Osteoporosis related L3 VCF healing at a standstill.

Hi @mundy, how do you know you aren’t healing from your fracture? And I’m assuming a doctor ordered an X-ray back in December when it first happened and have you had a follow up X-ray? Who is the one who prescribed Tymlos, is there a reason you don’t want to continue with that provider?
It does take at least 3 months to heal, and by that I mean it never goes back in the shape it was before the compression fracture, but becomes a bit more stable. Did you wear a brace at all, and are you limiting your movements and lifting to avoid injuring yourself further? Lots of questions I know, but in order to get the whole picture it’s important to know details. I’m sorry this happened to you, but hopefully you will find a lot of common sense input on this site. It sure has helped me…

Hi @mundy,

I'm glad to hear you're not having problems with Tymlos.

How do you know your L3 frax isn't healing - increased pain, X-ray or MRI results . . . I, too have had an L3 fracture (and also L1, L4 and T12). Two of my fractures took some very painful months to heal, however, I was blissfully unaware of the T12 which was accidentally discovered during a visit to the ER. I can't say which break hurt most because I didn't know much at all about compression fractures and they were all "old/healed" by the time they were seen on an X-ray. It was only after a long stint of pain after shoveling snow that my doc finally had a spinal x-ray and discovered the reason for the pain. By the time he got around to ordering the X-ray, I'd already had three VCP's. At my spine specialist's suggestion, I had an x-ray of my back to enable monitoring and comparison for future problems and questions.

And, it is possible to cause a fracture simply by sneezing or coughing too hard, twisting the wrong way . . .

Wishing you the best! Cheers!

Thank you for your response. I have gotten progressively better since the fracture until the past few days. It feels like a set back regarding movement and pain. It’s scary.
My endo ordered the X-ray. I saw him the week after my injury. He did no follow up, not his area I guess. I was seeing him to begin something different than Alendronate; he advised Tymlos. I did an urgent care on line appointment for directions. I learned what movements not to make and was told not to lift even 10 pounds. I have done my best. No one suggested a follow up X-ray, is that what is commonly done?
It’s the resent increase in pain that concerns me after things getting progressively better.
Thank you.

I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to you. Your post-fracture care was inadequate in my opinion.

I fractured T8 in December 2023. I had no idea I had a fracture until I saw my PCP in late March 2024 and she ordered an x-ray. It was healed by then.

I was prescribed 12 physical therapy sessions to strengthen my back muscles which had deteriorated due to the corresponding nerve root compression.

It took six plus months of work to get my back muscle strengthened. The pain gradually dissipated and I am mostly pain free these days. The muscles do get tight and painful if I stand for too long and/or am not careful with my movements.

I do back exercises every day and even lift weights again. I did not fracture exercising but doing something I should not have: greatly flexing my spine and placing a load on it while bending over a tub. I am super careful about how I move now. The physio helped me with that.

Can you see your PCP and request physical therapy?

P.S. The book, "Back Mechanic" by Dr. Stuart McGill was a tremendous help to me.

I had an MRI on 01/04 almost one month after the fracture then an appointment two weeks later that only discussed kyphoplasty. I didn’t think I was in need of any procedure since healing had been noticeable.
Now I don’t know what to think and I don’t know who to see for help, even for a brace. Maybe that is something I do on my own? I still feel like I am navigating this by myself.
I was told no PT until there is no pain.
The book I will find, thank you.

Glad to hear that you are getting some advice on when to start PT. It was four months since my fracture and the x-ray showed it had healed so that may be why I was started on it immediately.

Hope you find some relief from the pain soon.

Thanks Oopsiedaisy and Beanieone for responses.
Observation and pain management seems to be the treatment for me.
I appreciate the time you gave and sharing your experiences, it is helpful to me.