I've been coming on here for years, and I sometimes answer questions, but this is my first post. I have severe COPD, and I started getting pains in my back on Tuesday night, which made it VERY difficult to catch a breath. Frightened me, so I called 111, a doctor rang me back almost immediately and sent an ambulance for me. Anyway, after a CT scan, it turned out to a be fractured vertebrae...discharged yesterday with buprenorphine patches, morphine solution, etc.
Anyway, I just wanted to say it bloody hurts, and I think you should all feel sorry for me. I certainly do. Oh, and as a bonus...I was exposed to Covid-19 on the ward. Great, eh? Moan, moan, moan. (I'm kidding a bit, really, I know there are people far worse off than me.) Please take care of yourselves, everyone.
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vambo
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I feel sorry for you! It sounds like a horrible time. And the exposure to the coronavirus in hospitals is such a worry. Hopefully the medications will start to help ease the pain and also let you start to breathe more easily again.
Sometimes you just have to moan. It helps to get it all 'out there'. And it's a justifiable moan in this case. If it was me in that situation I'd definitely be feeling sorry for myself! 🙃
Buckitlodes of simpathy and comfert food comin ur way vambo...💕❤️🥰🎂🍭🍬🍫🍰🧁🍦🍨🍔🌭🍟🍕🥐🧀🥯🥓 hope it starts 2 feel beter reel soon and until then I hope the drugs r good and make u more comfy x
I can sympathise .....I fractured two vertebrae a few years ago, and it does hurt. It took a time to be diagnosed too, and I carried on struggling with paracetamol .I fractured a rib before just coughing .
I had to have a bone scan later to find out why .
Sorry about the Covid exposure, did they tell you to look for symptoms and order a test if needed. Tell them about your spine if they ask you to drive.
Not brave, I didn’t know I had fractured my spine until weeks later. I was then offered cocodamol but my father hallucinated when he took them.....he rang me at the time .....scared me so I wouldn’t take them .
Hallucinated, wow. I can't take Cocodamol Knitter - Im allergic. I had a strong reaction 20 minutes after taking it, very itchy all over and so dizzy I didnt dare go upstairs. Strange because I had taken it some years before without any trouble.
Poor poor you, buckets load of sympathy....dreadful. As to being exposed to covid, terrible, you should be safe in hospital. Hospitals are no longer a safe place to be in, someone I know went into hospital for surgery, she was discharged having caught covid there and all her coughing has messed up her operation and has to return to have it done again. Take care and hope you're a lot better soon.
Thanks a lot! I agree, you shouldn't have to be exposed to covid in a hospital. Still, I suppose it's inevitable (?) , and it does make me appreciate a little more what the staff have to put up with every day. They genuinely were all pretty amazing people, I have to say.
Thank you! This level of pain is something new to me, but the medication makes it tolerable. I'll ring my GP tomorrow, and find out how these things work. The covid i could certainly do without. Take care, thanks.
I was in hospital for the first time with a severe flare up of my emphysema in July. I was put on a covid ward - horrified having been shielding since March. The ward had bays with 4 beds in each and there was only one other lady in the same bay with me in the opposite corner. I was swabbed twice while in hospital both negative but, yes, they are not pleasant to have. I have often wondered how many people swabbing themselves do it properly; there is no way that I could have done it properly to myself.I hope that you stay symptom free now you are home but you will no doubt be monitoring how you feel very carefully. Best wishes xx
That IS horrifying. I started shielding before the government advice, but it only takes one mistake, by somebody else. I've just rung the hospital to see if they'd tell me anything, but they just said if I have been exposed, I'll definitely hear from the track and trace people. Fingers crossed, eh? Dangerous times for those of us with respiratory problems. Look after yourself.
Oh I don't know, I think you're entitled to a good moan and all the sympathy you can squeeze out of everyone vambo. Fractures hurt, I know, I've had 4 in last year 😢. Have you had a dexa/bone scan? Just be sure you eat loads of extra fibre every day to avoid the famous side effect of the morphine medications wont you. A tablespoon of ground flaxseed in yr porridge or muesli should help enormously. Heres a hug for you 🤗 take care. P
Thank you, yes, why not? Got to go for it, I say! Sorry to hear about that, you've really been in the wars. Osteoporosis was mentioned at the hospital, but I've no history of it, so..... early days yet, I suppose. They've given me two kinds of laxatives, but the natural remedies will be better, I'm sure. Look after yourself.
Might be worth following up the osteoporosis mention with your GP who could arrange for a Dexa scan to show whether there is any osteoporosis or not if you want more information.
He/ she should be automatically referring you for one if you're over 50. I still have osteopenia the pre osteoporosis state of bones so at least I've known for over 20 years to take action to preserve what bone density is left. GP insisted on test after very early menopause. Hope you've got someone at home to wait on you! P
Hi peege. I was prescribed adcal and alendronic acid (no longer taking the latter) in 2016 after prolonged courses of prednisolone throughout that year. However I was only referred for a Dexa scan last year by another GP in the practice who was unhappy that I had stopped the alendronic acid. Perhaps some GPs are better at making this referal than others.
Hope the scan had a good outcome. I've never been offered adcal or alendronic 🤐. Nearly 20 years I've managed to remain just oseopenic. Thank heavens for copious amounts of plain yoghurt and vitamin D3 (K2 as well to ensure the VitD gets where it's needed, my bones). Also a great GP warned me from my early 40s that an early menopause was a prerequisite for getting osteoporosis P
The scan report showed osteoporosis throughout my spine and in both hips but the scores were -1.8 and -1.9 which isn't too bad considering (or at least that's what I choose to think!).Sounds like you have a good GP. I was never told that an early menopause which I had was a prerequisite, but having been a smoker along with all the steroids I've had over the past 7 years I wasn't surprised at the scan result. You have done very well to stay osteopenic and I hope that you stay that way. I stopped the Alendronic Acid due to increasing gastric upset and I was never happy taking it once I read up about it. I still take the adcal but also take vitk2 now.
Hi, i have osteopenia after a hysterectomy in my early 30’s, and now i am in my70’s. I asked for a bone density scan in my surgery years ago and was turned down as ‘ no need’.I insisted pointing out I has undergone a bi-lateral oophorectomy at an early age. The none density scan showed low density and i received an apology from my GP.
I asked for another, 20 years later recently and was turned down again.none of my friends have neen referred fora bone scan and we are all over 50 years.
Crumbs Sops, appalling that you weren't warned of the pitfalls of losing bone density rapidly if menstruation stops as early as yours. Also HRT wasn't as safe then as it is now. No-one I know of any age knows this so I get my daughters who also started at 17/18 like me. One of them began her menopause at 38 so very remiss of her doctors. Spread the word to your daughters folks - please. Peege xx
Thank you Peege i will. My own daughter is currently recovering from melanoma operations and has autoimmune issues, she had a spinal operation aged 17 years and is 46 years old in December so i will certainly be speaking with her. Sopsx
Oh no Peege! 4 fractures in past year! 😥 That sounds horrendous!!! 😕
OMG! I feel so terribly terribly sorry for you. 😢 😭 Here's loads and loads of sympathy. I'd tell you about the terrible pain I'm suffering myself but I don't suppose you get anymore relief from hearing that some people are worse off than you than I do.Only joking, in fact I feel pretty good this morning and I do hope very much that you will soon feel the same. 😘
I see Iris has posted a lovely poem on Constipation. 😉
Oh i do feel sorry for you i bet it dose blody hurt. I do wonder what you were up to to crack a vertibray in the first place 😉😆. Rest up stay safe. A good mone every now and then is good for us 😷
You'd think you'd know, if you'd done something like that, wouldn't you? Thanks for the sympathy, it's much appreciated. Although no more than I deserve, of course.....
Oh I sorry that all this is happening to you. Do you use any relaxation or meditation? I found them so hard to get into when pain was very high but by practicing when the medication was taking the edge off it I got more benefit. That may not feel useful at the moment.
I do hope it all gets better soon and that you get some sleep.
Thank you! That sounds like a good idea to me, a mix of the two. I hardly slept at all in the hospital, but I'm sure that will improve now I'm back home. Take care.
I think a moan now and again does us good, sorry to hear you are feeling well hope you feel better soon. Have a lovely day and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxx
I often feel a bit better after a good old moan and on here with so many lovely people all feeling your pain and lots of well wishes, probably no better place to do it as you realise with the responses you get you are not on your own.
Hiya lovely and commiserations for your rotten health problems. Just to explain I have severe COPD, osteoporosis and I'm on a bupronorphine script so I thought I'd share my unqualified opinions in the hope that something is helpful. If you can't explain the broken vertebrate then it may well be time for a Dexa scan to check your bone density. I suppose osteoporosis is a common problem with certain COPD sufferers due to the frequency of steroid use. Fortunately for me it's only ribs I break, but again and again. However I've been on HRT and calcichew for nearly five years and they seem to have tapered off so, touch wood, it's never too late.
There are other treatments but when I researched alendronic acid I was horrified by what I read and have never taken it. I'm not saying don't, just look into it before you do. It is far from certain that it is beneficial and while some people are perfectly happy with it there are so many who have had absolutely horrific experiences that, for me it wasn't worth the risk. I found all of these on the NHS website, there were literally thousands of awful testimonials. I appreciate you are thinking why on earth is this dreadful woman bombarding me with this information and I'm sorry. It's a hot button for me because if your experience resembles mine then your GP may just issue a standard script for calcium and alendronic acid with absolutely no warning as it really does sound like you may be showing signs of osteoporosis so calcichew good, it also includes supplementary vitamin D so double good, no real drawbacks. Anything else, look into it, don't rush.
What other gems have I got for you? Well it was just bupronorphine and constipation. I just wanted to recommend stool softeners over laxatives because opioids do slow you down without doubt and sometimes the fluids and roughage just need a little help. You have probably been prescribed either magrogols or lactulose, both are very effective. I prefer the former, Laxido or Movicol, it's not actually a medication at all but a completely inert ingredient which simply encourages your bowel to, shall we say, keep your movements loose on the way through. Very gentle, very effective, one sachet a day works splendidly for me, I think it is far better to keep things under control than wait for a problem you have to deal with, particularly with back problems. The alternative is lactulose which is actually milk sugars, not too unpalatable if you have a sweet tooth but it really is like swallowing a spoonful of syrup and I'm not altogether sure that it's ideal from a dietic point of view, I suppose it's just a question of choose your poison but until I discovered these meds constipation due to opoids made my life an utter misery and I would never wish to see anyone go through the embarrassment and pain I experienced. I had never in my life had constipation until my late forties, didn't know what had hit me and even very gentle laxatives like syrup of figs just seemed to compound the pain. So I hope everything in my very very lengthy post is not in the least relevant to you but maybe it will help someone else.
It only remains for me to wish you the very best, I can hear that you are very brave and stalwart but you have a lot on your plate. Please reach out if you need any help and don't try to soldier on. There's plenty of encouragement and practical advice to be found here but also there are a lot of kind and thoughtful people offering help in our communities right now. The next door app could be really useful for you if you need any practical support, I don't know if you have come across it. You will be much in my thoughts, I think you are wonderfully positive and inspiring. Take care of yourself and just remember we only have to get through the next few months and everything will improve, it's not often we can say that!
Forgive the novel and take very good care of yourself.
Thank you so much, there's a wealth of information there! Somebody's personal experience is the best guide there is, thank you again for taking the time. I haven't spoken yo my GP yet, I'll ring tomorrow, and see what he has to offer. They gave me some Movicol sachets when I was discharged from the hospital, so that's a good start. Also some senna pod tablets. My very best wishes to you, please take care of yourself.
Have a good moan as often as you need to; it's a therapeutic moan after all. hope the pain is beginning to ease and that the covid has missed you. Best wishes, Alberta. 😠to 🙂to 😊hopefully xx
Sorry to hear this, I have 3 fractures in my spine very painful always ! I also have copd and bronchi ecstasies, Terrified about contracting COVID in a hospital visit! Hope you are better soon c
Hi there, sorry to hear about you spine fractures, it really is painful, isn't it? Thanks for answering, it's much appreciated. Be sure and take care of yourself.
Moan away, I think it helps, and I hope Vambo that the meds are helping and you are getting some relief. Fingers crossed on the Covid, try to get tested if possible. Jax
Thanks very much! The meds DO help, I'd be in trouble without them. I just hope there's no problem with my GP continuing to prescribe them, not sure how these things work. Look after yourself.
Thanks very much! I rang the hospital about the Covid....they said the track and trace people will definitely be in touch if there's a problem (despite their well-publicised failings!) So just hope to hear nothing, I suppose. Not that clued up on it. Take care.
Morning vambo. There is a bone health forum that you might find of interest if you don't already know about it. Lots knowledgeable members there who have had fractures including vertebrae. There are many posts about medication and diet. I hope that you have a reasonable day.
Hi vambo, I can certainly empathise with you. Have to say you were fortunate to get a CT scan for a fractured vertebrae. In July, I became very breathless as a result of severe pain at the base of my spine after trying to shift a bag of compost, was taken into hospital, finally given an x-ray and eventually they confirmed a fractured vertebrae . Took them 3 days of faffing about to confirm the fracture. Too right, it really did hurt for some weeks. You'll need to take things easy for a while. One thing that helped with me was to have a scarf tied loosely around my waist and when I needed to cough, I just pulled it tight and eased the pain. Certainly worked. As far as being exposed to Covid - no comment! Take it easy. x
Thanks for answering! They actually gave me the CT scan because they suspected problems with the aorta (there were none, thankfully). That's when they spotted the fracture. Lucky really, as you say. Look after yourself.
You’ve had great replies. Just wanted to add that even the act of articulating your “moans” probably felt like a bit of a relief. I’m not a big fan of bravery, the squeaky hinge gets the oil!
Thanks, I'm no hero, that's for sure! Let 'em know, I say. And you're right, there are some wonderful people on here. These answers have genuinely done me a world of good. Take care.
Hi vambo...i dont see your post as a moan..its the therapeutic cry of and now what..! Followed by a long sigh....We are all the same rocky leaky boat of life... so remember others can help steady and bail out we we cant... hopefully we stay afloat together until its our time to disembark x
Hi there, thanks for answering! It's true, we do need to help each other on the way. Sometimes we forget, but as long as we try, eh? Look after yourself.
Hi Ledge, just heard by phone call that my consultants appointment tomorrow has been cancelled so no need to go out! Have to wait for a phone consultation for the second time.Sospx
Hi Vambo. Like you I have severe COPD with a degree of bronchiectasis. I have also had 2 known vertebral wedge fractures, they just happen!! It usually takes about 3 weeks of rest and pain killers to resolve. Co- dydramol worked for me. After having a further Dexa scan 2 years ago I was prescribed Prolia injections twice a year, and have had no gastric problems with them. Have taken calcium for many years plus the needy Vit D. Hope your pain is easing and you are getting relief, take care. Keeping fingers crossed for a negative result from your covid test. Lots of good wishes from a chilly Scotland xxx
Thanks very much! I shall certainly be resting, can't do much else at the moment! My GP is ringing at about 5.30 pm, so hopefully I'll get some more advice. Thanks again, and be sure to take care of yourself.
Lots of sympathy here for you -- I hope you fought the C-19 bugs at the hospital! Can't understand why they put people in the danger zone. Keep taking the meds, fly the kite high and get well soon!!Marjie
Hi, thanks for answering! I'm due to speak to my GP in an hour, see what he has to say. I need some more pain meds, I hope there isn't a problem. Shouldn't be, should there? Look after yourself.
I don't regularly post or chat so you are not alone with that. I do sympathise but more interested to know how you fractured a vertebrae was it coughing?JoM49
Hello, thanks. Nobody yet knows how I've done it! It was originally described as a "crushed" vertebrae. I don't cough much or produce a lot of mucus, so it's not that. My COPD is all about breathlessness. Perhaps some light will be shed on it in the coming weeks.
It really does kill pain. Sadly this surgery proved what a princess 👸I am as I reacted badly to several drugs. Home now though. You take care and keep up with the drugs.
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I really hope you start to feel better soon and that the Covid exposure (really naughty) comes to nothing. Take care, Laurie xx
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