C1 fracture healing and prognosis?

@jnj59 thanks for asking! Just got back from a surf trip to Fiji and was able to surf waves up to 4-6 feet (even though spine doc said to keep it restricted to very small waves). I was cleared out of the neck brace about a month ago and have my final CT scan in 2 weeks. We'll see if the C1 has healed or if I'm going to have to live with a "fibrous union", but I do have probably about 70% of my pre-injury neck motion, but it's going to be a while to get back to 100%.

BTW, I did get on a "Wolverine Stack" (BPC-157/TB-500) for a month prior to the trip. It remains to be seen if it helped the bone heal until I get my next CT scan. My spine doc actual said even though there was no evidence that it helps, it wouldn't hurt to keep taking it.

Hi there. I had laminectomy 15 yrs ago so my trauma wasn't severe but nevertheless I broke my c1. My fracture looks like your anterior fracture and laminectomy looks like your posterior fracture so have about same support of c1 :/ did dr say that you could just live life and wait for it to heal? Did your 13 week ct scan show any union more so than the 9 week? Looks like the 9 week had no bone or fibrous adjoining. I am at 6 and half weeks in brace and just don't know what future holds ie certian surgery if it doesn't heal. Is the pain still there? I think mine is stable, don't see neurosurgeon til 9th tho to get mri/ct he did after er visit ct. Sounds like non union isn't a definite surgery?

@jayreale that’s great! I’m so glad you are feeling good. I just got the ok to come out of my hard collar 10 days ago. My CT 12 weeks post-op showed a bony callus on the posterior fracture line and the anterior “should” be a fibrous union. I have to say I feel just as bad as I did pre-op unfortunately. My head feels incredibly heavy. I maybe have 20-30% range of motion right now. It’s been almost 7 months since initial injury and that is a long time to be in a cervical collar. I can’t tilt, lean or bend over without getting dizzy. I can start physical therapy end of this week and really hope to start feeling better soon. I went from a very active, physical lifestyle to this which has been a very hard adjustment

The physical therapy will sort you out. Those neck muscles have atrophied so they need to be strengthened again.

My last CT showed no progression on the healing of either side of my C1 unfortunately, but I do have about 80% of my mobility of my neck back and have been surfing (albeit smaller, less threatening waves-doc's orders) since returning, They are now thinking the posterior gap in my C1 was congenital, but the anterior just isn't healing. Xrays coming in about 7 weeks on my neck visit. We'll see.

Best of luck with your PT!

@mrjayb

I just joined this group so am just now seeing this post. I hope you are now fully recovered.

I fractured my C2 (odontoid type 3) 13 months ago in a freak fall. No surgery necessary. Three months in brace before the bone fully healed. Been doing PT ever since. I’m doing very well overall though still fighting to regain full range of motion. Fully functional with the exception of not riding a bike. Manageable level of pain.

How are you doing now almost one year out?

@jnj59

Just seeing your post now as I just joined this group. Wondering how you are doing?

I fractured my C2 13 months ago. No surgery needed. Was in Aspen brace for three months. Been doing PT ever since. Manageable levels of pain. WS able to resume driving and walking the dog after six months. The PT has been more difficult for me than being in brace as I have been slow to regain full range of motion especially on my left side where the fracture was.

@juju690 --doing great, going for CT scan in Sept-- the culprit was my back stenosis, etc on multiple levels. Went to see Dr. about the Aurora Zip Procedure; he said nerves were so compressed he couldn't see them. Now I will be getting an MRI for a LAMIECTOMY, hopefully soon because alot of back pain down both legs, calves, ankles and feet. Waiting for MRI and then talk to DR. and make appt for operation, hopefully real soon.