If this is a new fracture-and you can tell by the T2 vs. STIR images (more complex than will be discussed here-but can be distinguished by a radiologist), then this is an acute Schmoral’s node, a fracture of the center of the endplate where the “jelly” of the disc pushes into the endplate and herniates into the bone of the vertebral body (“noted it appeared the center of the discs had been ‘pushed’ up into the vertebrae”).
If this is so, two things. First, these fractures will “heal” (become non-painful) in about 3 months most of the time. The second is that a 10 inch drop should not cause a fresh fracture of the vertebral body without some abnormal bone being present-such as osteoporosis. You should have a bone density test.
Dr. Corenman
