On Wednesday I slipped and fell very hard on my back. I should have gone to ER, but couldn't bear the thought of trying to sit up for hours in an ER waiting room. And then Thursday things seemed a bit better. But on Friday morning I was in agony, so we went to urgent care. After 7 hours.....
....h
ere are the details. The ER guy saw
a
compression fracture in
the
L1
vertebra
in the xray, but then said they should do a ct-scan to make sure there was nothing else
the matter
. The scan showed a bit of a compression in L2 and maybe some in L3 as well. So he called a neuro-osteo guy [back specialist]. They both agreed that since I was/am getting around ok with no tingling in my arms or legs, etc. (i.e. no nerve damage), the best thing is to "take two aspirins and call 'em in the morning." Well, actually, take two extra strength Tylenol every 4-6 hours and call them if things get worse. They've made a referral to a back specialist, possibly the same one who looked at the pix, I don't know. Apparently that office will call me and make an app
ointment
.I landed very hard, but I suspect my aging and attendant loss of bone density may have played a role. I have no idea whether I really am losing bone density but I wouldn't be surprised if I am, which means I gotta be careful.... no seniors' rugby, I guess.
Dissociation was rampant: It seemed as if the ER doctor was talking about someone else as I heard him talking with the radiologist, "I have a[n under 90] male who is otherwise very fit....". Woohoo! It's nice to be thought of as "otherwise very fit"! But it is shocking to hear my age said out loud like that. I guess I haven't really accepted it.
Anyway, the outlook, assuming things stay stable (the ER dr's term
)
in the spine, is as follows:- medicate for pain
- don't do any strenuous exercise
- should be healed in 4-6 weeks [though medline says 8-10 weeks :-( ]
I sure hope it heals quickly. I have a show a week from today, which doesn't involve much movement, but it's one heck of a long trip: in an RV to Windsor. Then another show two weeks from today, again, nothing strenuous. We'll have to see how things go in Academia Nuts, the Fringe show I'll be in this coming June. For now we'll have to work around some of the more active scenes in the early rehearsals. But we should have all of May to work and refine things a
fter
I heal.I'm in pretty good spirits for now. It's very painful getting up or sitting down or especially trying to lie down or get up --- changing positions in general. We're seeing the GP on Monday for our blocked eustachians, so when we see her I'll ask for some medical marijuana to help deal with the pain. ;-)
Meanwhile, despite being on the Atkins diet, we ordered pizza last night ---- comfort food!
Our reply to people who ask if they can do anything? Nope, but thanks for wanting to help.
[more details here:
http://umm.edu/programs/spine/health/guides/lumbar-compression-fractures
which seems to be a very complete site. ]
Again, a request for my Facebook friends, please do not post comments there. I'll just delete 'em.