Hi, I also just fell directly on my behind onto a hard ground (was standing on a bed; not a good idea). CT scan and x-ray show an L1 (endplate) compression fracture. I'm not sure if it was my mother's prayers or what, but I went from excruciating pain (Days 1-3) to barely any pain at all (end of Week 2). BUT, I also prepared for the worst before I got the radiologist report, log roll into/out of bed, do not pick up anything heavy or twist my back. I also lay down flat mostly unless I had to get up and eat/go to restroom in Week 1, lay down flat + walk/stand (75%, 25%) in Week 2, lie:stand/walk 50:50 in Week 4, and now 25:75 lie:walk/stand. I barely sit for > 15 min at a time to avoid pain, and absolutely will stay this conservative until after month 3. The reason why is how bone remodeling works. I'm not sure if vertebrae are any different, but it takes a good 3-6 months for a broken bone --> cartilage-like remodeled bone --> hard, mature bone. Even that initial remodeled bone (often pain free) is not considered risk-free, since it can be more flexible than mature bone, which can take another year or so. So I'm guessing 1-1.5 years before I do normal activities like jump or carry heavy weights. Due to lack of pain, it's easy to go overboard, but I am not about to be a statistic. Once you suffer a vertebral fracture, you waaay more likely to have another one (compared to those who never break it). So stay conservative, squat with a straight back and brace for short periods of times, and keep conservative for about a year, folks!