L5 Vertebrae

[Hindas]

Hi, another newcomer. I am an 81 year old male and have suffered a few crushed vertebrae in earlier years caused by osteoporosis. This time though it seems different as I have been into south coast hospitals twice in the past few weeks - the second time for Pneumonia as well as the pains from the fractured L5. Each time in hospital they have found other things that need attention and the pain from the fractured vertebrae seem to have taken back burner significance. I am assuming this is because these fractured spines seem to only be comforted by pain relief and nothing else can be done.

However this time it has been 4 weeks and I am still in considerable pain and have to use a walker and take occasional pain killers including morphine (which causes me constipation) Is this because the L5 is in the thoracic vertebrae level and larger than the other vertebrae I wonder? I am booked in for a infusion of Zoledronate in a few days time.

Anyway I was just wondering if anyone has any input or suggestions in relation to this L5 fracture please?

[CinnamonRose]

Hello Hindas, I'm sorry to hear about your fractures, it really is a horrible disease!!I fractured L5 over 4 years ago, I did 3 others at the same time and more recently in May I've refractured T12 and fractured T8 and T9 or it may have been T10, I've lost track!!

There's nothing they can do to make them heal quicker, the best they can do is give you decent pain killers, I find morphine, the type I have is Oxycodone is the most effective especially when I take paracetamol at the same time.

The Dr should be able to give you a laxative, something like fibregel or Laxido, they come in sachets you add water to it.

It's gentle and works well.

The vertebrae I fractured in May haven't started to heal yet, I've just had another MRI and there's no sign of them trying to mend other than there's a lot of fluid round them.

So when I read articles saying 8 to 12 weeks for recovery for spinal fractures I find it very disheartening that so say spinal experts are quoting those time frames.

Make sure you have a good chat with the nurse who does your infusion, they'll answer any questions and can be very helpful.

I'm having spinal injections next week, that's an option you could ask about.

I've had 6 in the last 4 years some have lasted longer than others.

They are giving me something different this time and it's for my higher fractures, I'm not too sure what they're giving me but will find out and let you know whether they help at all

I've got my infusion on 6 th December

Good luck with your infusion and keep going back to your Dr about your pain, if you don't tell them that it's bad they won't know and think you must be ok if they don't hear from you.

You can also ask to be referred to the pain clinic, the drs are lovely and very kind there, it's their job to get your pain to a manageable level.

Hope you get on ok, xx

[ABwn]

Good morning Hindas. Like you I'm suffering from a compression fracture in L1 along with neck problems. The specialists that I have seen have mentioned bone cement, but aren't keen on doing it at the moment. Anyway, what I would recommend re constipation, eating dried figs and prunes. As a child my mother would give me syrup of figs in the spring and autumn, to clean me out. This was in the '50s. I'm on strong codeine, which affected my bowels, GP put me on various different medication that I had problems with!I buy the soft dried figs. Good luck.