Melissa in Australia Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 So my oldest son has somehow hurt his back. He has had an X-ray and has a crushed vertebrae. He is in considerable pain, can hardly walk or sit and cannot sleep in bed but is sleeping on the floor. He says he no longer has any feeling in one leg. It is interfering with his Uni studies as he cannot sit still for the lectures. He has had a course of anti-inflammatorys before the x-ray. they didn't do anything.The Dr wants to give him steroid injections. He is going to see a Physiotherapist as soon as he can. Has anyone experienced this before? does anyone have any suggestions I could pass on to him. thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Yeowch!!! No advice, but :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: !! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted March 16, 2016 Author Share Posted March 16, 2016 Thanks Rosie, I will take the hugs for myself as he will not appreciate them at the moment :D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 No medical experience. Lots of experience with professors. Has he spoken to them? He should explain the situation and ask them how he can do his work. Maybe he can get down to one course right now, so he can get the treatment he needs, and maybe they can even recommend a good practice for him. I work at a less... rigorous institution, shall we say. Anyway, we still see students drop out because they fail classes because they don't realize how to get their profs to manage their grades during a serious illness. :( So please tell him to advocate for himself. He doesn't need to beg, he just needs to know the proper procedure for medical leave so he can heal. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I hope that he is going to the right specialist. I would be very active in helping him get the right care. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Oh my! (Hugs) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 (edited) Hold the phone. He has a fracture in his back and he doesn't know how it got there? That needs to be investigated further ASAP. That combined with the loss of his feeling in his leg--he should be in the ER. Tonight. Now. And I wouldn't agree to a steroid injection until he's seen an orthopedist, preferably a spine specialist. Edited March 16, 2016 by Forget-me-not 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Oh my! No feeling in one leg? Isn't that a 'rush back to the hospital' kind of thing. That would terrify me. I hope things improve quickly. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 At such a young age, this needs intensive care and attention, possibly by a spine surgeon. Physical therapy or physiotherapy as well. I am a wreck when my sciatic nerve acts up - I cannot imagine the pain. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted March 16, 2016 Author Share Posted March 16, 2016 According to the doctor the crushed vertebrae may have been there for years possibly from before he was 10. That he could have had sporadic back pain throughout his childhood and once he gets to early twenties the real pain starts?? I have no idea if this is true or not, just what he was told. The only thing DH and I can think of was he once fell off a merry-go-round type of thing at high speed and landed on his back when he was 9. As for dropping back on units. He is doing his final 4 units at the moment. I will discuss it with him, but if he drops back he will lose both his scholarship and his government stipend. He will have no income at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Hold the phone. He has a fracture in his back and he doesn't know how it got there? That needs to be investigated further ASAP. That combined with the loss of his feeling in his leg--he should be in the ER. Tonight. Now. And I wouldn't agree to a steroid injection until he's seen an orthopedist, preferably a spine specialist. All this 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I crushed my vertebrae when I was a child. I didn't have anything special done, I just had to spend a portion of my summer lying down on a bunch of pillows. There have been no lingering problems, though at the time it was quite scary and was told I came *this* close to permanent paralysis. The fact that he has no feeling in one leg should be enough to send him straight to the ER. That's not something to mess with. Hugs! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Ouch. Hard to even read the title of this thread. I have no advice, but I hope he finds some relief. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eliz Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I have no advice either, but sending lots of virtual hugs to both of you. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: I would get a second opinion if at all possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 (edited) Off to ER stat! Lack of feeling in one leg possibly means nerves being squished too now - he needs to be seen. Doctors can provide documentation for school - he may only be making damage worse or permanent by trying to continue school. Rotten timing that it flares up and causes problems now. My son had a medical problem ruin his senior year of college, too (and his scholarship could not be continued either). All he can do is talk to the school, provide proof of a medical issue, and possible redo those last four units next semester. :-( It will be a financial hit, but sounds like he has no choice. Hope he feels better soon! Edited March 16, 2016 by JFSinIL 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I've never had a professor who gave anyone a hard time for standing through classes at the back of the room. He could request lecture notes and make an audio recording of the lectures. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Wow, my son had two crush fractures in his back and was in a brace for months. He definitely needs to see a specialist. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UCF612 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 (edited) My husband hurt his back in high school, it was serious but not permanently damaging. Possibly a crushed vertebrae though they always just say he broke his back. Anyhow they don't know how he did it. His parents say football and he says basketball. He had to wear a brace for a long time but he's okay now. I complain of back pain more than he ever does! As others have said I'd be heading back to the ER for the lack of feeling in his leg. Praying you guys! Edited March 16, 2016 by UCF612 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted March 16, 2016 Author Share Posted March 16, 2016 thank you everyone. He went and saw the physiotherapist who did some stretching exercises with him, and gave his some to do at his room. Son reports to me he has feeling in leg now and can actually lie down on his bed now. He is feeling positive, and in quiet a bit less pain. Physiotherapist told him to hold off on the steroid shot until after he has done a week of these stretchers and feel that son will feel much better by next week. I have recommended to him that he gets a second opinion before having the steroid shot. I spoke to him about his studies and he is pretty confident that he will be able to carry on. he has been living away form home independently for over 4 years now and I can only advise. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 No feeling at all in one leg is beyond a few stretches. Nerve damage can be permanent. He needs an orthopedist who specializes in spines immediately, preferrably in that area of the spine (I would guess lumbar given leg neuropathy). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I don't think a steroid shot is a bad idea. What part of his back? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 No feeling at all in one leg is beyond a few stretches. Nerve damage can be permanent. He needs an orthopedist who specializes in spines immediately, preferrably in that area of the spine (I would guess lumbar given leg neuropathy). Not necessarily. A miniscule (as in immeasurable by any type of equipment) misalignment can pinch a nerve just enough to cause numbness vs. permanent damage. Gentle stretching can allow a tightened up and inflamed area to "slide" back in to alignment, naturally. I do agree that he should be monitored closely by his medical team. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamiof5 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 No advice here, but prayers and good thoughts! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumSum Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 No advice, but :grouphug: :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted March 16, 2016 Author Share Posted March 16, 2016 I don't think a steroid shot is a bad idea. What part of his back between L5 and L4 so lower back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 He can do permanent damage to the nerves if there is pressure on them for too long (that pressure is what is causing his sensory issues). Make sure he follows his ortho's recommendations to the letter. If they recommend surgery, then get it, same with shots, etc. There are many things that you can request the least invasive path for, but when you are loosing feeling and/or muscle control, it is imperative to protect the nerves as soon as possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.