I hairline fractured t5 in may 2003 in a mountain biking accident and was also diagnosed with 'end plate disruption' and disc damage from t5-t9 and in my cervical spine near c5-c7. It has been 8 months since my injury and the fracture has healed fine, yet I am still in quite a bit of pain. My pt prescribed strengthening, which is going ok, and a tens, which has done nothing, and I am still occasionally taking pain medication. My specialist told me that there is nothing that can be done, that the condition is basically untreatable; it may heal in a couple years, or may never fully heal.

I've done some research on end plates and found they provide the nutrients to the disc nucleus itself; when they are damaged, the disc does not receive the nutrients it needs, leading to early degeneration and other problems.

Has anyone had experience with something similar? Any treatments that have been successful?

Pete