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Spinal compression fracture: What helps with the pain?
I've been living with an compression fracture nearly five years, I have had numerous injections in the back from 3 different pain clinics including Mayo Clinic. Is anyone else living with this pain? Nothing has helped. I take Tramadol once a day, does not help much, if I take more I feel nauseous and can't eat. Has anyone found something to help with pain?
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Do you wear a brace ?
I use CBD OIL and a cream , excercise muscle relaxers. I had a burst L4 2 yrs ago and they wanted to do a 4 level fusion at the time. I would not let them. I have been working with P.T. and a pain physician.
Hi @jimriv. First of all, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Glad to have you here and a part of the discussion. I am sorry you are not getting the help you need. Can you tell us more about what you are doing to help with the pain?
I found this information when I searched-
- https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/upper-back-pain/thoracic-spinal-nerves
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4534852/
- https://surgicalneurologyint.com/surgicalint-articles/surgery-for-traumatic-fractures-of-the-upper-thoracic-spine-t1-t6/
What did the doctors recommend for you? Was surgery ever an option (not sure if it would help your case or not)?
I would wonder if a balloon kyphoplasty was offered to patient? I am retired almost 6 years but took care of many patients having this procedure.
Hi
I discovered I had osteoporosis three years ago when I got my first spinal fracture. A lot of money spent to get better. After going through breast cancer last year and having to have radiation I now have two more fractures that appeared six weeks ago in my spine. I'm so angry. My spine health had come up really well doing the bis phosphonate for 3 years.
The pain I am in is excruciating. I am so limited to what I can do and I live alone. If I have three things in the afternoon I need to do that's if for the day. I cannot take the anti inflammatories they cause me to get severe papura. Although the celebrex was helping but it was horrible what it was doing to me with my skin. Can anybody tell me anything that helps with the pain. I am limited to doing tylenol arthritis and a low dose ibuprofen. I am in physio but stretching is all I can do for now. I was wondering about tumoric or genacol
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2 ReactionsSo sorry to hear of your pain. My neighbor suffers from the same, and in his late eighties has had terrible pain that nothing could relieve. We (his wife and us) finally convinced him to take his oxycodone prescription, and deal separately with the constipation it causes- which is no small thing.
It helped him considerably.
@sue417
Sorry to hear of your pain.
What levels of your spine do you have the fractures?
What types of specialists are you working with now?
Are you working with a pain management clinic?
Have you had X-rays only or MRIs to check your nerves/soft tissues in your spine, too?
1. https://www.americanpain.org/how-to-treat-vertebral-fracture-pain-american-pain-institute/
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17498-spinal-fractures
3. https://spineconnection.org/back-pain-conditions/spinal-fractures/
4. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/fractures-of-the-thoracic-and-lumbar-spine/
5. https://www.spineinfo.com/conditions/spinal-fractures-types-causes-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatments/
Hi
I have compression fractures in my thoracic spine. T8 was in 2022. Now t9 and t10. I have had xrays. I have osteoporosis in my spine. I see an Endocrinologist for treatment. The current fractures are from the radiation treatment to my breast for cancer last year. I have had three years of reclast. My bone bone density ast year was greatly improved with the bisphosphonate. I have another infusion june 24th . Then I will start forteo for 2 yrs. I do have some good days where my pains are minimal but it depends how active I am. I am in 🇨🇦 canada.
I was always active ate healthy, did not drink or smoke. My Dr never did a bone density on me because she said I wasn't hi risk. That's b.s.
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1 ReactionHi
It's a grade 2 fracture. My t8 is now grade 1 improved with reclast. With my first fracture I went to a spine clinic and had laser treatments for 4 mths. Very expensive. I am having some laser at my chiro starting tomorrow with muscle release
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2 ReactionsI took Forteo for 2 years and then Reclast for 2 years now I'm worse and in alot more pain. I don't recommend these meds at all. I'm going to quit taking them and try natural supplements with herbs and vitamins. I also have had fusions. I now have screws and rods from my S-1 up to my C-2 and I'm in a wheelchair and cannot walk I'm transfered by a lift and the PT won't help me to walk because I have severe osteoporosis 2.4 found on my dexa scan last November. Before I only had it in my spine now in my hips.
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1 ReactionHi
I am so sorry you did not have any benefit from the medications. Thats very dis heartening to hear.
Did you have bone densitys every year once you started the reclast to see how things were?