You go to your GP or A&E in pain and are told you have a pulled muscle. You follow the doctor’s advice and prioritise rest and painkillers. But the pain doesn’t go away—in fact, it gets worse.
Weeks or months later, a scan reveals you have a spinal fracture. Now, you’re dealing with life-changing symptoms because of that initial misdiagnosis.
Misdiagnosing a fracture is more common than you’d think, and the consequences can be life-changing. The spinal cord is incredibly fragile, and even a small fracture can turn into permanent nerve damage if it’s not caught in time.
Here, we’ll look at how spinal misdiagnosis happens, how it should be spotted by your GP, and when a delayed or missed diagnosis crosses into medical negligence.
Key takeaways
- Up to 70% of vertebral fractures go undiagnosed
- Spinal fractures can be mistaken for pulled muscles and other soft tissue injuries, especially early on
- Red flag symptoms should always trigger further medical investigation
- If your condition worsened due to a missed diagnosis, you may be entitled to compensation
Why are spinal fractures misdiagnosed?
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit A&E or their GP. A 2023 study found that among patients who arrived at A&E with back pain, over a third had no official diagnosis record and 23% were categorised as a simple backache.
Spinal fractures can be misdiagnosed as something minor (like a strain) when:
- You’re young, active, or otherwise considered ‘low risk’
- You’re seen in a busy A&E with limited time
- Your symptoms are vague or appear like soft tissue injuries
- Imaging (like X-rays or MRI) isn’t ordered
Strain vs fracture: Spotting the difference
Although a lot of back pain can feel similar at first, there are distinct differences to watch out for that may indicate a more serious condition.
Key signs of a pulled muscle
A muscle strain happens when you push your muscles too far, for example, when lifting something or taking part in sports.
Most people notice:
- Pain right where you hurt yourself
- Muscle cramps or spasms
- Stiffness—you can’t move like you did
Pulled muscles are uncomfortable, but they’re rarely life-changing if you look after them. Rest, gentle movement, and anti-inflammatories typically help.
What are the warning signs of a back fracture?
Spinal fractures, on the other hand, are distinct and cause pain that’s deep and persistent.
Certain symptoms suggest a fracture rather than a muscle strain, and these red flags should prompt immediate investigation by your healthcare provider, such as:
- Numbness or tingling in arms or legs
- Weakness in limbs
- Posture changes or loss of height
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
These symptoms can point toward nerve damage or spinal instability.
If a doctor fails to investigate these warning signs, that could form the basis of a medical negligence claim.
Here’s how a muscle sprain and vertebral fracture compare:
| Feature | Pulled muscle | Spinal fracture |
| Pain | Localised, dull, aching | Sharp, severe, can radiate |
| Response to rest | Improves gradually | Often stays the same or worsens |
| Mobility | Stiffness, but movement is possible | Limited mobility that can worsen with movement |
| Red flags | Rare | Numbness, bladder/bowel changes |
| Recovery | Improves within days to weeks | Needs medical treatment, imaging, and monitoring |
Who’s most at risk of spinal fracture misdiagnosis?
Older adults
Elderly patients face higher misdiagnosis risks due to osteoporosis, making their bones more fragile and prone to compression fractures.
Healthcare providers sometimes dismiss back pain and loss of height as age-related muscle problems.
On top of that, nearly 1 in 5 osteoporotic women with a spinal fracture will sustain a new spinal fracture within a year, so quick diagnosis and treatment are essential.
Athletes
Doctors may assume that back pain in athletes is caused by overuse in their active lifestyle. However, trauma from sport or high-impact exercise can easily result in spinal fracture injuries and should be carefully investigated from the very start.
Patients with pre-existing conditions
Patients with pre-existing back conditions may experience misdiagnosis because doctors attribute new symptoms to existing problems. This diagnostic bias can delay proper assessment and imaging tests.
Patients involved in accidents or falls
Spinal fractures are also a common result of people involved in road traffic accidents or falls. One study found that 58% of all spinal fractures are caused by a fall from standing, with falls representing half of all spinal fractures for those over 50.
What should have happened?
If your spinal fracture was missed, you need to understand what your GP or A&E doctor should have done to correctly diagnose your injury.
The first step involves a proper clinical assessment, including:
- Asking for a detailed account of how the injury happened
- Checking for red flag symptoms
- A physical examination of your spine
- Testing your movement and reflexes
- Imaging tests if symptoms don’t match a simple muscle strain
X-rays are the first-line investigation for suspected vertebral fractures. And if the initial X-ray was unclear, follow-up scans should have been arranged.
Failure to take these steps could be classed as a breach of duty.
When does misdiagnosis become medical negligence?
Clinical negligence happens when your healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, and that failure causes avoidable harm.
You may be able to claim for:
- Private treatment or rehabilitation costs
- Lost earnings and reduced future income
- Adaptations to your home/car and mobility aids
- Long-term care needs
What evidence do I need to prove medical negligence?
You need to prove that a competent medical professional would have recognised the symptoms of a vertebral fracture, ordered appropriate tests, and referred you for specialist treatment.
Evidence required for missed fracture compensation includes medical records, correspondence with healthcare providers, and expert medical opinions.
What to do if this happened to you
If you’re dealing with a misdiagnosed spinal fracture, you need to:
- Request your medical records to see how your condition was assessed
- Write down a timeline of your symptoms, appointments, and changes in your condition
- Get a second medical opinion if you’re still in doubt
- Speak to a specialist clinical negligence solicitor to understand your rights
Contact our Spinal Misdiagnosis Claims Lawyers
Being told you have a pulled muscle might seem reassuring in the moment, but when the misdiagnosis turns out to be wrong and leads to serious complications, you deserve answers. Spinal fractures require quick diagnosis and care. If you were denied that, contact our team at Friends Legal to find out if you have a claim.
