Gymnast with Stress Fracture L5 - Treatment?

[yangbopro]

My daughter has been a gymnast for 13 years and is getting ready to compete in college. She has a stress fracture at L5. This happened about 3 1/2 years ago. She took 2 months completely off with physical therapy only. She then began competing again with no symptoms or pain. The injury just resurfaced again. She took 3 months off with again no gymnastics, just physical therapy and working with a strength and conditioning coach. She started back this week to gymnastics and the pain is back.

Are there any other types of treatments? Where do we go from here?

[Mischap123]

With fractures you need time and rest aswell as avoiding irritation(hyperextension of back). Make sure with an x-ray that it is another fracture as opposed to a different injury. Let us know how you go.

[richard parkinson]

I agree. A bone scan and MRI would also be helpful.
Richard Parkinson
Neurosurgeon
St Vincent's Clinic

[coolcat 97]

I understand what your daughter is going through and perviously went through. I am only 14 years old and currently have a stress fracture in my L4 L5 region and 2 deteriated discs, this occured when i was competing level 5 gymnastics. i found this information out 2 years ago when i was 12 and in year 7. I went to physio and had 6 months complete rest, no sport i was only allowed to walk. now 2 years later i am competing level 6 (i had to repeat level 5 because i didnt compete for a year and i wasn't strong enough. ) and still have back pain. the only ting that me and my coach can do is rest and not do anything that hurts my back and also build up my inner core muscles and all belly and back muscles so i can be my strongest for competitions and not get any more hurt. i really am disappointed that i was so young and still have a long life to live, but oh well i love gymnastics to much to give it up.


sorry about the spelling and grammer i didn't proof read it