, karate), combative arts (Brazilian jiu jisu, muay thai), endurance sports (biking, running, swimming), etc. What kinda sports do you think would interest you? I might be able to find a better range if I know what sports you like best after rugby/football.
 
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