I know this post is super old but I am so happy to finally find someone with the exact same problems as me. I was involved in a really bad car accident 3 months ago and broke my L5 transverse process. I was pretty much on bedrest for 2months to let the bone heal I went to physical therapy, massages, pain management, and even a custom made brace to wear. I thought I was better because I was finally mobile again I went to work and I'm a nurse so I work crazy hours and a lot of movement my pain came back as it felt at the beginning with my lower back hurting, right side of my pelvic bone, I get spasms and worst of all I get a shooting pain down my right leg midway from my knee and up my back. My MRI two weeks ago came back normal. I don't understand how if I'm having all these symptoms and now I'm still working but just working half shifts because it hurts if I stand for to long or sit, or lay, or walk! I have to be constantly changing positions! Please let me know what type of treatment you guys have had! My primary care doctor believes I should be fully healed and have no pain by now. I think she thinks that I am making this up but after reading your comments it was a reassurance that I'm not making this up!! It's true pain!
Hey guys I broke off the L2-L5 transverse processes when I was working under the table for some people now I have constant pain they were broke off right next to spine doctors acted like it was nothing I don't know what I can possibly do about the pain can anyone help. Have two small kids sole custody I need to be better or at least manageable
I broke L1-4 13 years ago. Followed all medical advice but tried to ignore it and live. Injections gave 3 days relief. Finally medication Target 20-10 (morphine) gives relative relief. But lately pain has been relentless. Aged 73 now. Hope everyone reports their good news.
I had a very high fall in May, broke transverse process L1-4 (all displaced fractures) and had a large hematoma and retro peritoneal tear all along the same area, left side entire back flank, needed a spleen and pancreas repair shattered the base of my thumb that connects to my wrist, my entire back flank and lumbar is in constant pain... I'm seeing my Dr about it this week, but I feel like the pain is never going to get better. To the point where surgery doesn't even scare me if it means relief. Hope you feel better soon... It's very hard. Sending you all support.
I know this is an older post but wanted to add my comment to it as well. In 2014 I was involved in a wreck involving polytrauma. One of the set of injuries I sustained was Fracture of 5-10 Transverse Processes and a wedging (compression fracture) of T6. It is now September 2016 and T6 is still nonunion.
I have enormous back pain which which varies from my mid-lower back to the entire length of my back. Sometimes it feels like my spinal cord is throbbing (though it may not be my spinal cord just the best description I can give) from my tailbone all the way under my skull. I notice an increase in pain if I do anything for too long or remain in place for too long and then go to move (walking, sitting, standing, laying on one side, etc).
I also broke ribs 2-11 on the Right side with Flail Chest Lung Contusions and Pneumothorax and Hemothorax. I have since had ribs 5-10 plated (some are still nonunion under plates).
The pain is always there, despite NSAIDS and Narcotics. The best relief I get is in water (pool) or from Tens Unit....IBU is contraindicated for Bone Growth trauma surgeon told me so haven't taken that for well over a year now.
I guess I am learning what the long term affects of polytrauma are.
I also was diagnosed with Neurogenic Bladder and Shattered Scapula (eventually repaired surgically for Scapula) Anyone else with similar issues?
Feel free to message me with questions.
Hi biscotti73,
I broke L1 and L2 transverse processes and I have pain in left pelvis above my hip just like you described. Doctors say it is a radiated pain. But I am not sure. How did yours end? I would really apperciate your answer.
Thank you in advance
I recently broke 4 of my lumbar processes. Can you tell me where your pain was? I have swelling extreme tenderness at fracture site but most intense pain in my pelvis above my left buttock like being electroctued. It travels to my hip down to my knee. I think I have a seperate issue there but xrays of hip/pelvis showed nothing. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I broke all the lumbar transverse processes on the right side and most on the left side with a fracture dislocation of the l4 l5. I feel great, fused 3 years ago. Thanks a lot doc
I broke left l1 and l2 tv completely off . I have a piece in my vertebral foramen at l4-5, and a piece apparently stuck to the outside of my aortoiliac artery. I've gone through 5 mri and 3D ct video disks and the missing pieces are not attached to the ligament. I don't care about the piece in my gut..., but should I do something about the one in my eqina?
25 years ago I broken 4 transverse processes as a result of wrecking my motorcycle. All on my right side. At the same time I broke 6 ribs on the same side, punctured lung, etc. I've healed for the most part, but have developed scoliosis (curvature of the spine). This has resulted in a spinal fusion that I deeply regret. I very recently figured out the cause. Some very important muscles run from the hip to the transverse process. Breaking the transverse process create an imbalance that in time can cause scoliosis. If you have the same condition and are developing scoliosis, I offer the following caution - DO NOT LET A SURGEON FUSE YOU before looking into Scroth method of exercising. I'm confident this is helping me. Its certainly helping my pain.
Hi i have had 2 fractures of the ribs in the transvers process, on the left in ribs 2 and 3, after 2 years of not healing and having enough of the pain, i have seen a surgion in st vincents private, sydney who elected to do suregery on me never been done before, he remover the transvers process and did bone grafts, one year on and i have improved quite alot the rehabilitation process took a long time due to not knowing how the body would respond but after 6mths i am off pain relief completely and only very rairly have pain, but panadole or codein helps
I to had three cervical transverse processes broken off. I was told at the time that these would never heal. Additionally I had bi-lateral jumped facets (dislocated/broken neck) at c6-c7 that led to a spinal cord injury and nerve root lesions. My brachial plexus was also damaged. This has caused constant muscle spasms in the left side of the neck, shoulder, back. Although I have an intrathecal baclofen/morphine pump I still have upper back spasms and isolated spasms in the neck that the pump doesn't offer total relief for.
Of course my ongoing PT (10 years) involves trying to touch my ear to shoulder. This stretching generally causes more pain in the levator scapula high in the neck where the broken transverse processes are.
Are the broken transverse processes causing this increased pain in my neck, keeping in mind that these are not new exercises?
Oh yeah, my hemotoma is still there, discoloration is gone, but a hand sized mass of tissue and a lil bit of pressure felt stabbing felt when touched even lightly. Drs dont even address this, as it stuns them....
Hi! I , too, have broken off 7 trans process'. They are nonunions and will never reattactch, as its been 6 yrs. I was ejected from my Jeep, wearing a seatbelt, thru a fiberglass roof.
I too, have severe mid-lower back pain where they broke off. Also, the ribs that attatched to those vertebrea are also nonunions (Ibroke all 12 ribs on rt side), 6 nonunion ribs to be exact. Im interested, did u also have broken ribs in that area? Im in pain management, taking handfuls of pills daily and drs want to do cryoblation, but I dont feel I have nerve pain, but bone pain....Whats ur thoughts?
Thank you for help.
Regards, Joe
Hi,
How are you?
Yes it quite possible that the back pain that you have is due to fracture of transverse processes in the lumbar region.
Generally the treatment of fracture transverse processes is conservative. Patients are usually advised to wear a thoracolumbar corset and participate in aerobic walking program.
Please consult your orthopedic specialist about these options. Hope it helps!