Help! We just found out that our son has not only 1, but 2 stress fractures in his L5. He is in a back brace and on anti-inflammatory drugs. This condition is somewhat common in adolescent boy athletes, nonetheless, we are worried. He is devastated that he has to sit out of summer lacrosse and fall football. My real concern is him getting depressed. His life revolves around sports. How can we keep him entertained/busy while he is supposed to be "resting?" Luckily, there is no surgery invoved and they will heal themselves over time. The doctor said, patience, time and rest is all we can do.
Thank you to all of you who responded. Moms are so smart! The upshot is that he actually has 2 (bi-lateral they call it) stress fractures, which is way worse than just one side. He will begin physical therapy in the next couple of weeks. He is very sad about not playing sports for a while, but I think we have him talked into learning to play the acoustic guitar! He will likely never play football again, which is the saddest part of all. He was so looking forward to playing in high school. Things could be a lot worse, thoug! I appreciate all your thoughts, suggestions and prayers!!!!
I would look into some books by athletes who had to recover from injuries. Maybe some autobiographies go into detail about how important rest is to fully recover. A librarian should be able to help you.
Good luck!
Can he still sit with his team during the games - on the bench? Talk to the coach to see if he can still be involved with the team somehow in lieu of playing. Maybe he can take over as "team manager" while he is out. Good Luck!
Dear MamaT:
My nephew LIVES for videogames and sports. Could you buy your son some special games, either extras or some slightly expensive ones for a treat, and invite his friends over for a gamer party?
If he can't get out, bring the friends and the fun in.
L. F., mom of a 14-year-old daughter
My nephew in San Antonio is going through this too! He has to wear a back brace and is depressed about not being able to play basketball or go swimming (he was a lifeguard) or anything active. He likes video games, but those get old pretty quickly. He still goes to practices and the games to support the team, but it's not the same. I'm giving him some DVD's and books, but he's probably going to have to just adjust until he heals and can get active again. Good luck to your son!
