Do thoracic fractures take longer to heal?

[Pineau]

Does the pain from a thoracic fracture ever go away? Or does it just take longer to heal? I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's been there. Thank you.

[Craftycreator]

Hi I had a Thorasic T12 compression wedge fracture in April 2020. The actual acute pain subsided after about 3-4 months but I cannot stop the awful muscle spasms that are a result of the new angle of my back since the fracture. I think everyone seems to experience different long term pain levels as a result of these spinal fractures. Try and keep moving but don’t overdo things. Sorry I can’t say you will be totally fine because as I’ve said everyone is different. Best wishes though for your recovery.

[Pineau in reply to Craftycreator]

Thanks Craftycreator, that is really helpful to know. I'm so sorry to hear you still have those horrendous spasms. I hope they will disappear at some point, they are so debilitating aren't they. Do you think targeted physio might help at all, or perhaps you've been there already. You are so right, we are all uniquely different in how we are affected. My spasms have gone, I just have constant pain in that area but hey, life goes on and we just have to make the best of it, right? Its hard not to inadvertently overdo it, isn't it...something I want is on the top shelf of the supermarket and there's nobody about so I reach for it.. and then regret it big time afterwards!! Hope today is a good day for you and thanks again for sharing your story 😊

[Craftycreator in reply to Pineau]

Hi, yes I’ve been down the physio route and still try and to them 3-4 times a week. I hate taking painkillers but of late am taking regular paracetamol after trying to do some decorating😱. I think I’ve pushed myself too far but I’m hoping it will get better. It’s just soooooooo frustrating isn’t it?

[Pineau in reply to Craftycreator]

Absolutely. I hope your spasms stop soon so you can enjoy Christmas 🎄. Take it easy x

[Mavary]

well I can’t say my pain has gone in four or five years from my seven thoracic fractures. I have had seven though.. I’ve got no pain when sitting down or in bed.

[Pineau in reply to Mavary]

Waow Mavery that's a lot, I feel for you. Thank you so much for your input. I'm getting the impression that thoracic is bad news. Glad you can sit and sleep peacefully though. I'd give anything for a good night's sleep!!! Hope today is a good day for you ☺️

[Mavary in reply to Pineau]

At first when my T12 went for a long time I could only lie flat on my back but now I can lie on my sides again.

[Pineau in reply to Mavary]

That has really encouraged me Mavery thanks! I was sleeping sitting up for 6 months but now can lie almost flat, so hopefully I'm getting there. Wishing you well x

[Mavary in reply to Pineau]

Thank you. I wish you well too. X

[fraid]

I'd like to know too! Refractured one or two, don't know, between my shoulder blades ? 3 months ago maybe less but so much worse than when I first did them. Has affected my rib cage, esp. on left which is often the worst pain and using my arms, like you say overdoing it, stretching to reach something, even a shower punishes me afterwards. The worst of the spasms, even my whole back suddenly freezing up, or ribs ,has gone but still one or two places near my spine on left.

So many meds now feeling sick. Gabapentin at least knocks me out so I can sleep, Tramadol same time and inbetween helps, still have to use Ibuleve, icepax esp.for ribs. Sick to death of this pain and wonder if I'll ever be pain free again! Also major sofa sores from having to keep still so pain lessens and can only lie on recliner on back so have to sit on my bum. I despair.

I do hope the pain will at least let me enjoy Xmas, you too.

Merry Xmas to all! 🤗🧑‍🎄

[Pineau in reply to fraid]

Thanks fraid, you too. So sorry you're in such awful pain. I do hope it eases soon. I don't think any med can do more than take the edge off the pain, but I found morphine patches were good cos they didn't make me feel sick.I had to sleep sitting up from April - Nov so I got the T-shirt for the bum sore too. But it healed quite quickly when I was eventually able to get out of bed.

I was just riddled with spasms from April until Sept. After a severe spasm, I was often paralysed with pain for up to 3 hrs at times, so I understand what you're going through.

I also had to go through surgery for colon cancer in July and trying to lie flat for the scans and xrays was absolutely off the scale, I used to scream the place down!

Please don't despair. You will get through this. The rest of your spasms will hopefully soon go, so hang on in there and enjoy some quality time with your friends and family over Christmas 🎄 Distraction is the best pain killer of all!

[fraid in reply to Pineau]

Thanks. Like they say - laughter is the best medicine but it hurts too much! When I'm clutching my ribs it's not coz sumat was hilarious it's coz I'm trying to stop ribs spasm! 🙄😂 I can't lie flat either so refused any more xrays etc. I can get off the sofa but only briefly and not enough- also have M.E so legs sulky. Going through an op must have been hell, glad you're at least over that.

Yep, Merry Xmas - first one I've had to get someone else to even wrap presents. Never mind, it can only get worse! 😂🧑‍🎄

[Pineau in reply to fraid]

Well here's wishing you a happier year to come in 2025. Keep smiling through...it doesn't hurt as much as laughing!!🙂

[Sunseaandsand]

Hi, are your fractures all in the thoracic or do you have them in the lumbar too??

As Craftycreator has mentioned we are all different.

This makes it a difficult question to answer.

I have had 15 fractures in the spine and 2 in the ribs and have tried to think back to how I was with 4.

This may make you feel better I was on crutches for 18 months with my 2nd and 3rd fractures.

When the 4th came I was unable to even feed myself or hold a cup I couldn’t walk and needed a wheelchair that I struggled to even help myself onto.

I never regained my full mobility after my 4th fracture 😔 and later became more and more reliant on others caring for me, but hey I’m still here and continuing to fight back finding strength from positive thinking☺️

My hope is that I have had my fair share of fractures and I may have been at last given my ‘get out of jail card’🤣

After the fractures have healed we can be left with Chronic Pain even though they are healed all the muscles and ligaments take time to adjust to the changes in the shape of the spine. This can be helped by taking some kind of pain relief ( have you been offered anything for the pain at all) your GP or hospital consultant can also refer you to Pain management clinic in the early days I found this extremely helpful in so many ways.

I have read your responses and answers and it troubles me to hear you say you are stretching to reach things from shelves in supermarkets.

Please don’t do this think again and stop yourself, many people are oblivious to the facts about fractures, it is not just bending that can cause them to occur.

You have had 4 already and will want to avoid any more at all costs.

Avoid Stretching, twisting, Carrying heavy things or lifting anything heavy this could mean everyday items around the home.

You are already beginning to get better by being able to get out and go shopping don’t ruin it by taking risks.Please look for someone to ask for help.

I hope you find some relief from your pain quickly, keeping your back warm will help relax the musclesx

[Pineau in reply to Sunseaandsand]

Thanks for your detailed reply Sunseaandsand. You certainly have had way more than your fair share of fractures. Most of my fractures are lumbar, one thoracic and I have 2 old lumbar ones as well...'multilevel wedge and compression fractures ' . You are right I know I shouldn't be stretching, I just find it so hard not to as I've always been totally independent! Yes, I was on very heavy meds from April - Oct but they caused havoc with my severe IBS, kidneys and irregular heart beat (AFib) so I ended up just using morphine patches which took the edge off. Now I just try to do without, liie down for a while when it's bad or take the odd paracetamol. Thanks again for caring. I'll try harder to take your advice

[fraid in reply to Sunseaandsand]

Gosh you've had it rough for such a long time, so sorry for your pain and suffering. It's dreadful for all of us, esp. when things keep fracturing and we don't know how long they will take to settle down but hell going through it all. Hope we can all get some respite soon, esp. you as you've had it worst than most, and enjoy Xmas at least. Best wishes. 🤗🧑‍🎄

[Sunseaandsand in reply to fraid]

Reading your own journey I think you and I have both travelled a rough road.

Pain really drags you down but we keeping getting back up don’t we even though we are shorter than before with our continued loss of height.

I hope you have a good Xmas and wish you all the best of everything for 2025. ☺️x

[Rooruby]

I too had T12 fracture September 23 had x ray Oct 24 and not healed actually got worse but funny enough pain not as intense but certain movement can cause real pain so just have to be very careful. Wish you all the best x

[Southerngirl2787]

I have fractures T6-T12. Acute pain is about 3-6 months, the first was the worse, T7. Chronic pain went upwards to one year. The muscle spasms start and go on for a very long time, I finally had to use muscle relaxers to control them. I had kyphoplasty on all of them, three of them twice, one three times. They did not heal on their own. Kypho helped immensely...I also had 3 lumbar fractures, which were not as awful as the thoracic. I found walking a tremendous benefit, I got some hiking poles to help with safety and they help you walk longer and faster. I've had several fusion surgeries, and I can tell you the fractures were worse pain than the ruptured discs.

[Pineau in reply to Southerngirl2787]

Goodness, you have been through it, haven't you! Well everyone who has replied to me seems to confirm that thoracic fractures are more painful and harder to heal so I don't feel so bad now, just knowing it's the norm. Really appreciate your reply. Have a great Christmas 🎄 😀

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to Pineau]

Merry Christmas to you! They are more painful, and it does get better! Prayers for your healing!

[Pineau in reply to Southerngirl2787]

Thank you! Just knowing it will get better, even if it takes a while, has cheered me up considerably

[fraid in reply to Southerngirl2787]

Oh dear,was hoping they would heal a bit quicker than 3-6 months! Never been offered any op, told no cement as would make others collapse, telling me it was like an avalanche didn't make me feel any better. Fractures, esp. thoracic def. worse pain than discs - at least I could move then! 🤷‍♀️

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to fraid]

I have Lupus and AS both autoimmune conditions...and had fusion surgeries prior to the fractures....so my body was tired and did not heal after the first fracture. It was difficult to do PT with the thoracic fracture, so they did MRI, found the fracture and said kypho was needed to stabilize the spine. For some it works well, but yes, it has risks. But the pain was reduced by 90% after Kypho. I also had a nasty parathyroid tumor for many years, it started all the damage to my spine...so all the fractures were not a surprise, I had already had cervical and lumbar fusions, nerve transfer surgery in both legs, and nerve surgery in both wrists/hands. I find wrapping an old ACE bandage around the fracture area, tight, to hold me in place and it feels better. I have a brace, but try to not use it, best to keep those muscles working hard.

[Pineau in reply to fraid]

Totally agree fraid...although disc can take a long time. I had slipped disc when I was 20 and it took 2 yrs for the pain to go. Hope you feel better soon, both mentally and physically.

[Sunseaandsand in reply to Southerngirl2787]

Can I ask what muscle relaxers you used to control the spasms and how effective you found them to be. x

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to Sunseaandsand]

I started with Methocarbamol, which was okay, but didn't control the horrible ones. This past summer my neurosurgeon said to try Baclofen. It's very good. First two weeks had some crazy side effects, sleepy, dizzy, off balance, brain fog...but I had to take them every 6 hours, and then realized the spasms were well controlled, mine were going on for hours and hours, with a minute or two between, no sleep, barely could walk. After two weeks, I guess I got used to it, reduced to 3x a day, then 2x a day...now I take one at bedtime. Got me through a rough 6 months. I do not recommend driving while getting used to the Baclofen.

[fraid in reply to Southerngirl2787]

Funny (not) but I tried Robaxin and Baclofen which did abs.nothing for my muscle spasms year ago. This time was given Methocarbamol - made me totally stoned and dolally, confused, lost inc balance couldn't function atall- sent them back to chemist and told doc who didn't offer owt else as had tried them all. Now on Gabapentin for nerve pain, works well but not for long, initially bit stoned but got used to them, also helps me sleep a lot. Problem is doc keeps giving me only enough, and Tramadol, for 10 days a time-this is not a short term problem as hoped. Now going to run out over Xmas! 😱Impossible get hold of doc so keep putting in online, hope it works, they ran out of Gaba and still owe me some from last time. 🙄

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to fraid]

It's "funny" how we are all different with medications! I wish these docs understood that it takes a while to figure out the combo that works for you...and for me, muscle relaxers took nearly 3 months to get it working well, and have a "normal" brain and function. 10 days at a time, then fight getting refills doesn't help. Our pharmacies are ridiculously slow right now...I had to wait 5 days post surgery, spine surgery on 4 levels to get meds...and the pharmacy tech didn't lift a finger to help get it faster. Compassion and customer service could really use improvement these days. Prayers that you will get your meds sorted out before Christmas! Are you able to go to the doctor's office and tell them you will wait until you can talk to someone!? I've done this, with the post op issue...as soon as I told them, loudly that I had no pain meds...the front receptionist ran to the back and in less than 10 minutes it had been called in correctly again. I must admit getting there, walking in, I must have looked like death walking...but I was some mad!

[fraid in reply to Southerngirl2787]

No can't go anywhere, hence the sofa sores! Don't need to talk to anyone just increase my meds! 🤷‍♀️