Has anyone heard of or have had these effects that spinal fratures have left me with .last year I fractured my spine in three places last one being the most painful ilost a lot of weight mainly because I became that bloated I couldn't eat and still cant eat properly because of bloat ,the worse symptom for me now is the breathlessness can be fighting. I spoke to osteoporosis nurse at ROPS she did say this can happen due to stomach pushing up diaphragm in turn then leans on the lungs ,I didn't ask what can be done about it.I feel constantly uncomfortable, I can't excersise at the moment as I have would you believe torn my rotory cuffs ,has this happened to anyone else after fractures ,I'm looking for answers and is there anything that can be done about this horrible effect after spinal fratures
Spinal fractures: Has anyone heard of... - Bone Health and O...
Spinal fractures
Depending on where you are your hospital may have a Fracture Liaison Nurse. You could speak to. The hospital I was with also had a specialist osteoporosis physiotherapist - I developed CRPS when my plaster came off after I broke my wrist in 2020 and it was thanks to her I got the help I badly needed. I really don’t know what would have happened had I not spoken with her.
She rang to ask how my wrist was because her osteoporosis exercise class had been cancelled because of covid. I told her my wrist was great but my hand was totally trashed.
She got me started with desensitisation exercises and put me in touch with a specialist hand physio with whom I had several zoom type consultations.
So if you can find someone like that to talk to you might get the information and help you are needing. Sounds very painful. Shoulder problems are extremely painful so you really need a bit of help. Hopefully you will be able to make contact with the right person to help.
I'm going to ring hospital where I get my injection tomorrow and ask about these things thank you for advice ,I don't know what CRPS is
Hope you get someone who can help you or at least point you in the right direction.
I’m not sure how to describe CRPS it was pretty horrible, some people never get rid of it.
Good luck today. Let us know how you get on.
I will thank you
Yes it certainly has. I have three compressed vertebrae. This means I have lost 4.5 inches in height. The more I eat the worse crushed tummy feels. For me this is a double whammy as I have COPD so getting out of breath is made worse. I have not heard of any solutions for this. Maybe physio but you need a real specialist and they seem difficult to find.
I fractured my T8 vertebrae and am also breathless when doing small activities. Constipation and bladder problems also. I wondered if an inhaler would help. I have tried going to gp but they didn't offer anything. I was very fit before this happened.
Same. I have 10 and waiting to hear if there's an 11. New one fractured week before last. Muscles are so tight. I lost 40 lbs over the course of a few months because muscles are pulling so tight from spine round to stomach and diaphragm. So much pressure and not much room for food. One step forward and two back. So far rotator cuffs are okay. It feels like my ribs are sitting on my hips. Such pain. Thinking of getting a lightweight back brace to hold my shoulders back a bit and give me some room to breathe which is difficult at best. I feel ya...
sorry this happened to you. Is this from osteoporosis or rebound from Prolia?
The pred for the PMR has caused severe osteo.
Yes this is true my gp told me mine is steriod induced, also gave my cataracts which I had removed last year
I'm not convinced that Pred is necessarily entirely to blame. PMR also attacks the muscles around the lumbar and thoracic regions so it might be inadequately controled inflammation partly to blame. I've been on steroids 12 years and my DEXAs have always been normal.
With that many fractures you need expert help, shout from the rooftops!
Yes...if only I had a GP who would listen. Could be PMR inflammation, but Pain Specialist says fibromyalgia and fobbed me back to the GP who will now only go by his report. Osteoporosis Specialist says she no longer handles PMR/GCA since 1992. The xray I just had last week was only lumbar spine. The pain I'm in atm is beyond and the kyphosis is much worse. So I'm thinking thoracic fracture. Like everything suddenly let go. Almost bent over from waist. Unsure where to go from here TC. Pretty sure a back brace would help as everything is pushing on stomach and diaphragm. GP blames it on the Pred and therefore policing the taper to a tee. Scary becx there are no extra pills in case of a flare or adrenal issues. For a refill her office has to be contacted. I just found this out on my recent attempt at refilling the pred. Very stressful. Ugh!
Well start by pointing out the obvious - that you think you have another thoracic fracture yet the x-ray was on the wrong bit. Then burst into tears and say "I need help!". My rheumie advice when I was in a mess and wasn't being taken seriously by a consultant on another issue was 'take someone with you, ideally a man, as they get listened to'
Agreed. My phone appt. this Friday will not be adequate. Changing to IP this morning. Thanks for all your advice. I'm listening.
Are you under the care of a rheumatologist? If not I'd ask for a referral as such bone fractures s come under their remit. Mine referred me to a physiotherapist at the hospital who specialises in spinal fractures. Sounds horrible, hope you get the help you need.
Yes I am under rheaumatiod, I will look into it thank you
Hi this happens with spinal fractures when you lose height and you get a kyphosis which is curvature of the spine and it gives you a pot belly, this squashes your stomach and can make you breathless. My osteoporosis consultant prescribed me a Spinomed back brace to hold me up straighter, which has helped I’ll send a picture if you are in the UK you can get them made to measure on prescription. Hope this is useful
That's really interesting, since my recent fractures I can't wear a bra, it's too uncomfortable so I wear a body shaper, it's so much more comfortable and gives some support, I didn't know you could get those on the NHS I'll ask next time I go.
Hi it’s a bit more than a body shaper, it has a back brace on the back which supports your spine if you have spinal fractures and holds your shoulder back. It takes awhile to get use to it but is good support if you have a curvature of the spine. Hope this is useful
Hello Alice. I am sorry to hear that you are struggling as well. I had 7 spine fractures 2.5 to 3 years ago and as a result I have lost 4inches in height (I was only 5ft in height to start with) so am having difficulties with a protruding stomach and breathlessness. I get very out of breath when I try to walk a bit faster and / or go uphill. My GP sent me for an ECG & echocardiogram, blood test for anaemia & now a chest X-ray to eliminate any other cause. However, it is looking like my lungs are getting squashed like the ROS nurse helpline suggested to me & to you. My GP has suggested that improving my fitness is the best thing I could do which should also help with some weight loss - hopefully this will make breathing easier (I would like to lose 4kg). I am also attending some ‘Singing for Breathing’ sessions run by Sutton Health & Care which I hope will help ( you don’t have to be able to sing to attend). I sympathise with you - it’s very hard some days. If I find something that helps I’ll post it on the forum.
You sound like me thank you
Same only GP doesn't get it.
Hello Alice. Yes I have had similar problems. At 74 I was diagnosed with 4 Thorasic fractures in Jan 23, having developed back pain when training for a half marathon. I had been getting breathless when running or walking up a hill, but put it down to "age". The spasms in my back were bad enough but I was also experiencing knotting in my upper abdomen and my tummy was bloating. My build is slight and the only time I had a tummy was when I was pregnant. I now look as though I am 5-6 months pregnant. I can't eat a large meal and now have something to eat every couple of hours. My GP diagnosed asthma and possible cholecystitis. I did ask if they were related to the fractures but this was dismissed. A scan and bloods confirmed not problems with my gall bladder- "no surprise". The spasms/knotting in my abdomen are not as bad but still happen. Similarly the asthma nurse did not see that the breathlessness was linked to the thorasic fractures and prescribed asthma pumps. My tidal volumes increased slightly but I still get breathless on exertion.
In Jan this year I saw an orthopeadic consultant as my back pain had increased and he arranged for a back brace. This does help a little.
Recently I am having problems with constipation, and occasional feacal incontinence. As my fractures are thorasic the GP and continence specialists do not see this is related to my osteoporatic spine. I am not convinced but its just another problem to deal with.
ROPS agreed my stomache and breathing prob are related to spinal fractures ,also my osteoporosis nurse agrees ,my gp ignores it ,dont quite know what specialist I should see ,Google says thoracic specialist deals with this kind of thing
Same. Eating little, difficulty with deep breaths, gall bladder issues, (but maybe not) and I was thinking what else all this pressure from the muscles, ribs and diaphragm might cause. Everything is packed in there very tightly. These posts have been very enlightening. Perhaps the GP will no longer think I'm a hypochondriac or that I "read too much". Thanks!
Hello bethansgrandma,
I was interested to read your post, which parallels much of my experience. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with four fractures at 74, two lumbar then two thoracic and losing 4 inches in height, this was completely unexpected. It’s the thoracic fractures that cause me the most pain, constant back discomfort and aching around the rib as muscles get tired through the day. Like you I was active and of slight build. Fell walking gave me joy, now it is difficult, with shortness of breath and pain I have to push myself to keep going up the gentlest of inclines. The other psychological challenge is in accepting my changed body, not only the kyphosis but the bulging tummy.
Constipation is a problem that I have largely overcome by taking ispaghular husk powder twice a day - it was recommended to me for diverticulosis, it might be worth a try.
If you have any good tips for disguising the bulging tum, I’d be grateful.
Good luck
Seems like there are a lot of us that suffer with squashed organs after fractures, I am definitely going to look further into it ,I see osteoporosis nurses for my injection on25 Nov, I won't to see what specialist deals with after effects after fractures ,and insist I see someone ,I will post if I have any more on this very uncomfortable condition
Lovely to hear from you "BeeGardener", but sorry to hear your problems.
I often feel that I am making a fuss, especially when I get a medical comment that my pain in muscular - Yes I know that 😣. And I need to strengthen my muscles - Yes I have been doing the exercises most days and there is no improvement in my pain 😖- Well take panadol. Aghhhh.
I don't like moaning as I know there are people with far worse conditions and go through a lot more than me, it does feel as though the medical profession has little appreciation of the problems that people with osteoporosis and spinal fractures experience.
The local charity shops have benefited from my change of wardrobe from tight fitting to loose to cover my tum.
All the best
yep me too. My breathing is terrible. I find if I stretch up it eases it so I’m sure it’s all pushing down on my lungs.
Hi Alice - I have the exact same bloating problem and it's horrible - so so uncomfortable and painful. I put a post on about this a while ago but I now can't find it, and unfortunately it didn't yield any helpful replies for me. I had a conversation with one of the nurses too a while back and she said there are some exercises on the ROS site that aim to help with this but I can't recall which they were. I have emailed them the question. Do you find that your bloating is painful as well as uncomfortable, and do you find it's affected your digestion? Mine is painful and has had a horrible effect on my gastric system, mainly in that I have constant trapped gas that is almost impossible to release, and which radiates pain into my back. So I totally understand what you're going through and why it's so awful. I am constantly looking for answers as to how to relieve mine.
Yes I have had all your symptoms plus breathing problems, that bloating is horrible can sometimes cause pain ,but for me it is more sever bloating and breathless ,when I see my osteoporosis nurse on 15 Nov I will discuss with her what direction to go in as GP doesnt seems to know if I get any futher I will post ,if you get any further with excerise will you let us know ,husband has just reminded me about the awful pain I sometimes get that starts in my back
Hi Ellie...I have a lot of pressure on my stomach and diaphragm. I get hungry, but full very quickly. Since a year ago, I've lost 40 lbs. due to the tight muscles, which got better but with this newer fracture it's started again. Deep breathing exercises might help. Today is trying to push thru the pain. I fo get constipated as well.
Your post was helpful for all the responses you have been given.
I had 3 thoracic fractures, T11, T13(I have an extra vertebra) and then T10 was 80% crushed.
I had kyphoplasty on T11 and 13. T10 wouldn't heal, I was hunched over severely and lungs were being pressed on. All very painful. Couldn't eat much, lost a lot of weight. Total loss of 5 1/2 inches.
Back surgeon recommended Forteo, after which he did fusion surgery from T8 to L2. (after 6 months)
Surgery makes me appear to be pretty straight, gained about an inch plus back. Ended up having much nerve damage. Still painful.
Stomach is thick and bloated constantly. I have not much room for food,but breathing is better. I still have constipation issues, so use OTC supplements for that.
I went up 3 pants sizes to be able to be comfortable enough around my waist.
I have just realized it is what it is.
I have organs, etc., squashed into a space that used to be 4 1/2 inches "taller", so what was up is now pushed sideways.
Osteoporosis Dr sent me for osteoporosis specific physical therapy and the stretches I do (am supposed to do) twice a day do seem to alleviate some of the pressure.
I still have pain and can't do very much, but at least I'm not in a wheelchair.
I'm so very sorry for your debilitated body and hope you are able to get some relief.
OP stinks.
Hi everyone,
We just wanted to pop in to share our exercise info about caring for your back, as this has been mentioned in the thread: theros.org.uk/information-a...
Also if you have questions about exercising after spinal fractures, this may help answer them: youtube.com/watch?v=q6el0Ht...
It is so great to see such kind support on this thread, thank you all for sharing your experiences - wishing you all the very best on your health journeys 
Take care,
Lulu
ROS Moderator
Hi I much appreciate the links to excersise you have posted ,in the posts from myself and answered to me posts I think like myself most are looking for treatment and excersise for bloating and breathlessness that spinal fratures have left us with I believe has a lot to do with the diaphragm ,personally I am looking for excersise to help with this very uncomfortable condition,I can't see any maybe there is none ,thank you for the links to the other spinal excersise
Hi Alice70,
Thank you for sharing further, we have a factsheet on daily living after fractures that includes some information about eating when bloated, and breathing exercises/breathlessness. I'll include it here in case it might be helpful: strwebprdmedia.blob.core.wi...
I'll also feedback to the team that this is an area where some more information and support would be valued - thank you so much for highlighting this to us!
All the very best,
Lulu
ROS Moderator
I find this post and ajioning fact sheets very informative ,thank you so much
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