Fatigue after spinal fractures

Hi Sue417,
I have had breast cancer, ILC and IDC, then a DMX. No chemo, no radiation. Diagnosed late 2022. Surgery early 2023. I am on Tamoxifen due to osteoporosis even tho I am way past menopause. I had 3 spinal compression fractures about the same time as the bc diagnosis. I have been on Zometa infusions 2x a year since then. One infusion next fall to complete the 6 infusions. I have had fatigue since this all happened to me too!! I am 72 now, I have complained of fatigue but I am told they are not sure why but many patients who have had bc complain about it. Some patients do not have it. After reading your post I'm thinking is it the spinal compression fractures?? I had PT for the compression fractures and I still do the daily exercises. I can't work in the kitchen or sew on my machine etc for longer than about 60 minutes cause my back will hurt and then I have to lay flat on my back and rest to get back to normal . Then I'm ok again. I do lie on a board with a yoga mat and a quilt or 2 on it on a bed, or I lie on the floor 15 minutes a day to help my back and to hopefully not get a hump on my back. My PT told me to do that every day and that it would help a lot. So I do! It also helps us not to get a hump on our back if the fractures were in the thoracic area. My compression fractures were T7, T8 and then one in the Lumbar area.
I don't have back pain except for food prep work or machine sewing if longer than the hour or so I mentioned. But the fatigue?? Maybe it is the spinal compression fractures even tho those were 2.5 years ago. Maybe it's the Tamoxifen? Maybe it's a combination of everything we have had. Anyone else with the same? Sending love and wellness wishes to all on this site❤️

Hi
I feel your pain regarding just trying to do normal things and having pain it's very frustrating. As far as the fatigue goes I think the tamoxifen maybe your problem I did not take any of those drugs because of the horrendous side effects plus my cancer was stage 0. Perhaps you should have a discussion with your doctor regarding the medication they can change you to a different drug that may not do that to you from what I've heard

Thank you! It could be it's the Tamoxifen. I can't take the Aromatase Inhibitors like most post menopausal patients do because of my osteoporosis. Tamoxifen actually helps with bone building if you are past menopause while the AI drugs can cause bone loss.
My Mayo provider mentioned that sometimes a 2 week drug holiday can reset things in your body and then when you start again the side effects may be a lot better. I should pursue that. Thanks again❤️

Hi Sue417,
I have had breast cancer, ILC and IDC, then a DMX. No chemo, no radiation. Diagnosed late 2022. Surgery early 2023. I am on Tamoxifen due to osteoporosis even tho I am way past menopause. I had 3 spinal compression fractures about the same time as the bc diagnosis. I have been on Zometa infusions 2x a year since then. One infusion next fall to complete the 6 infusions. I have had fatigue since this all happened to me too!! I am 72 now, I have complained of fatigue but I am told they are not sure why but many patients who have had bc complain about it. Some patients do not have it. After reading your post I'm thinking is it the spinal compression fractures?? I had PT for the compression fractures and I still do the daily exercises. I can't work in the kitchen or sew on my machine etc for longer than about 60 minutes cause my back will hurt and then I have to lay flat on my back and rest to get back to normal . Then I'm ok again. I do lie on a board with a yoga mat and a quilt or 2 on it on a bed, or I lie on the floor 15 minutes a day to help my back and to hopefully not get a hump on my back. My PT told me to do that every day and that it would help a lot. So I do! It also helps us not to get a hump on our back if the fractures were in the thoracic area. My compression fractures were T7, T8 and then one in the Lumbar area.
I don't have back pain except for food prep work or machine sewing if longer than the hour or so I mentioned. But the fatigue?? Maybe it is the spinal compression fractures even tho those were 2.5 years ago. Maybe it's the Tamoxifen? Maybe it's a combination of everything we have had. Anyone else with the same? Sending love and wellness wishes to all on this site❤️

I had bc in 2021. In 2023 I had a PAINFUL compression fracture at T11-12. After 8 Softwave treatments and chiropractic adjustments, the severe pain was gone. That was at Tungate’s office in Tempe. After a few more treatments a “fatigue acheyness” was also gone.

Now I go to an office closer to home for treatment: Active Spine and Sport. In 2025 my back started bothering me after I fell twice. My back is doing well again. I didn’t fracture anything in my back—just broke my arm in two places! I’ll be doing PT for my arm.

Be well! Wishing you much happiness. I love to quilt, cook, and play the piano. That’s my happy place. ❤️💕❤️🙏🙏🙏