WAG Bone bruise on spine?

[Committed]

DD, almost 8yo, went to the Dr. yesterday because of nagging lower back pain. DD says she was injured around late Nov/early Dec. doing a front layout onto a mat in the pit. She jammed her back, and it just never cleared up.
Anyway, at the Dr. she got X-rays that came out clear and was told she should 'probably' take 3-4 weeks off gym. Then, she was referred to a PT.

She went to the PT today, and he is pretty sure she has a bone bruise on her spine. However, he still wants her to get more X-rays with more views/angles because he's not convinced there is no fracture. I wasn't there, so I'm just waiting to be contacted.
Oh .... and he says 2 months off gym.

Any one go through something like this? I'm confused about the conflicting information and healing time. Does this mean ZERO gym or modified gym?

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Seeker]

I would do zero gym at least until you get more x-Rays and a confirmstion there's no fracture. Then you can get a better idea of how to proceed. Good luck.

 

[IreneKa]

They only did X-ray and that's it? What kind of doctor was that?
When DD had lower back pain, and X-ray didn't show anything, they orders an MRI. They said it's common for X-ray not to show things like small fractures. Find another doctor that would do MRI or CT scan. If it's a stress fracture, she might need a back brace.

 

[Committed]

They only did X-ray and that's it? What kind of doctor was that?
When DD had lower back pain, and X-ray didn't show anything, they orders an MRI. They said it's common for X-ray not to show things like small fractures. Find another doctor that would do MRI or CT scan. If it's a stress fracture, she might need a back brace.

Well, her pain is mostly on one side... which I took as a good sign it's not a fracture, but what do I know?
I'm just waiting to hear....... but I did prepare DD with the possibility of a brace after hearing what your DD went through.

Seeker- of course! I've already taken her out for this week.

 

[GymCMLA]

I agree that am MRI should probably be done b/c Xrays can miss stress fractures or subtle fractures. Second doctor is right that more views on Xray can help. I also think that a bruise should be healed in the last 3 months. Anything nagging this long needs more in depth eval which means MRI in this situation.

 

[mariposa]

I would have her seen a pediatric orthopedic doctor that specializes in backs if you can. Or at least a pediatric ortho /sports med doctor. She definitely needs more testing. I would keep my kid gym until then. Especially if pain has never gotten better since the injury despite 3-4 weeks rest and PT back when she was first injured.

My daughter injured her back similarly around same age. Had x-ray and CT, no fracture seen. Did nothing but conditioning, etc, for a few weeks, then slowly when she went back, pain had gone away, stayed away.

Does she have pain with hyper extension of her back like in back walkover, back bend, etc ? If so, I'd definitely get her in to see a specialist. When my daughter jammed her back this past winter, pediatric spine specialist wasn't worried because she had no pain with hyper extension at all. He didn't even do x-rays. Just rx'd anti-inflammatory, ice and rest (nothing that caused pain) for 2 weeks, then slowly back to prior activity level and to return if she wasn't better after 2 weeks of rest, ice, anti-inflammatories.

Hope everything is okay and she doesn't have a fracture. But if she does, they can heal and go on to do gymnastics.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

i would assume that the Doc will order an MRI. wait until after that to rule out a fracture. if there is no fracture she will have modified gym. if there is a fracture, depending on where it is located and how bad/good it might be, it could still be modified gym. but if its location is bad AND it's fractured then she'll have to lay off until it is healed. let us know what the outcome is.

 

[my4buffaloes]

If you keep her out until you get another Xray and an MRI it might be 3-4 weeks LOL. I think you are doing the right thing to keep pursuing this. Hoping it isn't too severe, but back pain is not to be taken lightly.

 

[shelovestoflip]

Well, her pain is mostly on one side... which I took as a good sign it's not a fracture, but what do I know?
I'm just waiting to hear....... but I did prepare DD with the possibility of a brace after hearing what your DD went through.

Seeker- of course! I've already taken her out for this week.

I've been down the stress fracture in the back route with my daughter. Honestly, pain on mostly one side can be indicative of a stress fracture, as the fracture tends to be one sided early on. Which is def when you want to catch it because a stress fracture on both sides is not a good thing.

As others have said, get a pediatric sports ortho but in the meantime, get your regular ortho to order MRI as it will show fracture (actually inflammation) whereas regular X-ray will not.

And as others have said, don't do anything at gym other than conditioning that doesn't involve back! Arm strength?!

You didn't mention what level your daughter is. Stress fractures in the back are often seen around level 5/6 when the back walkovers are constant.

Let us know how things are going.

 

[Committed]

I've been down the stress fracture in the back route with my daughter. Honestly, pain on mostly one side can be indicative of a stress fracture, as the fracture tends to be one sided early on. Which is def when you want to catch it because a stress fracture on both sides is not a good thing.

You didn't mention what level your daughter is. Stress fractures in the back are often seen around level 5/6 when the back walkovers are constant.

She's training 5, and doing many L7 skills. She would be fine for most of her practices, but at the end of the night, her back would hurt and she would sit out and ice. It didn't matter what apparatus. It's not just a BWO or beam thing.

I've emailed the Dr. that saw her on Wed. about another Xray/MRI. I was going to contact her primary Ped., but she's out of the office. GRRR. So, I'm just waiting for contact so that I can schedule something.

 

[Quadqueen]

Agree with others...and the fact that it's on one side of the spine does not mean no fracture. Mine had confirmed stress fracture once, and likely an earlier stress fracture, and it was on one side, between L5-L6. Definitely try to get in ASAP for MRI.

 

[shelovestoflip]

She's training 5, and doing many L7 skills. She would be fine for most of her practices, but at the end of the night, her back would hurt and she would sit out and ice. It didn't matter what apparatus. It's not just a BWO or beam thing.

I've emailed the Dr. that saw her on Wed. about another Xray/MRI. I was going to contact her primary Ped., but she's out of the office. GRRR. So, I'm just waiting for contact so that I can schedule something.

Wondering if you've heard anything from your dr re: MRI.

 

[Committed]

Wondering if you've heard anything from your dr re: MRI.

DH took her in to get the 2nd Xray today. Dr. Emailed and said her Xrays were clear and there were no signs of spondy. I asked about an MRI, but it was ignored.
Dr wants DD to continue to see the PT and take 2-3weeks off. Also, she's concerned about DDs hyperflexibility and the fact that she's so prone to injury. We've been referred to a geneticist.

 

[sce]

Did she see a sport doctor or ortho, or was just a ped?

 

[Committed]

She's seen 2 regular Drs and 1 PT.

 

[Deleted member 17723]

Keep pushing the MRI. Back pain, is very important. I was 9 (or 10 I forget lol) when I had back pain. They figured out I had scoliosis, but that wasn't the cause. They checked it out and it was a bone bruise. No gym for 1 month-1.5 months. He said-1 month; if it felt ok the week before, go and do a pretty simple workout. He said pain free for a week before I went into the gym, and then modified work out for 2 weeks. Try and find a pediatric orthopedic, and maybe one that has dealt with gymnastics injuries before. Lol, gymnasts can sometimes be a mystery with injuries... it takes a lot sometimes to figure some things out. Hope she feels better.

 

[sce]

She's seen 2 regular Drs and 1 PT.

I would seek out a sports doctor or orthopedist.

 

[mariposa]

I would definitely push to see an pediatric ortho or sports med doctor. Even if it means paying out of pocket for a consult.

 

[2G1B]

You guys now have me worried... My 8 yo complained of lower back pain. At the time it had, according to her, been really bad. I got her in with the pediatric, sports ortho that most gymnasts in our area go to. He is the head sports doctor for our children's hospital.

He did an xray, said no fracture; but did find scoliosis. Very minor. At that time it hurt for her to bend forward (touch toes) or backwards (bridge motion; but hurt to even barely bend back). He prescribed 6 weeks of pt and follow pt's instructions for activity. Follow up with him in a month.

She finishes pt this week. Saw the ortho last week. He said she is just sore, like muscle sore. At this point the only thing that hurts her back is bending backwards. Twisting and bending forward are fine.

But you guys are saying pain on hyper extending is a concern? The gym has worked out her exercises with the pt and she is doing a lot of core. She is working mostly level 4 stuff. Since she is better I have felt OK; would you still be worried? Honestly, this is my kid that seems to have a low pain threshold, so I generally assume things aren't that bad; but I'd hate to overlook something serious.

 

[IreneKa]

She finishes pt this week. Saw the ortho last week. He said she is just sore, like muscle sore. At this point the only thing that hurts her back is bending backwards. Twisting and bending forward are fine.

But you guys are saying pain on hyper extending is a concern? The gym has worked out her exercises with the pt and she is doing a lot of core. She is working mostly level 4 stuff. Since she is better I have felt OK; would you still be worried? Honestly, this is my kid that seems to have a low pain threshold, so I generally assume things aren't that bad; but I'd hate to overlook something serious.

From what we've been told, any amount of pain, big or small, no back banding skills! Until she is absolutely pain free. Then slowly start adding the skills one at a time, and if any pain, don't do that skill for a couple of weeks, then try again.