pain from compression fracture of vertebrae w/ osteoporosis

Hi @lesleighjarrett. Welcome to Connect! We're so glad you've joined our community.

I wanted to share a few other threads that are relevant to your question and that I think you might find interesting:
Chronic Pain- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/are-there-any-discussions-for-chronic-pain/
Treating Osteoporosis- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hi-im-new-to-the-site-and-am-interested-in-treating-osteoperosis/
Managing Spinal Fusion Pain- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-had-spinal-fusion-of-l1-4-about-15-months-ago-lately-ive/

Also, i'm tagging @ladyjane85, @martishka and @fearless since they have all posted about compression fractures and may be able to provide some support and insight.

Tried to access: treating osteoperosis... not luck. Can you help?<br><br><br>

HI, I have a moderate to severe compression fracture of L3- the pain started in Oct and I am now beginning to feel relief. I am just beginning a treatment for osteoporosis. I found that keeping as active as I can worked better than being still. Gentle pool walking was the best at the beginning. I didn't take pain killers but did use a pill for sleeping that helped me cope better during the day. I was offered opiates but didn;t want to go down that road. Pain is so personal- I didn't know that manipulation could help a fracture- that would worry me- I wouldn't want anyone readjusting my back! The level of your pain sounds pretty severe- any suggestions from the dr? I hope you find some relief. all the best, martishka

Thanks for your input, Martishka. The pool does help me to at least get some movement. Walking, standing or sitting upright are painful. I am not taking pain killers, either. My Dr. (primary) wants me to do the Boniva IV. I am also having stomach acid issues so cannot take oral. What do you plan to take? They are all so scary I have resisted all these years. Have a consult scheduled in Sept with Osteoporosis specialist and am trying to get in sooner or at another facility. My fracture is higher - T8. The manipulation is supposed to gentle - it was the first time - second time not so much. I plan to try one more time. The goal is to get blood circulating etc. Any suggestion and thoughts appreciated! Lesleigh

@martishka I have had several compression fractures in lumbar areas,<br>but was not treated, so just got through them. Later they were<br>discovered in x-rays. They can be mean but since my pain is constant<br>anyway I just endured worst pain. My latest was in T-6, although they<br>diagnosed it as moderate in fracture it was the worst bec at that<br>level it goes around chest and ribs to front. Hard to get a dr appt<br>for months - neurosurgeon said he could use the balloon and cement<br>method - non-invasive surgery, but since I had already endured 6<br>weeks of crying 10 level pain, I refused it at that point. So, a<br>neurologist or neurosurgeon can relieve it immediately with the<br>cementing. I then had a nasal spray to strengthen bones. Those<br>fractures are very painful, next time I will go to ER<br>immediately......<br>@ladyjane85<br>

HI Lady jane, <br>It was recommended by one dr that I have the same procedure with the cement but I declined.I was also offered the nasal spray but I understood that it was for pain. I also declined that. I know how bad this pain can be and all I can think is that staying mobile and treating the osteoporosis are critical. IT makes sense to make sure you get sleep so you are in a better position to deal with the pain. I was just at the Pain Clinic and saw a dr who said that the "cement" procedure should be a last resort and can in itself create other problems (fractures of the surrounding vertebra) <br>So perhaps a second opinion is in order. I wish you the best and hope you can treat the pain. <br>martishka

@lesleighjarrett I have gone thru numerous compression fractures with<br>great pain - a neurosugeon can easily fix it with small<br>incision and injecting cement. I did not know it at the time and suffered<br>thru them. L levels were bad enough but the T level<br> went all around my body and ribs. Next time, since getting a dr appt is<br>sometimes 3 months out I will go to ER. for immediate<br>treatment. ladyjane85<br><br>

Thanks for your suggestion- are you on meds for osteoporosis?<br><br>L<br><br><br><br>

Hi @lesleighjarrett. That's strange! Sorry about that. I'll look into the link issue. Alternatively, you can get to the thread by going to the Bones, Joints & Muscles group under Discuss > Groups. The "Treating Osteoporosis" thread is about 13-15 discussions down on that list. Let me know if you are unable to find it.

to lesleighjarrett If asking bec of compression disc fractures..- when I<br>have Dexa scans, which are on hip, they just say osteopenia.<br>But the back has worse than that with all the surgeries and fractures. Have<br>taken 1200mg of Calcium for 30 odd years, and for last<br> few years ordered to take 1000iu of Vit D, and with recent compression<br>fracture was given nasal spray that strengthens bones for 6 weeks<br>- named Calcitoinin Salmon Nasal Spray (2200 USP calcitonin salmon<br>units/ml. and 200 USP calcitonin salmon units/spray). ladyjane85<br><br>