1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

What does a Compression Fracture feel like?

Posted by 255anny @255anny, 5 days ago

9 years ago I had a very sudden sharp pain in my mid-back. It stopped me in my tracks immediately. The pain let up enough for me to continue but the area felt sore and tender for a few weeks. X-Rays later revealed nothing except 2 Schmorl nodes. Last week in the exact spot, I felt a sharp loud pop. 7 days later, the area is still tender. Luckily I had a MRI scheduled but that did not reveal anything. Actually the Dr who read the MRI, missed some disc problems and reported all was well. Not so! I am taking the MRI report and images to my Ortho back Dr. I can't see him til mid-August. But his nurse told me he might be able to review the images soon. What does a compression fracture feel like? My Osteoporosis is severe in my spine and hip. I have been on Osteo meds for 4 years. I'm afraid to move, as this spot on my spine is tender. My physical therapist saw me a few days ago and he too is concerned. It seems my entire body is falling apart!!

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ladybear57 | @ladybear57 | 2 days ago
In reply to @jozer "255anny...sounds painful; hope you get relief soon! A little confused - if you've been on osteo..." + (show)
@jozer

255anny...sounds painful; hope you get relief soon! A little confused - if you've been on osteo meds for 4 years why would you fracture? Isn't the reason to take powerful osteo meds so we don't fracture? I know meds lower the risk of fracture but was always assuming the actually risk would disappear as long as you are being treated? Would be interesting to see if there is any data on actual fractures on people taking any osteo meds. Worrisome.

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I have been on Prolia for at least 5 years. Suffered 5 thoracic fractures in Dec. and Nov. obviously Prolia not working. Switching to Evenity in August. I sure hope this works. I have severe OP! I can no longer stand up straight literally bent at the waist. Hey I can still walk😇

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jozer | @jozer | 1 day ago

Never knew osteoporosis drugs could possibly not work. As they are such powerful drugs with sometimes large effects to our daily living I (wrongly) assumed they all would add some type of positive outcome to bone density and better health to our bones in every case. I guess not? I've never fractured (hip replaced due to osteoarthritis, broken wrist from car wreck) from frail bones. Seems like some who have never fractured for any reason are fracturing after taking the meds. More food for thought!

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marialyce | @marialyce | 1 day ago
In reply to @leslie4 "I have also been on osteo meds for years now - Prolia specifically. I encountered 2..." + (show)
@leslie4

I have also been on osteo meds for years now - Prolia specifically. I encountered 2 compression fractures in my spine (I forget which vertebrae) after a fall and a car wreck 7 days later in January of 2024. I had these show on an xray but also an MRI to check the severity. My ortho surgeon did a kyphoplasty on both. The pain prior to surgery was unbearable., nothing like anything I have ever experienced. Then in April I somehow had another. I do not have any idea how this one happened. It was not as painful, but just felt like something wasn't right and went back to the doctor. Was actually shocked when he said I had another compression fracture! I had that one reparied via kyphplasty in June. I hurt all the time now and never sleep well. I worry there is another fracture I don't know about and quite frankly don't want to go find out about. Tough place to be. I did PT after the 2nd surgery and that helped tremendously. I have to stretch my back every morning now before I am able to move well and not hurt as much. It is certainly a very different life for me who was once not so long ago super active - running, walking, hiking, etc. I am afraid to do much now. One misstep seems to be a possible fracture. Recently had my scheduled bone scan and it was worse - after years on Prolia. I was so hopeful it would be better. My doctor wants me to change to Evenity and claims that is my only choice. I am researching Evenity becasue I had already had a conversation with the NP at the cancer clinic that administers the Prolia and the serious side effects of heart issues scare me. I don't have any heart issues, but do have serious heart disease in my family history. Does anyone use Evenity and have for some time with some stories to share?

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My understanding is that Forteo and Tymlos produce the strongest new bone. Just a thought. Best wishes.

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mary1951 | @mary1951 | 1 day ago
In reply to @daisy17 "What test showed your fractures, X-rays or MRI? Thanks." + (show)
@daisy17

What test showed your fractures, X-rays or MRI? Thanks.

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I have had compression fractures in T9 and T11. They showed up on X-rays, as well as the MRI that was done after the last one last fall. The compression fracture on the T9 was moderately severe, with a 40-50% height loss. They have been totally debilitating and although I have finally returned to group exercise class, it is really hard and there are a lot of things I can no longer do, like crunches and core stuff. I used to paint on my feet for hours, but now making a simple meal leaves me in severe pain. I also used to love to garden and that also is something that I have had to change. I'll go out and very carefully trim a shrub or pull some weeds, but an hour's worth of gardening leaves me in terrible pain. So my quality of life has really gone down since the last fracture. I have severe osteoporosis but waited stupidly until this last fracture to start meds. I am currently taking TYmlos and praying it helps! I personally find it hard to believe you have a compression fracture that wouldn't show on an X-ray or MRI, so perhaps what you are feeling is something else in the spine that is awry. There are many other things like disc problems, etc, that can cause pain. Just keep using ice and heat and painkillers till you get some answers. It took me a couple months of wasted doctor appointments till one doctor finally ordered the MRI that showed the fracture. The first fracture showed up on the X-ray. Good luck to you.

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1 reply
255anny | @255anny | 23 hours ago
In reply to @mary1951 "I have had compression fractures in T9 and T11. They showed up on X-rays, as well..." + (show)
@mary1951

I have had compression fractures in T9 and T11. They showed up on X-rays, as well as the MRI that was done after the last one last fall. The compression fracture on the T9 was moderately severe, with a 40-50% height loss. They have been totally debilitating and although I have finally returned to group exercise class, it is really hard and there are a lot of things I can no longer do, like crunches and core stuff. I used to paint on my feet for hours, but now making a simple meal leaves me in severe pain. I also used to love to garden and that also is something that I have had to change. I'll go out and very carefully trim a shrub or pull some weeds, but an hour's worth of gardening leaves me in terrible pain. So my quality of life has really gone down since the last fracture. I have severe osteoporosis but waited stupidly until this last fracture to start meds. I am currently taking TYmlos and praying it helps! I personally find it hard to believe you have a compression fracture that wouldn't show on an X-ray or MRI, so perhaps what you are feeling is something else in the spine that is awry. There are many other things like disc problems, etc, that can cause pain. Just keep using ice and heat and painkillers till you get some answers. It took me a couple months of wasted doctor appointments till one doctor finally ordered the MRI that showed the fracture. The first fracture showed up on the X-ray. Good luck to you.

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I'm so sorry you are going through this. I am still waiting for my Ortho Dr to review the MRI and CT Scan reports. Something is wrong and the only advice I've had from Dr's (including the Ortho Dr) is to walk!! And build up my core. I agree with that if my issues are related to muscle loss - which would be no surprise. Like you, I love being in my garden and rose beds but I can no longer keep them up the way I used to. It's very hard to tell a yard crew how to cut back a rose or shrub. They only know how to butcher it, haha! I can't bend over, my back is so tight!. And knowing the Osteoporosis is so severe it scares me to even bend. Cooking a full meal is stand, then go sit down - and repeat til I'm finished. I've tried so much to help ease the pain, massages, back braces, heating pad (way too often) ice and pain patches. Praying I get to the bottom of this.

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255anny | @255anny | 23 hours ago
In reply to @jozer "255anny...sounds painful; hope you get relief soon! A little confused - if you've been on osteo..." + (show)
@jozer

255anny...sounds painful; hope you get relief soon! A little confused - if you've been on osteo meds for 4 years why would you fracture? Isn't the reason to take powerful osteo meds so we don't fracture? I know meds lower the risk of fracture but was always assuming the actually risk would disappear as long as you are being treated? Would be interesting to see if there is any data on actual fractures on people taking any osteo meds. Worrisome.

Jump to this post

I really don't have an answer for that. But I think I have read that it does indeed happen.

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oopsiedaisy | @oopsiedaisy | 6 hours ago

I had a T8 compression fracture while bending over the tub and leaning heavily on my ribcage. It felt like a sharp, burning pain radiating from my spine and wrapping around my ribcage on the left side. It was quite similar to a back muscle spasm which is what I thought it was.

However, the pain was not gone for three months so I had an x-ray, revealing the fracture.

My understanding is that the nerves emanating from the nerve root at the vertebrae get compressed and that is what causes the back pain. It apparently doesn't take much compression to cause pain. My fracture was only 15% compression.

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