abdominal pressure thoracic compression

I get this once in awhile. I have 7 spinal fractures, half low thoracic and half lumbar. If I lift or reach, my diaphragm goes up and I feel pressure, and it is hard to eat. This situation also can trigger atrial fibrillation for me. I really sympathize. I use Gas-X (simethicone), and sometimes a hot shower can relax things down. I have taken Klonopin, rarely, to try to relax things as well. I eat small amounts at a time. If your friend always feels this pressure, it might be good to see if there is a hiatal hernia, something I need to check on as well. A GI doc would do the testing.

I have several
Compression fractures in my lower thorasic and lumbar vertebrae. Since the most recent ones, I have a pooch in my belly and a concave indention below my ribs. As the fractures are healing, I am finding lite extension exercises helpful. With the compression, it seems my back has collapsed some, and it is affecting my digestive organs. Gentle swimming, very gentle stretches, inversion board set at a minimal angle are some of the things I am using to create space and lengthening in my spine. Very gentle core strengthening is good too, but only when the bone fractures were not acute. My PT pushed too hard. I had to find my own comfort zone.

Windyshores, once again I really appreciate your help.

lalalee, do you have pain around the lower edge of your ribs and do you feel pressure. Is there a forward pressure. How do you sense the back collapse. Thank you for your help. Your excercises and the idea of lengthing the spine to create space are very helpful. Interesting
and important about your physical therapist.
Bless you,

So helpful, thank you!

pinetreestate,
do you have a similar experience. My friend talks about unbearable pain and this is after kyphoplasties.

The pain I feel is lower. When my spine is misaligned, I feel it in my belly and my back. I think my posture has a lot to do with misalignment. Being hunched over computer and TV postures compound my pain, pinches nerves, inhibits organ function. So my approach is to counteract that hunch: lengthen, strengthen, hydrate. Stretch backward. Counteract gravity and hunching. Water walking is great too because it lifts your body while you exercise, so it creates space between vertebrae while muscles develop. Walking in the lazy river at our local rec center alleviates a lot of pain.

I have lost an inch of height to these fractures. So everything inside has got to be crowding. My mantra is “strong and long”,

Thank you, again, lalalee,
Its the belly pain that confounded me. "Lengthen, strengthen, hydrate long and strong." Water walking in the lazy river sounds idyllic.

Water walking is the best!

Posture is so important. If I’m hunched over, or leaning on a cane or walker, my spine os not carrying it’s own weight, and weight bearing is how bones get and stay strong.