I broke my back today...

[Guitarded]

I was excited that I would finally be able to get out of the house to work today (we had two feet of snow dumped on us a few days ago). My boss pulled up to my driveway, I made my way out the door, and lost my footing. My feet flew straight forward and I landed straight on my ass on the hard ice. I felt the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. I figured maybe sitting down for a minute would help, so he drove us to work. It only got worse while I was there so I told him "Yeah, I need to go to the hospital."

My boss drove me to the hospital where I had both an X-ray and CT scan. A little while later, the doctor finally came back into the room. "I'm not sure how you did it, but you did a good job. You have a compression fracture in your T12 vertebrae. It lost 25% of its original height." I got stuck with a back brace, some Lortabs, and an upcoming appointment with a neurosurgeon.

At least I can still walk.

But still, WTF? Yesterday I walked 2 miles in this shit and got home perfectly fine. Today? I walk 10 feet and break my back. Damn it. Who breaks their back when they're 24? /le sigh

 

[Kestra]

I'm so sorry to hear that. And yeah, slips like that can be horrible. It doesn't matter what age you are. I actually have a lot of back issues and I'm only 27. They started when I was even younger than you. Keep us updated on your condition ... I am very sympathetic!

 

[tharpdevenport]

A little hard work never hurt anyone: they lied!


That's a heck of a nice boss -- coming to your house to pick you up.



Is this perminent, or weill you heal? Will you be a tad bit shorter now?

 

[Guitarded]

A little hard work never hurt anyone: they lied!


That's a heck of a nice boss -- coming to your house to pick you up.



Is this perminent, or weill you heal? Will you be a tad bit shorter now?

Yeah, my boss is awesome. He took me to Walgreen's afterward and paid for my Lortab scrip since I'm broke. They said it should heal within four to six weeks. Not sure about the height thing.

 

[auntiehill]

Jesus! I hope you heal quickly; I damaged my lower back years ago, and didn't give it the attention I should have. And BOY, have I paid for it.

That's a pretty serious injury; you're lucky it wasn't worse. Take care of yourself and get lots of rest.

 

[ThankQ]

Oh man, I hope you get better soon! FYI, if you're anything like me, be sure to have plenty of food in your belly when you take those Lortabs. They cause some people quite the tummy ache. When and where is your appointment? I assume you'll be goint to St. Johns or St. Francis?

Slips on the ice can be so random. I've seen tiny falls break bones and I've seen people get a smackdown and walk away laughing. Best I can say to everyone is wear gloves so you won't be tempted to put your hands in your pockets. Having the arms free for balance can prevent a lot of falls.

Let us know how your appointment goes. I'm betting you're in for a painful ride with everything working out fine eventually.

 

[Guitarded]

Oh man, I hope you get better soon! FYI, if you're anything like me, be sure to have plenty of food in your belly when you take those Lortabs. They cause some people quite the tummy ache. When and where is your appointment? I assume you'll be goint to St. Johns or St. Francis?

Slips on the ice can be so random. I've seen tiny falls break bones and I've seen people get a smackdown and walk away laughing. Best I can say to everyone is wear gloves so you won't be tempted to put your hands in your pockets. Having the arms free for balance can prevent a lot of falls.

Let us know how your appointment goes. I'm betting you're in for a painful ride with everything working out fine eventually.

Are you in the area? Just wondering, since you knew the local hospitals.

I went to St. Johns for the ER trip. I have to wait until Monday to call the neurosurgeon to set up the appointment, which they expect to be on Wednesday.

 

[ThankQ]

Oh man, I hope you get better soon! FYI, if you're anything like me, be sure to have plenty of food in your belly when you take those Lortabs. They cause some people quite the tummy ache. When and where is your appointment? I assume you'll be goint to St. Johns or St. Francis?

Slips on the ice can be so random. I've seen tiny falls break bones and I've seen people get a smackdown and walk away laughing. Best I can say to everyone is wear gloves so you won't be tempted to put your hands in your pockets. Having the arms free for balance can prevent a lot of falls.

Let us know how your appointment goes. I'm betting you're in for a painful ride with everything working out fine eventually.

Are you in the area? Just wondering, since you knew the local hospitals.

I went to St. Johns for the ER trip. I have to wait until Monday to call the neurosurgeon to set up the appointment, which they expect to be on Wednesday.

Yeah, I live on Brookside. I do quite a bit of work in Owasso. My sister works at Hillcrest. I used to date a girl who has a brother who is a bigwig at St. Johns. I don't have any favors to call in for you or any strings to pull or anything like that.

In fact, were it not for all the snow, I would have been spending my Friday/Saturday in Owasso.

 

[Guitarded]

You need to eat at CiCi's some time (after I start working again...)

 

[ThankQ]

You need to eat at CiCi's some time (after I start working again...)

The one in Owasso or the one on Brookside (51st and Peoria)?

 

[Guitarded]

Owasso.

 

[ThankQ]

Owasso.

Fine, make me drive

We'll do it some Saturday when I'm on my way back home from Owasso.

 

[Guitarded]

Owasso.

Fine, make me drive

We'll do it some Saturday when I'm on my way back home from Owasso.

Awesome!

Not sure how long I'll be out of commission. I could work the register, but that job usually entails keeping the salad bar full, which requires quite a bit of bending down/stooping. I can walk just fine; it's the bending/twisting that I have to avoid.

Edit: The thing that pissed me off the MOST about this visit? There's millions of dollars flowing around for the advancement of medical technology... and not a DAMN ONE has been put toward improving hospital gowns.

 

[ThankQ]

^OH! You work there. I didn't get that. I thought you were just saying we should meet up for lunch Now I see how it is, you're just trying to make money off me

Well now you have a reason to hurry up and heal. I'm suddenly in the mood for a pile of tiny slices of pizza.

 

[Guitarded]

^OH! You work there. I didn't get that. I thought you were just saying we should meet up for lunch Now I see how it is, you're just trying to make money off me

Well now you have a reason to hurry up and heal.

Pfft, as if the pain wasn't reason enough.

Maybe you should pray for me.

 

[Alpha Romeo]

Two words: workers' compensation. Call a lawyer.

 

[Guitarded]

Two words: workers' compensation. Call a lawyer.

It didn't happen at work.

 

[farmkid]

But still, WTF? Yesterday I walked 2 miles in this shit and got home perfectly fine. Today? I walk 10 feet and break my back. Damn it. Who breaks their back when they're 24? /le sigh

Sorry to hear about that. And yeah, you are lucky you can still walk, and that you didn't do any more damage to it in the time between the accident and when you went to the hospital.

My cousin's son broke his back about a year ago. It was his 18th birthday and he was a freshman at college. He went snowboarding and broke his back. He was fortunate like you in that he didn't damage his spinal cord. He's fine now.

 

[ancientone51]

So sorry to hear this. Take care and do not push too hard, set backs take longer to heal.

 

[ThankQ]

Two words: workers' compensation. Call a lawyer.

It didn't happen at work.

And it sounds like your boss was super cool about it. I've had bosses who would have told me to suck it up and finish your shift! It's two feet of snow, I can't call anyone in... or call a cab or ambulence and pay for it on your own nickle! I gotta open up shop!