Vertebral Fracture in Fitzroy North: What You Need to Know

Experiencing a vertebral fracture can be an overwhelming and challenging experience to recover from, but this doesn’t mean there is no safe protocol and successful treatment pathway out there. At Melbourne Massage and Treatment, I am here to assist you in this complex journey, which could be by offering MLD treatment, Myotherapy or Fitness Class. But let’s first understand what fractured vertebrae mean, and what we have to be aware of when working with this type of injury.

Spinal Damage vs. No Spinal Damage

Let’s start to look into what difference makes to have a spinal fracture where the spinal cord was injured and where it was not.

• With spinal cord damage, a fracture may injure the spinal cord or nerves, leading to severe symptoms such as numbness, weakness, or paralysis. These cases are medical emergencies requiring hospital care. The rehabilitation process for someone who encounters spinal damage varies based on the severity of the injury. Surgery may be necessary to repair the nerve, but there is also the fact to consider that there may not be a recovery option and life paralysis (quadriplegic or paraplegic) as an outcome.

• Without spinal cord damage, it is a result of a bone fracture only, without affecting the cord. These are painful but often managed with an initial period of rest and bracing and gradual rehabilitation.

At our Fitzroy North clinic, Giovanni carefully assesses your needs and works alongside your medical team to provide safe and effective rehabilitation.

Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Vertebrae

Your spine has three main regions, and fractures behave differently depending on location:

• Cervical (neck): Mobile but delicate; fractures here can have severe consequences.

• Thoracic (mid-back): Stabilised by the rib cage, but injuries here often come from higher-energy impacts.

• Lumbar (lower back): These vertebrae carry the body’s weight, so fractures here cause significant pain and restricted movement.

Based on where the fracture is, the treatment and recovery options and plans differ.

Scans for Diagnosis

To properly understand the type of fracture and the severity of the fracture itself, scans are essential. Here is a short list of what diagnostic scans are available and which are most commonly used, and why:

• X-ray: The first step to confirm a fracture. This type of test is good to see the fracture at the bond level; it is quick, but as a downside, it exposes you to radiation.

• CT scan: Provides detailed 3D imaging to assess the fracture’s stability. The downside of a CT scan is that, as it is based on X-Ray technology, it can still expose you to radiation, and it can take longer to be delivered, and it is essential to be lying down while receiving the scan.

• MRI scan: Compared to X-Ray technology, MRI scan would not expose you to radiation, and is used to detect any involvement of nerves, discs, or the spinal cord along the fracture, as this type of scan is used for water-based tissue in the body, and not bones.

These scans help guide safe rehabilitation, ensuring the right treatment approach from day one.

Something else to keep in mind from the result of the scan is that not everything that a scan shows must impact your life. Indeed, a building disk may show in your scan, but that doesn’t mean that that specific pathology is something related to your spine fracture (it may have been there already before), and that doesn’t mean the body would not look after it while you are recovering from the spine injury.

Types of Vertebral Fracture

Common fracture types include:

• Compression fracture – vertebra collapses, often linked to osteoporosis (also called a wedging fracture).
• Burst fracture – bone shatters outward, sometimes threatening the spinal cord.
• Flexion-distraction fracture – usually from high-speed accidents where the spine bends suddenly.
• Fracture-dislocation – bone and soft tissues are displaced, often requiring surgery.
• Avulsion – It is a type of stress fracture, characterised by a small piece of bone pulled away from the main bone by a muscle or ligament (typical along the transverse process).

Mechanism of Injury

Fractures can occur from:

• High-energy trauma – car accidents, falls, sports collisions.
• Low-energy stress – in osteoporosis, even coughing or bending can trigger a fracture.
• Scheuermann’s disease – in this specific condition, the vertebrae may grow at different heights compared to the sagittal plane.

A meticulous clinical history intake can help in figuring out he chance of you suffering from a vertebral fracture.

Healing Time and Recovery

As per all non-complex bone fractures, most vertebral fractures take 8–12 weeks to heal, even if recovery varies depending on age, bone health, and whether surgery was required. What we know is that nothing can actually boost the healing, but different therapies, active and passive, can help in assisting the healing process, ensuring a positive outcome. What then can be done during the recovery time is:

• Early phase: Pain management and protection of the fracture.
• Rehabilitation phase: Gentle guided movement, strengthening, and improving mobility.

With myotherapy support, clients can return to safe daily activities while minimising the risk of re-injury.

What to Avoid in the Early Stages of a Vertebral Fracture

As mentioned earlier, in the early stage of vertebral fracture, it is important to prevent further damage to the spine and wear a corset that helps in stabilising the spine, while the body is starting the calcification of the bone. Even though you may wear a support, you will want to avoid:

• Heavy lifting, twisting, or bending movements.
• Prolonged sitting without support.
• High-impact exercise or activities.

Movement is still recommended, as it can still promote fluid movement and relaxation. Therefore, it is possible to go for walks, move your arms, and move your legs even if in a seated position.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage in the Early Phase of a Vertebral Fracture

At Melbourne Massage and Treatment, I got to offer MLD as a form of treatment for relaxation, which can have a positive impact on pain perception and tension relief from the spine area.

MLD is a gentle touch, hands-on treatment, non-invasive that stimulates the lymphatic system. This last one is the body system that takes care of the inflammation, and as a result of its stimulation, you would be left with a deep sensation of relaxation, which helps with pain modulation.I

In conclusion, if you’re managing a vertebral fracture or dealing with ongoing back pain in Melbourne, book an appointment at our Fitzroy North clinic today and take the first step toward safe, effective rehabilitation.

📍 Melbourne Massage and Treatment – Fitzroy North
Your partner in recovery and spinal health.

FAQ – Vertebral Fracture Rehabilitation