L1 Compression Fracture - Should I take this job?

[Mattconch]

On April 5th I was hiking at a local park and fell backwards about 10-15 feet and got a compression fracture in my L1 vertebrae.  
I went to the E.R. and I was told the fracture was pretty minor, and that I probably wouldn't get any surgery. I got sent home with a brace and a follow up appointment with a neurosurgeon.  I rested a lot and met with my neurosurgeon a few weeks later.  The guy sort of rubbed me the wrong way because I was trying to get a lot of questions answered and he seemed flustered by this. He said that his plan was to treat conservatively and 'see how it goes'. Anyways, I stayed out of work for about three weeks.  I was able to do stuff like tie my shoes and put on pants and underwear with little to no pain by around 1.5-2 weeks.  Going back to work was pretty easy, I work in a fast food restaurant.  I got tired easier, and couldn't bend over the same way, or do any really heavy lifting, but I was able to pretty much take care of all of my normal responsibilities.
After my last appointment which was three weeks ago I had the same disappointment of still feeling like I had no idea what was going on with me after speaking with the doctor.  He told me the brace could come off if I was sitting around at home.  He said I probably had about 8 more weeks in the brace.  This surprised me because I had read a lot of information on the internet saying that the brace should be worn for as little time as possible, but I figured he knew better than I.  It is such a relief to take the brace off, like I can finally relax some of the muscles of my back.  Lately, I have only been wearing my brace at work.  I can go hiking, swimming, walking with a backpack, rearrange furniture, and I even helped unload a moving truck.  I can do this all with no pain.  However I have had some minor pain after sleeping.  The pain is pretty minor, but I am having trouble discerning whether it is muscle soreness or pain in the spine itself.  The pain is certainly in the lumbar "L1" area.  Logic would tell me this is normal since that part of my back was immobilized for almost 3 solid months.  

Fast forward and I have gotten an opportunity to do some conservation trail work with americorps in Arizona (I now live in colorado) starting late august.  For me, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  I would be hiking to location and rebuilding various trails for 9 days on, 5 days off, until late december.  This would've left me almost 5 months to heal and recover.
Do I take the job?

[philnoir]

Vertebra heal slowly. Having no idea of the extent of your injury, it would be difficult for even an experienced orthopaedist to predict your healing time.

Trail building is hard work that requires a healthy low back. Fortunately, most debilitating low back injuries occur in the lower lumbar vertebra, specifically the L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels.

If you want to do this job, prepare by building up the core muscles that support your lower spine, and therefore, the rest of the body.

At the same time, stretch those long muscles of the back to help maintain proper spine alignment.

A physical therapist can help you prepare for this effort and minimize the risk of self-injury during training.

Is your mattress firm? A sagging mattress causes many a morning muscular back ache. We are designed to sleep with our spines perfectly aligned.

Finally, ask your doctor whether or not you should sign up with Americorps. It does sound like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If you can't get an opinion from your neurologist, get a second opinion from an experienced spine surgeon. (Many neurologists have trouble communicating with their patients -- perhaps there is something wrong with their brain?)

Best wishes.

[caregiver222]

The answer is No in capital letters. That is, unless you like playing Russian roulette. That's just a personal opinion.  Depending on the nature of the injury you will may (and I emphasize MAY)  have a lifetime handicap. The last thing you need is to be immobilized in the middle of nowhere. These injuries are also sensitive to lack of hydration. You must keep well-hydrated (the injured tissues are filled with fluid). Nature hiking often goes hand and hand with dehydration. The fracture will have healed. What hasn't healed is the compression of the nerves and the crushing of the cartilidge. At the very least get another recent MRI to determine disc damage. Pain problems from these injuries often develop from eight to twelve months after the injury.