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Anyone else notice their spine cracking with osteoporosis?
I've lived with osteopenia for the past 6 years. A year and a half ago I started having disabling back spasms. I mean, I was barely able to get out of bed for a week. While the severe muscle spasms ended, I have to use a heating pad before I can get out of bed in the morning. I walk a half hour/day. By noon I seem to be okay.
But I noticed about the time that the muscle spasms started I feel (and hear) my spine cracking. Just rolling over in bed! I was a person who practiced yoga. I know my spine! Could this be because I've crossed over into osteoporosis this year? My doctor wants to discuss osteoporosis meds now,
I'm bringing this to the discussion because my doctors (internist, rheumatologist, pain management) dismiss it when I've told them. Like I might be out of my mind! And that is not helpful.
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You should have be getting bone density tests done. The report will tell you whether you are penia or perosis. I'm 70 yrs old and just had lumber spine surgery on L-2 thru S-1, Plus scoliosis. The pain in my lower back, along with spasms, was so bad I couldn't walk at times. I went to pain management and physical therapy before surgery. My healing process has been very painful! But I am hopeful.
Find a good neurosurgeon. He can help the most.
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2 ReactionsI sometimes hear what it sounds like my spine cracking when I turn over or stretch but don't know that that is the cause of the noise. I don't lay on my stomach anymore because that almost always caused a pop. My back goes from being fine to being very sore for quite a while after lifting too much. I have moved from osteopenia to osteoporosis but pretty borderline. I have read on here that there are some new stands that may be as good or better than Dexa scans and are not limited to every two years, so I was going to look into that. I broke 5 vertebrae in my lower back about 3 years ago as well as one slipped disk.
Also, a lot of people on this forum have mentioned finding a neurosurgeon rather than a spine Dr. so that puzzles me a bit as my primary Dr. did not suggest a neurosurgeon. I hope you get it figured out as constant pain especially when trying to sleep is miserable.
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2 ReactionsJw9, if your spine is cracking, it could be the beginning of compression fractures. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis last year and told the doctor I wanted to try natural methods of building bone before taking bone meds. I did. Then, at the beginning of this year, I began to experience back pain. Instead of suspecting fractures, the doctors thought it was muscular, so they prescribed PT. My pain got worse. Finally, they ordered an MRI, which revealed multiple compression fractures along my thoracic spine.
I suggest you get some imaging done asap to make sure you do not have spinal fractures. I understand the resistance to bone medications, but when supplements, good nutrition, and exercise fail and you experience fractures, you begin to see these meds in a different light.
I wish you the best in your quest for answers.
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1 Reaction@isabella5
Thank you for your helpful reply! I might have posted this because I sense something is wrong. Those 3 doctors I mentioned? All 3 ordered PT(!) I didn't go because I'm really slowed down as it is with the pain. I was an RN and believe in medications. My DEXA showed I'm on the edge of osteoporosis now and have been trying to decide what to take. I need a doctor who will give me some guidance. As I've read on these boards, it changes over time and maybe new meds are needed. So I gather from other women going through this that I need to find a specialist.
All I've had is an Xray of my lumbar spine. That gave me a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease. And, another order for PT. No one has considered the MRI. I'm glad you shared your story. I read how frequent fractures are with osteoporosis. Plus, I just had my year of "trying natural methods."
@dmg777
Everyone's comments, including yours, have been so helpful. There's something about knowing I'm not the only one up at night with pain (and cracking!) So I really appreciate that you shared your experience. I am also "borderline" and haven't heard about new scans, thanks!
@yesibeleive
Thank you for your reply and it helps so much to hear about your experience. I'm glad you call it your "healing process.:" Even with all the pain it seems like there's hope. I have been getting DEXA every 2 years (Medicare) for 10 years or more. This year I found out I'm borderline osteoporosis. I appreciate your suggestion about a neurosurgeon too, hadn't thought about that.