Chronic fractured spinal vertebrae

I have seven spinal fractures. I declined kyphoplasty. The pain is horrible but for me it eased over time, though not completely. I am able to walk every day, go to PT, do tai chi gently but also spend time in bed if the pain acts up. Capsaicin patches help me too- for the muscle spasms.

I am finishing my 18 months on Tymlos and will soon do at least one dose of Reclast.

Are you taking any meds?

I feel your pain. I'm in the same boat you are. dear one. I assume you've seen a spinal surgeon and are going to a pain management program. I'm at the point now where all I can do is take pain meds, spinal injections (which I no longer do those because they no longer work) and meds to keep my bones as strong as possible. I can't have surgery because my bones are so brittle that they would crumble when they put the first pin in. I did have kyphoplasty when I broke the first vertebrae and it was great, but I don't know why they didn't want to do that with the other breaks I had. Perhaps it was that the vertebrae was only fractured and not broken. If you are able to do in-home PT, I would highly recommend that. You must keep your arm and leg muscles as strong as possible because your body core will soon deteriorate (spelling). I don't know if I've done anything at all to help you but I sure wish I had all the answers for you because I know exactly what you are going through, along with the frustrations of being in constant pain. I'm at the point now that I can't stand and cook for myself anymore. Sometimes I just like knowing that there is someone out there that is going through what I'm going through and can relate. But, like you, I'm always looking for help and I pray that through the good people at Mayo Clinic you'll find it. God bless you.

Shirley

Thanks @mamawnebel ! I have been going to PT since Nov. and she does ultrasound and massage. My neuro and ortho have done lidocaine injections but they make things worse. I have an autoimmune disorder and I have a feeling that the injections cause an inflammatory response. I am trying to live life and stay active as much as I can.

Today the pain was bad but I met up with friends and that is the best pain relief in a lot of ways! Distraction! Good luck to you and thanks for the kind words.

I am only recently going through similar issues. My back has long been tight and somewhat painful. Then in early March (23) I was at a red light when someone decided to drive into the back end of my car. I am now faced with thoracic and lumbar compression fractures, 3 slightly bulging discs and a new diagnosis of Osteopenia... when I asked about pain management I was told "once you go down that road you can't come back" (Ominous). I am on oral meds, and physical therapy. I was also given a set of home exercises to do. I find that when I do them I feel a bit better and when I don't my range of motion suffers. I also get regular massage. The thing I do that I think really helps too is water aerobics. The water is wonderful. For an hour at a time I can almost forget my back.

Wow @karenaz62. They must have hit your car pretty hard for you to have those fractures without osteoporosis yet. What oral meds do you take? I am so sorry that happened to you. (I have been hit but not hard and it is kind of scary at every light, right?)

Thanks for mentioning water. I have had a PT referral to the pool but my PT has not followed it and your post gave me an extra boost to push for that!

Thank-you @windyshores

Yes, a young couple were fighting and apparently not driving and hit my stationary car at between 35-40. I ended up in oncoming traffic and thankful for everyone who had good brakes! Thats how I ended up with multiple fractures...FYI i wS taking maloxicam everyday for arthritis in my ankles. When the accident happened I was put on flexoril (under a much longer name). I hope you get to the pool, I live inAZ so have no excuse not to...

@mamawnebel My mom has severe osteoporosis and had a spontaneous spinal compression fracture. She was not a candidate for kyphoplasty with bone cement because of the severity of the osteoporosis. I'm guessing that the cement may be harder and more dense than her bone which may possibly lead to further problems because it didn't match. There must be some cut off point in the standard of care recommendations.

You are so very welcome. I'm just sorry that I haven't written earlier. I've been in the hospital due to another broken vertebrae and now waiting on the surgeon to get me on his schedule to have the Kyphoplasty procedure done.

You did the best thing we can sometimes when all else fails and that's be with friends and laugh. After my heart attack my Cardiologist and my health care team at rehab all said that laughter was one of the healthiest things we can do after a heart attack and to try and have a good belly laugh for at least 45 minutes every day. So my family doctor and several friends made sure they emailed me good, clean jokes LOL. My family doctor retires but he still sends me the funniest jokes. So stick with those friends who will keep your spirits up by making you laugh. It's such good medicine. God bless you and don't give up on finding ways of relief.

@jenniferhunter thank you for that post. It helps me not regret declining kyphoplasty. My doc had a "less is more" philosophy. He offered it but did not push it and told me it was mainly for short term pain relief and outcome would be the same with or without. The outcome may be different for others including other posters here, and traumatic fractures may be different from osteoporotic ones in this regard!