In summer of 2023 I was dealing with a lot of upper back pain. Finally I was diagnosed with MGUS (+M spike, but normal light chain ratio). On MRI I was found to have a compression fracture of thoracic 6th vertebrae - cause unknown, I have osteopenia but not osteoporosis on DEXA. It has taken 10 months to heal the vertebral fracture, but now I fear I may have another in my lower spine, partially due to a recent incident where I was assisting an individual who had fallen and I felt sharp pain in my back. It is now presenting just the same way the thoracic fracture had in the past.
Back in January 2024 I awoke and couldn't walk across a room with pain primarily in my pelvis. It was diagnosed as PMR and responded to Prednisone 20 mg. I am tapering off the Prednisone and now at 12.5mg but it is complicated by the recent incident with my lower back. I will see a rheumatologist and an oncologist in early June to evaluate condition, along with new labs. Meanwhile I do my best to address nutrition (whole food, anti-inflammatory diet), stress (meditative and mind-body pain practice), exercise (walking 2-3 mi/day, moderate weight training), relationships (faith, family, love, and public health education on brain health), sleep (9p-5a). Sleep has been an issue with the back pain and PMR. I wake up in the middle of the night with pain and I am stiff and sore in the morning until I move around for about an hour.
Hope that helps! Best to you...