On Friday in Morzine I had a bad fall and landed arse first at speed on some tree roots, stopping dead with no roll.  After managing to ride down into Les Gets and 3 hospitals later, it turned out I had chipped and fractured my L4 Vertebrate and possible L5-S1.  Also there is previous damage to my other lower back vertebrate, L2, L3, L5 that I did not know about.  I have been told by several consultants I am lucky to not have damaged my spinal cord and be walking.

The point of this post is to encourage people to wear a proper back support designed to limit back movement (hyperextension-hyperflexion) in a crash.  The damage was caused by the force of my lower body stopping so fast, my back flex forwards enough for two vertebrate to compress the flexible disc between, and collide.  I was wearing a dainese safety jacket with a back protector designed to limit movement.  I'll never know, but the doctors seem to think it probably reduced the severity of the injury.  Be sure your back protector does prevent this, as far as I know only dainese do, and wear it!

I will be reconsidering my armour for riding in the future, probably ensuring I wear my back protector on it's own if I'm doing a 'no armour' day.  My injury was trying to ride an easy trail fast and I'd been in the alps all season doing far more dangerous riding.

I will be fine in a few weeks and a few months till it is fully healed.  Here is a scan of the damage, as a picture will make people think more than words:

Internal view, looking from the top down at L4.

Savage. hope you get better soon.

Every time I get on the DH bike I put my kit on. However it is the XC bike that I come off the most.

Jeebus Sol, not cool! You especially are supposed to be looking after your back, given your history!

Hope you have a smooth recovery.