kyphosis pain

[FitCharly]

Hi, I’m new here and looking for some advice. I’ve been diagnosed with kyphosis, had the scans, tried the cortisol injection which didn’t work the consultant said that was because it is the muscles in the back that are causing the pain as they have to work hard to keep us up straight. He gave me the back bending exercises to do and advised yogi and Pilates. I’ve tried them but nothing seems to make any difference. I have a pain constantly now in the left thoracic side. I have tried pain meds but they do nothing. Does anyone know of anything that helps. Sorry it’s such a long post. Thanks.

[Fruitandnutcase]

I can see why your consultant has suggested yoga or Pilates but you need the right class and teacher.

Might also be worth trying to find a good private physiotherapist who is used to dealing with clients with osteoporosis and have a few sessions. Same with Pilates - don’t just go to a general ‘village hall’ type of class, you need someone experienced and knowledgeable to work with you - either individual sessions or as part of a very small group.

Someone in my Pilates group (our teacher is a physiotherapist) and has kyphosis and a very deformed spine, she has also lost a lot of height and between her physio (who I also had a few sessions with and found them really helpful) and our Pilates group where everything we do is adapted to suit her condition or she is given an alternative she is managing to keep going. She has also now applied for a Blue Badge as getting around was becoming difficult.

[FitCharly in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thanks for your help. I agree going to a class where the teacher does not understand the condition won’t help at all. I think I will ask GP for a referral to a physiotherapist. I just wish I could find a pain med that would help. My consultant said take ibuprofen but they don’t make any difference at all. My kyphosis isn’t severe, I don’t think people would notice the curve at all. It’s like a bulge on the left side and that’s where the pain is. It seems to give me a protruding stomach. Hopefully physio might help.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to FitCharly]

Should have added my friend has scoliosis which I think is her main problem. Her back is terribly bent.

Good idea to ask for a physio referral, the very best help I had was from the physio attached to the fracture liaison service, I fractured my wrist just as covid started and when she phoned me because her exercise class was cancelled I said my wrist was fine but my hand was completely trashed as I had developed CRPS which was very unpleasant.

She got me started on desensitisation exercises and got me fixed up with a hand therapist so that might be worth a try. My rheumatologist also mentioned their pain clinic - I didn’t ever get the referral but if you can get physio then the pain clinic might be an option.

Hopefully you can find the correct help for you. It can be very difficult but if you can just find the right person it will make a huge difference. My telephone conversation with the physio got me service that I doubt if I would ever have got from my GP. I owe her and the hand physio she put me in touch with for getting back to normal.

[Canuck321 in reply to FitCharly]

If your stomach is protruding, have you been checked for compression fractures in your back? That could cause pain, kyphosis and a protruding stomach. Guessing that you have, but just wanted to put that out there in case it hasn't been explored. I suffered several compression fractures a few years ago and didn't know what was happening. I noticed my stomach protruding as well. Had to put all the pieces together.

[Sleeplessinlife]

Hi fitcharly, I have found the only way I can excercise these back muscles well is when I am lying down on a bed. I get pain relief and do stretches and gentle pulls in yhe back muscles by extending my arms behind me. I ' hope' this is strengthening them a bit. So far my progress is very slow. I continue to walk most days, but after an hour upright, the muscles are screaming to be back in their new bent position. Pain killers do little for me either. I'm taking paracetamol to allow me some comfort when I go out, stronger pills didn't help. I have no flexibility for yoga and I can't sit in chair too long either. Unless your living with this.. you have no idea!

[FitCharly in reply to Sleeplessinlife]

Thank you for your help. I know it’s quite strange but also obvious that lying down is the only way to relieve the pain. I will try your exercises and see if they help.

[Heleniumand in reply to FitCharly]

Sorry Fit Charley, I didn’t mention that I also have a kyphosis

[Siamang]

When mine gives me grief I first see my physio who uses a whole body approach and manipulates where needed. I then follow up with mat Pilates with a properly trained instructor and aqua aerobics. Keeps me maintained and usually only need physio 1x a year. My back has strengthened and posture improved.

[WhiskyPrincess1008]

Good morning, that is also where I get a lot of pain but it seems to change sides at times. Sometimes the left sometimes the right. I also get pain in both of my buttocks. I am always conscious of trying to have a good posture when walking and I am not sure if it helps or does more harm. I was at a physiotherapist out at our local hospital and she gave me stretches and exercises to do so have been doing them.

I do take the stronger co codamol 30/500. Sometimes 2 but all depending what I am doing I would need another 2 later on.

[Heleniumand]

I keep recommending these to newbies so apologies to anyone who’s seen this before.but I get relief from the pain with Cura-Heat patches (Amazon are cheapest), one on each side of my spine where the pain is felt, even if pain is only on one side.

If what I’m wearing isn’t suitable for sticking patches on ( I stick them on a t-shirt under something warmer or if I’m staying in) then I use ibuprofen gel which I didn’t think would work - but it really does!

hope this helps FitCharly

[Rooruby in reply to Heleniumand]

I agree I have severe osteoporosis and scoliosis as we as kyphosis I get awful pain in my right side and use a hot water bottle I brought 1 you can wrap round and it has velcro so it's hands free lol. I have to say the patches sound great so I too will be trying them

[Heleniumand in reply to Heleniumand]

Sorry, didn’t say that I also have a kyphosis

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Heleniumand]

I love Cura Heat patches. Especially in cold weather. I slap one on and they are like central heating. I used to work on a building that could get very cold and I would put one on regardless of whether I needed it or not. I’ve even been known to buy them in a store, go to the loo and stick one on.

I’ve always stuck them directly onto my skin then I discovered some that ‘are suitable for sticking directly on skin’ so I assume they aren’t all like that! ! Ah well they worked for me and didn’t do any damage.

[CallMeSunny]

You might like to check out mediuk.co.uk, Spinomed braces. They do one specifically for kyphoses, but it needs to be fitted to you by an Orthotist so you would need to request a referral from your GP. They are excellent quality braces (German made) and as such expensive, although I understand you can obtain one FOC from the NHS. The other alternative (to speed things up) is to see an Orthotist and pay privately both for their service and a brace. I can thoroughly recommend the brace.

[fraid]

Sorry to hear of your woes, it's a real pain, literally, trying to reduce pain. My kyphosis lost me 6", I can only stand/ walk a few mins before lumbars etc. go into spasm, my pain is extreme coz of my 7/8 vertebral fractures which cause the kyphosis, nerve and muscle pain. I refractured one or two between shoulder blades 2 weeks ago so it affects my whole upper body and arms. Finally got the good doc who upped my Fentanyl to 25 mcg, Gabapentin 900 mg but muscle relaxants made me totally stoned 🤪, confused 🙃 and didn't touch spasms, so no to those!😱

Physio made me much worse when I first # d so do my own gentle static exercises just to prevent leg oedema , do things in bites rest between till pain settles, try again repeat. I believe using an injured part does more damage, give it time to heal. Getting the right pain meds is trial and error but worth it to be pain free! 😖Paracetemol are useless, stronger stuff may be needed even if temporary to get over the worst of it. I wish you luck but you're stuck with it and need to find the best solution for you, don't be afraid to tell your doc you need more help, that's what they are there for. First get your pain under control. Hope some of that helps? Best wishes. 🤗

[Rems]

If you've been assessed and no dangers you could try a spinomed back brace which helps strengthen the spinal extensor muscles and provides some relief ... needs fitting by an orthotist but you can google practioners. I had painful kyphoscoliosis and it helped me but found lots walking wearing light weighted jacket with good posture and starting strength training actually started to straighten the kyphosis over a year and it is tons better now so my spinomed in the loft now.

[FitCharly in reply to Rems]

Hi, when you say strength training, do you mean Pilates and yoga. I enjoy walking but at the moment find anything over a mile and the pain starts up. Thanks for your help

[Rems]

No I mean the real deal ... I started with 1kg pink dumbells and a you tube video for osteoporosis exercises worked consistently till i could use bands and heavier dumbells then after a year barbells. Now i do Liftmor study exercises ... shown to increase bmd but i have good bone fragility score on REMS and went to a physio for form and some gym coaching for more form ... now deadlifting 45kg with my awful back which has greatly improved but this needs some initial supervision and great care when doing. I was as weak as a kitten having avoided lifting so if i can anyone can and liftmor included people with spinal fracture but they were supervised throughout. I also have a lot of protein in my diet. Pilates and yoga have some evidence for preventing bone loss but none for building bone. Liftmor also had impact which is required too but I'm less good at that ... Bel8nda Beck ran the liftmor study and has an online programme called onero

[FitCharly in reply to Rems]

Gosh you have worked hard at it. You deserve good results. I think I will speak to the GP and ask for phsio and go from there. I feel a bit of a fraud as some of you kind people are in a lot more pain than me. I don’t have osteoporosis just kyphosis. I also have abdominal separation which has only been diagnosed since I’ve had the kyphosis so I don’t know if there is a connection. I’m 73 and most people get it during pregnancy. Anyway thank you for all your help x