Compression fracture in my back
Posted , 5 users are following.
I have experienced a compression fracture in my spine on vertebrae T8. I am in excruciating pain and the pain medication that I've been taking for many years for lower back pain is barely touching the pain that I'm having from this compression fracture. my back is constantly spasming I can't lay down either on my stomach or my back because the spasms. I have to sleep sitting up. My doctors would not listen to me when I told them that I would not be able to do a MRI that I have to lay down for. Nobody has told me anything about this problem I'm having. I don't know if I should be wearing a back brace or if it's okay for me to bend over even though that really hurts. My pain management doctor wants to do some nerve ablation in my back and I've told her I don't think I can lay on my stomach without my back spasming. And when someone is sticking needles in your back you want to lay still. Her only recommendation was to give me one 10mg Valium. But she does not want me to take the muscle relaxers that I have along with the Valium. Well I tried this to have the MRI done and it didn't work and now on Monday I'm going to try it to have him do the injection in my back.
Can anyone here tell me what I should be doing about this fracture and the spasming that's going on? I've been having this pain for about a month now and I am just at the end of my rope.
0 likes, 7 replies
Juno-Irl-Dub amkoffee
Posted
amkoffee, I'm so sorry to hear about your fracture and that you're having such a miserable time right now.
I haven't experienced a compression fracture and I'm not a medical doctor so I can only be of limited help.
You asked if it's " OK for me to bend over even though the really hurts". My first reaction to that DON'T do this.
Pain is a warning and should be listened to. Bending over with hunched back is risky and can cause further fractures. Try and get into the habit of never doing this - but you CAN bend safely from your hip (instead of your waist) or bend while doing the 'golfers lift". . .
As well as treatment, you really do need professional advice from a doctor, a physiotherapist or even a nurse specialist about your back spasms, future safe movement and your recovery - remember, you WILL recover and will be fine.
Take care, J
Anhaga amkoffee
Posted
I am so sorry to hear about this additional problem you have to face.
Muscle spasms can be treated. A good physiotherapist, preferably one with experience working with OP patients, can perform certain treatments which will release the tension in the muscles. I had severely spasmed back muscles, didn't even know. My physiotherapist discovered them when I was in for another reason and did dry needling. There are other things they can do, too. She told me that spasmed back muscles can actually cause vertebral fractures in vulnerable patients.
amkoffee Anhaga
Posted
I have asked my PM doctor if they do dry needling and they do not do it. I have also asked my physiotherapist if they do it there and again the answer was no. So I may just have to do some research and find someone that does do it in my town. I don't live in a small town, I mean it's no New York but I think we have over 300,000 people. So I should surely think I could find someone to do that for me.
BTW I see you in this group and a lot in the PMR group and I love your advice, you always give good advice. The name you've chosen for this site does not indicate whether you're a male or female. I've always thought you were a female. So if you don't mind telling me... what sex do you consider yourself to be?
Anhaga amkoffee
Posted
Female! My "real" name is Jean. But in Canada, or France, that could be a man's name.
I'm trying to remember what my physiotherapist did one time when she said she was doing it instead of dry needling. It was some sort of very focused massage.
Anhaga amkoffee
Posted
kathleen65757 amkoffee
Posted
So much is going on in the back. I had a X-ray a couple of years ago as part of an inspection which showed degenerative discs as well as bulging discs and osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis had already been established.
You need to get a full picture of what is going on in our backs so hopefully you can have all the necessary tests and follow ups.
All the best.....
amkoffee kathleen65757
Posted
I live in the biggest city in my state and we do not have one here. However we have a medical school just 3 hours away but there's no way I can drive that far. Today I saw an orthopedic back doctor. Before I saw him he had his crew take seven X-rays of my back. He found two more fractured vertebrae. He said he was not concerned with getting an MRI or a CT. He wanted to get some kind of nuclear Imaging. So when I went to schedule it with the lady in his office that does that, she told me I would have to lay on my back for a full hour. I told the lady there was no way I could do that and that they would just have to sedate me. So I am now scheduled to have it done on Thursday and I will be asleep when they do it.