Had an MRI and DEXA scan. Found I have 4 vertebra with compression fractures. Diagnosed with Osteoporosis by Dr Stephen Orme at Leeds Spire and Nuffield Hospital.
Been told to reduce alcohol to 14 units per week (normal NHS guidelines), increase calcium in my diet, take 1000 IU of Vitamin D daily and about to start 70mg Alendronic Acid tablets once a week.
Is there anything I can do for the pain other than Tramadol, Naproxen & Paracetamol? Everyone seems more interested in meds to preserve or increasing bone density rather than helping me with the excruciating pain. I think there is a nerve trapped, knackered disk or something else wrong. Is this normal?
Is there more advice on alcohol consumption other than the UK's Chief Medical Officers' drinking guidelines of 14 units per week. Everybody drinks far more than this, but everybody hasn't got Osteoporosis. So what is a more realistic guide? I can remember it been 28 units per week for blokes.
Cheers!
Simon
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I'm not a great fan of having to take meds, so recently I tried using a TENS machine and a heat pad, when the pain is real bad it helps me loads. Valerie
I'm currently getting a lot of relief from a heat pad on back. Tried Tens machine, didn't help me, everything is worth a try. Meds did nothing for me, GPS just threw every known anti inflammatory at me...none helped. Paracetamol is as helpful as all else. Gentle stretches, till muscles get used to new spine shape. Gave up on alcohol years ago, wouldn't help me now! It will take time. Look up Royal osteoporosis society. Multiple factsheets to help us.
Sorry you've had to join the club but agree first thing is getting pain under control, dox are reluctant to dish out the hard stuff in case you get addicted then sue them! But as I hate drugs but need the pain relief went onto Fentanyl patches, started at 12 mcg, then 25,50 which stopped me eating re nausea and chucking,lost 3 stones in 6 mo, so weaned myself down to 12 again, topped up with Tramadol.
Then I recently refractured one or two between shoulders, worst ever pain so as couldn't get doc for over a week( was in a right state) did e- consult saying I wanted Gabapentin and muscle relaxants. My fav doc phoned, insisted back to 25 mcg Fentanyl ( no nausea this time), gave me Gabapentin 900mg day , Methocarbamol for muscle spasms - made me completely stoned, nuts,confused, fall about didn't touch spasm just messed with my already tired brain, so no to those! Gaba makes me bit stoned, horrid but need pain relief so getting used to it and hope to come off asap.
Re booze, I drink loadsa beer, a bit less now but doesn't make difference to meds for me, my excuse is they relax my mind, muscles and I need sumat while I try rest, not easy as I'm a verb. Refused AA as can't stand up long enough to take them, and Prolia re side effects of both. Been crippled for years with # s etc. so used to pain just need less!Nag your doc. Good luck.🤞🍺
It may be worth trying Duloxetine, I'd tried Gabapentine and Pregabaline, probably not spelt right,! The pain clinic changed to to Duloxetine and I'm now in the highest dose but feel a lot better in myself and am usually able to cope with the intense pain
Hi I’ve had 8 fractured vertebrae and the only pain relief that worked for me was morphine patches. I tried co-codamol but the side effect where bad and didn’t ease the pain. The patches just give you a small amount over a 7 day period and the side effects are less, if found being in constant pain got very depressing. Hope you get sorted out soon
Hi All three of my fractures where painful, needed Morphine for 3 months. I had the concrete put in one of my disc's, cannot remember its name. Would not have this again, as next one fractured in 6 weeks, did not tell me to be careful and this could happen. I am on Pregabalin, Deluxatine, Calcium, Vit D, and Morphine patches, I also have Chronic pain from SI Joint pain and Lupus. Just take it easy until the fractures heal. Good Luck.
I'm on co-codomol, 30/500 2 × 4 times daily (Zapain) + amitriptyline 10mg 2 take early evening for nerve pain in leg due to compression fracture. Still experience pain but nowhere near what it was. GP offered stronger pain killers, but as I still drive, thought I had better not. Can't drive long distances though. I was lucky in that our local hospital has a hydrotherapy pool and to help straighten my back my physio referred me to it. Was wonderful. Unfortunately once it has worked it's miracle, am no longer going, it was through the NHS. Still have a slight stoop and loss of height and weight. Usually glass of red wine with meal, am retired now. Men are allowed higher intake of alcohol than woman, purely down to different body sizes. Good luck and sorry to hear that you have joined the club. The pain, at first, was excruciating.
Here in France the alcohol limit is 10 even for blokes 😂 and 2 days per week should be dry. If you’ve got compression fractures (I’ve got 8) it would not be surprising (as in my case) if there is some impact on your discs just caused by the distortion of the vertebrae.
Hi sorry your in pain. As others have said Royal Osteoporosis Society is so helpful as per meds if your t score is not great I was told Alendronic Acid only maintains what you have and mine is -4.7 so I have just started teriparatide daily injection which sounds terrible and I really did not want to but it does increase bone density maybe ask your consultant about it. Also not sure if men have been approved for it
Hello Simon, I have seven compression fractures, and apart from the first one (T4), I felt every one of them "go". Excruciating. They say it takes three or four months for the healing to take place. My last one has left me bent over. It happened in February and I have to say the pain is less - it's manageable - but it feels better if I take a Paracetamol (Tramadol at night). Today I couldn't think why I was in so much pain. Every day is different.
I ended up in hospital in Northern Cyprus a couple of years ago and the consultant there said the best thing I can do is walk or rest lying down. The worst thing, he said, is sitting down. Well, the chairs at the hotel were all dreadful - worn out - so you couldn't be comfortable on them at all. They were clearly due to be replaced, and it would have been rude and "un-holiday-like" to go to bed, so I didn't get to rest. Now I'm home and either doing chores or sitting in my recliner chair! Not good, I know, but this is my life now.
I am surprised you didn't feel your fractures as they happened, but I believe it can be like that, and now you are feeling the pain. Perhaps you are feeling the pain from the last one that happened. You can do nothing but take strong pain killers, and then gradually, you will be aware that you don't need them, so it's just a case then of being patient and not doing the things that trigger them.
I am now taking a denosumab injection twice a year, which I believe makes the bones stronger. I haven't been officially diagnosed with osteoporosis, but after seven fractures, it's now taken for granted. I have only had one injection, and so far, no more fractures, and I do feel stronger. I don't know whether that is imaginary, but anyway, it's got to be better to have a twice a year injection than to take alendronic acid with its possible side effects. So now I just take EvacalD3 and it makes me fart!😆😆
They've changed my meds to Oxycodone, which is a better type of morphine, I've been on it for several months, it's the only painkiller that I've found that makes life bearable. It's a slow release so you take one in the morning and one 12 hours later. They can also add in Oxyact, this can be taken up to 6 times a day, I also take paracetamol with it and it's the only way to function when the pain is so disabling.
I fractured 2 in May, they haven't healed and they can't do anything surgically.
They can also offer injections which 66% of people find relief, so I was told, I've had 6 injections before but they were different to the ones they've now offered me.
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis so young may be a genetic link
It’s the shock and the feeling of despair when given the diagnosis Paracetamol works as good as anything else Nothing really helps I find until the fracture begins to heal about 3/12 It’s important to keep moving gently walking daily and gentle stretches Great advise on osteoporosis website
I am on Teriparatide daily as it’s a bone builder I am told then after 2years I will be changed to a bone protector
My advice is keep active Keep in touch with friends and do as much as you are able
A good physio who understands osteoporosis is worth a visit as they give confidence
Wishing you luck It does get easier as the shock wears off and you find your new normal
I hurt my back in August 2022. In spite of NHS111 suggesting spinal compression and a scan, the GPs treated me with painkillers. Originally tramadol but that did my head in. So I stopped using it and went on to paracetamol and ibuprofen (also tablets to protect my stomach). I had a scan finally in December 2022 which found 5 compression fractures. The point here is that by December the worst pain I ever experienced was easing and I decided not to take painkillers any more . Compression fractures mess up the spinal nerves and they have to reroute themselves but they can do this. By the summer of 2023 I was just about painless, feeling good and doing the exercises recommended by the ROS. After a year on risedronate (a weekly tablet, I’m on a daily injection (teriparatide for bone strengthening). I also have a back brace for when I’m doing heavier work. It’s the price for managing the improvements to this condition.
As to alcohol, it’s a life style choice and excess by any measure gives the body’s systems more to battle with.
Thank you. The Endocrinologist that diagnosed it did 6 pages of blood tests and never mentioned this. I've looked at the results and my blood's calcium level is within range. Do I still need to look into this further?
Sorry pth is parathyroid hormone it controls the amount of calcium is released from your bones and if any of the 4 glands are faulty, it continues releasing calcium leading to osteoporosis. A small op to remove the faulty gland can cause your bone denisty to recover.....speak to your GP. Have a look at the website Hyperparathyroidismukaction4change x
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Boron, sex hormones and osteoporosis
New on this forum and newly diagnosed with osteoporosis, advice please
Newly diagnosed 
Suspect Osteoporosis
OSTEOPOROSIS
