it depends on how it was broken.. were discs displaced?

I googled it and found this:

When an injury occurs in the back area of the spine, and the individual vertabrae become fractured or dislocated, the back can be described as broken.

These 22 sections form the mid to lower portion of our “backbone” and they also serve to protect the spinal cord from injury. If the vertebrae are broken or severely dislocated, but the spinal cord is unharmed, then no neurological problems result. People with this type of injury are treated very carefully while the bones heal to avoid damage to the spinal cord.

If the spinal cord is bruised or partially damaged due to swelling or laceration, then paraplegia or other neurological problems may occur.

I think I get it now. His back will either heal itself, or if the spinal cord was also damaged then he might be paralysed in some way. I dont think hes paralysed because he does a lot of walking, which is why I didnt understand why he cant get a job. Most likely he has a neurological problem as that would explain why he cant work...right?

it depends on the line of work he was in.. if it was say, construction, and his back was pretty messed up, then prolly not because his back will more than likely be weak for the rest of his life, and he cant do heavy lifting and such.

My FIL fell out of a tree years ago and broke his back in 3 places, I think. The doctors told him he would never walk again. He walked out of the hospital. He has a lot of problems with his back now (lot of pain and gets down sometimes), but he is walking and he worked for years after that accident.

Thanks girls. I've just asked the guy by email...so we'll see. Im a bit suspicious about it since he isnt paralysed, or maybe he is im not sure yet.

I know my mom broke her back when I was a lil girl in a car accident. She laid around for a long time and wore a back brace. I'm not sure the extent of the injury but she's okay now. She does get "down" in her back at least 3-4 times a year though.

well u gotta understand how the back is a major part of ur body structurally.. its like, the heart of ur posture, ur walk, the way you sit.. it affects a lot of things, and if its weak or compramised, theres gunna be problems.

make sense?