Denny Hamlin has compression fracture in lower back from Sunday crash
By Jenna Fryer
Associated Press
Denny Hamlin suffered a compression fracture in his lower spine during a last-lap crash while racing for the win against former teammate Joey Logano, and Joe Gibbs Racing gave no indication Monday how long its driver could be sidelined.
“I just want to go home,” Hamlin tweeted from a hospital in Southern California. He later posted a photo of himself giving a thumbs-up and appeared to be wearing a back brace
The team said he had what is called an L1 compression fracture; essentially, the first vertebra in the lumbar section of his spine collapsed. Hamlin was expected to be released from the hospital Monday and return to North Carolina to be evaluated by Dr. Jerry Petty of Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates.
NASCAR does not race this weekend, but returns to action April 7 at Martinsville Speedway, where Hamlin has four victories.
Here’s to hoping he has a speedy recovery. GET WELL DENNY!
You’re right, it could have been much worse. That was one hard lick he took to that inside wall. I was reading that that kind of injury takes about 8 weeks to heal, but you know how drivers are. Martinsville has got to be a hard place to tough it out when you’re hurt. Let’s hope for the best when the specialists see him in NC.
Depending on how bad the fracture is, I would expect 6 to 10 weeks, and quite a bit longer if surgery is needed. Maybe Mark Whitener can shed some light on it. I know he was chomping at the bit to get back when he hurt his. I think Denny’s fracture is lower, just below or at the bottom of the rib cage. He could probably be fixed up enough to drive but he probably couldn’t take another wreck. I’m not a doctor and I really have no idea, just speculating. I know most older people who have sore backs, the pain is in the lumbar region of the spine. You don’t want to give it a headstart.
Imagine what the injuries would have been if it was 1998? I knew that’s what it was as soon as they said he had lower back pain, I’m not a doctor but saw a guy hit head on at Pensacola in turn two during a pro late model race I was in, and his injuries were in the same spot, except it was a little worse, I think three fractured vertebra. I’m not a Hamlin fan but I’m glad to hear that’s all it was.
I can speak from experience as I suffered a compression fracture of my L3 not too long ago. It sidelined me from the track for 4 weeks (had to literally beg the Dr to let me come back early) and kept me from walking the stairs for Victory Lane interviews for long after that. It’s kinda funny everyone thought I stopped doing Victory Lane for every Feature because I was lazy… If they only knew what the stairs at NSS can do to a broken back!
The actual injury itself takes about 6-8 weeks to heal but the pain sticks around for a while. Just something simple like twisting around to see something can catch it in such a way that it sends pain shooting through your spine.
I have other issues with 2 Ruptured ‘L’ discs which makes it worse but with a compression fracture there is almost always trauma to the surrounding tissue and that is what will effect him long term, in the car, once the vertebrate is healed. The cornering at a short-track will be tough on him and I don’t even want to begin to think about if he hits the wall with it already broke.
I will say much like the sternum, you never realize how many of your everyday movements, even breathing, go through or affect your spine until you suffer an injury like that.
I hit the wall hard at Ocala Speedway in 2002 and brused my tailbone. Learned to add padding in the bottom of the seat and still use it. After over 10 years it is still a little sore, but was really sore for about 3 years. Maybe it is due to my age and Hamlin is younger and will heal quicker… Hope he will heal quickly with a little help from modern drugs and extra padding in the near future…
-JIM-
There are so many scenarios about who will drive the 11 car for the next few races. I heard that Mark Martin might drive it, Maybe Elliott Sadler or a combination of both. Does anybody think that in two weeks time that Denny would be well enough to turn one lap and then turn the car over to another driver. That way Denny would get credit for all drivers points. What do you think?
I think the days of doing that are pretty much long gone.With the present day restraints,hans device etc,not to mention a guy with a hurt back isn’t going to be able to climb out of a car quickly while the rest of the field is still under green.Not to mention the commitments to the sponsors who probably wouldn’t be thrilled watching their car be in a hole from the drop of the green flag.And this is the 21st century,It doesn’t matter how bad you,your car owner,or your sponsor want you in it,without a doctors okay NASCAR’S answer is not only going to be no.Its going to be hell no.
He’d be eligible for a wild card spot if he wins some races.
[B][I]AND if he is in top 20 in points.
The biggest challenge I see is this is a new car in full development. 6 weeks out is an eternity at that stage. When he comes back, the car he will have to drive will be completly different than the last time he drove. He will have to relearn the car, how to drive it, to adjust it, how it reacts to what, and sometime it’s hard and it take time to catch up.
He is not my favorite either, but it’s not good for anybody when someone gets hurt.[/I][/B]
But he IS young and he IS talented.And in due time he WILL catch up.He is far from my favorite,likewise Logano.But if you thought Hamlin was pissed off at Logano before imagine what he thinks about him now.
