THORASIC SPINE COMPRESSIONS AND ORGAN CROWDING

Posted by harryboy7 @harryboy7, Dec 12, 2025

I was told this by my doctor and internet info, that depending on the severity of the thoracic compression fracture, organ crowding can happen. The spine can cause some kyphotic changes ( hunching). In severe cases, it can cause respiratory issues, and GI issues.
After my compression fractures, My abdomen started protruding outward...like my body was folded in half. Has this happened to anyone? I also keep getting this sloshing sound ( like water stuck in my gut). It is really loud. The sound is different then the normal gurgles. There is no pain. Also I have experienced more constipation, no matter what I do to help.
I have been on Tymlos for six months.
Any feedback I will appreciate. Thanks

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

Profile picture for harryboy7 @harryboy7

@gowalking Very good vent, I thought and questioned everything you wrote about. I just wasn't sure how to voice it all.
Thank you for your candid note. I am sure many women here would say Yeah Yeah Yeah! Me too!

It sure is frustrating. So much MIXED information. The Doctors and PA's have only some knowledge of Osteoporosis, but only the basic information.

I too believe that women's health is a low priority. When you think about it, it goes way back in time where women weren't valued. I bet if the tables were turned, and Men were the majority with Osteoporosis, things would be so different.

It is so frustrating when you feel you did everything right, like you did, and myself and then you are diagnosed with severe Osteoporosis. I am 71.

You are one of the first ones relating to my problem regarding compression fractures which
can lead to organ compression. Since my thoracic compressions everything changed ( I lost 4 inches in height.) My stomach protrudes outward. Hard to look in the mirror, When I wore my brace in the beginning (had unstable fractures) I was short of breath also. Now it is definitely my abdomen. Now I am super constipated, Never was before my injury. Sometimes I get this awful sound-like water sloshing around in my gut. Its loud! Not sure what that is.

When I talked with a spine surgeon and PA, telling them about my concerns with this and the organ compression, they looked at me like I was nuts.

I have been on Tymlos for 6 months now. Everyday I feel nauseated. Every day I think of stopping. My body just doesn't feel right. I kind of don't trust the manufactures. They only know so much. When I have called them, there is never is a RN, PA ,NP available. Found out they don't have any Health care providers, only Pharmacist. Anyway, If I ask a question, they never have an answer.

Now look who is venting...haha. It feels good. Thanks for listening

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@harryboy7

Im curious as to the water sloshing sound you hear.

I googled "I take Tymlos, what is this loud water sloshing sound I hear in my stomach"?

Google it....quite common..a lot of info regarding some of your questions.

No appointment. No wait. No doctor looking at you like you're crazy. No payment due...hahaha Best doctor Ive gone to yet, Dr. Google

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What a journey we’re all on! Praying for you and others on this thread and site although I’m not always able to respond…
I was resigned to the fact of my stomach always being grotesquely protruding after two collapses took place in 2023 resulting in a loss of 4 inches total but just recently my stomach has somewhat decreased in how far it sticks out. Maybe everything is starting to settle into their new positions. My back is still a scary sight that I try to avoid looking at and I think it makes me hurt more when I see its shape.

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Organ crowding happened to me, too. It's very uncomfortable. I feel like I'm bloated, I don't think I will ever have that procedure again. I'm constantly miserable.'

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Profile picture for harryboy7 @harryboy7

@gowalking Very good vent, I thought and questioned everything you wrote about. I just wasn't sure how to voice it all.
Thank you for your candid note. I am sure many women here would say Yeah Yeah Yeah! Me too!

It sure is frustrating. So much MIXED information. The Doctors and PA's have only some knowledge of Osteoporosis, but only the basic information.

I too believe that women's health is a low priority. When you think about it, it goes way back in time where women weren't valued. I bet if the tables were turned, and Men were the majority with Osteoporosis, things would be so different.

It is so frustrating when you feel you did everything right, like you did, and myself and then you are diagnosed with severe Osteoporosis. I am 71.

You are one of the first ones relating to my problem regarding compression fractures which
can lead to organ compression. Since my thoracic compressions everything changed ( I lost 4 inches in height.) My stomach protrudes outward. Hard to look in the mirror, When I wore my brace in the beginning (had unstable fractures) I was short of breath also. Now it is definitely my abdomen. Now I am super constipated, Never was before my injury. Sometimes I get this awful sound-like water sloshing around in my gut. Its loud! Not sure what that is.

When I talked with a spine surgeon and PA, telling them about my concerns with this and the organ compression, they looked at me like I was nuts.

I have been on Tymlos for 6 months now. Everyday I feel nauseated. Every day I think of stopping. My body just doesn't feel right. I kind of don't trust the manufactures. They only know so much. When I have called them, there is never is a RN, PA ,NP available. Found out they don't have any Health care providers, only Pharmacist. Anyway, If I ask a question, they never have an answer.

Now look who is venting...haha. It feels good. Thanks for listening

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@harryboy7 I have had the same experience with the Tymlos manufacturer -- cannot get straight answers to my questions. In particular I question their standard dose amount of 80 mcg regardless of the recipient's body weight. I am 105 lbs and 5'5". Should I get the same dose amount as a 150 lb person? I think not. Even the lab rats in their clinical tests responded adversely to higher doses, with the male rats receiving the highest dose over 2 years developing bone cancer at a rate of 87%. I want to cut my dose to 60 or 70 mcg and cannot get any info as to potential outcome. Manufacturer is not helpful in this regard. After 3 months I still have side effects, especially dizziness.

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You won't get any straight answers from Tymlos. They don't know much. I agree with the weight thing. I question that too. I am using my experience as an RN for the last 25 years. I worked in Oncology. Anytime there is a new drug with potential side effect (IV form) we would titrate up to the full dose. Start low and slow. It is a strong drug. We really don't have a whole lot of information on it. Kind of a crap shoot in my opinion.
They (Tymlos) also say give the shot in the abdomen only. My doc and the clinical pharm said the same thing. They didn't give me any clear reason why. They were just following the manufacture data. There are several SubQ injection sites. Why just the belly? No explanation from anyone.

I did a titration in the beginning . Again, the doc and pharmacist said not to do it. Why? They had no answer. This is my body, and this is a safest way to start the drug in my opinion. I do use the belly for the shots since it is easy. But if I decide to use another Subq injection site I will do it!
You can tell I am a little angry and frustrated.

I wrote earlier that I have been on Tymlos for 6 months. I feel crappy everyday. I decided to go off of it 3 days ago. I am doing an experiment to see if anything changes. I might go back again, but probably will do a lower dose. I am 109 pounds

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Profile picture for willowmena @willowmena

@harryboy7 I have had the same experience with the Tymlos manufacturer -- cannot get straight answers to my questions. In particular I question their standard dose amount of 80 mcg regardless of the recipient's body weight. I am 105 lbs and 5'5". Should I get the same dose amount as a 150 lb person? I think not. Even the lab rats in their clinical tests responded adversely to higher doses, with the male rats receiving the highest dose over 2 years developing bone cancer at a rate of 87%. I want to cut my dose to 60 or 70 mcg and cannot get any info as to potential outcome. Manufacturer is not helpful in this regard. After 3 months I still have side effects, especially dizziness.

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@willowmena I too any small.
Always wondered why I got the “standard” dose of meds, etc
One size fits all is not fair for most people. I did take the standard dose though and eventually started to ignore the side effects, push through them.

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Profile picture for tillymack @tillymack

I believe kyphotic changes (hunching) do cause the abdomen to protrude... It might help if you could improve your posture. I know, easier said than done...

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I had a kyphoplasty on #11. As a result I have organ crowding. And yes, my abdomen protrudes. Before the procedure I had a completely flat abdomen. I have perfect posture. Posture doesn't have anything to do with my protruding stomach.

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Profile picture for gowalking @gowalking

geeze... I too, am 68, always exercise, eat healthy, do all my maintenance testing, keep doctor appointments, etc., and here I am on this forum talking osteoporosis and spine health....thanks to a PA who told me to hold off on my next dose of Prolia until my dental work was complete. Within two weeks, my bones were...as the surgeon said...so soft, he could move them.

So, I will vent. Why are we trusting Doctors and PAs who have no clue how to safely treat Osteoporosis, or all women's health, for that matter? How do we demand thorough testing?, more than 15 minutes of the Doctors time, to address, explain, draw pictures or whatever it takes, to understand our bodies and our health?
I read folks on here who get all kinds of tests that I have never heard of or been offered, which may or may not have prevented this trauma.
So why, is women's health such a low priority? There is an overwhelming need for specialists who concentrate exclusively on women's health beyond the OB/GYN. Very frustrating.

I also have stomach protrusion, due to losing 3". It has pushed everything down. Now I have a muffin top, or should I say mega muffin top.
I have difficulty breathing because my back is so hunched over that my spine is pushing on my lungs from the back and pushing my lungs against my ribs...this is from a pulmonary specialist.
Always constipated and I think it's because everything is now so compressed. Two colonoscopies show nothing.

OK...I've vented....for now, anyway.

I just have a few months left on Tymlos. I do believe it is working well for me.

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@gowalking
I had Kypoplasty on T 12 and L3. There are risks but after 2 months of terrible pain I chose to do it. Constipation was chronic . Nothing helped including high price medications. I learned I had other compression fractures I was unaware of. I stopped Prolia in June 2024 and I know that contributed to significant and rapid bone loss. I have recently had colonoscopy endoscopy and nuclear med tests in an effort to fix the bowel issues but those tests were negative . I have just completed PT and now having problem holding my neck up and lower back weakness. I also experience sharp pain when my ribs touch my pelvis. I had thorough cardiac work up after extreme shortness of breath . It was determined that it was result of bones pushing on my diaphragm. I have kyphosis which I believe has worsened. Returning to spine doctor this week. I continue to exercise to strengthen lower body which is very important. I’ve loss 23 pounds so my focus now is eating more protein. I’m 76 years old and a year ago I was jogging, walking and working on ceilings. It’s important to have a physician or Nurse Practitioner who listens to you. In closing I had my first round of Evenity today. In one year I will need to go back on another drug. My life changed dramatically and I’m sure your life did too. But take one day at a time. I’m reminded that even if my circumstances are out of my control ; they are still in God’s control.

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I’m so sorry. I have some similar issues after T12 fracture. My kyphoplasty six months after fracture made pain much worse.
I’m doing teriparatide injections now. Not on any supplements but read I should be.
Wonder if infrared lazer and supplements might help you?

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I will have my two year TYMLOS treatment appointment in March with my bone doctor. Hopefully, she will order some testing and a Dexa Scan to confirm where exactly my bones are right now in regards to osteoporosis. A year ago, they were much improved and in the osteopina range.
In February, I will have an appointment with a neurosurgeon to discuss straightening my back.
So, my TYMLOS journey is coming to a close, but still on a journey of recovery.
Im getting anxious, excited, hopeful, scared and nervous all at once.
I don't know what comes after TYMLOS........but I'm going to keep you posted on the outcome of my appointments, what the plan is going forward and the success of TYMLOS.

My feeling is positive...all will be good...happy days and good health ahead!!

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