Hi, I recently was in A&E for suspected kidney stone as the pain was horrendous, but the MRI Scan showed the fracture,I'm 5 weeks in conservative healing the pain is easing now with heat pad and pain meds. I've been given calcium and vit d and awaiting a dexa scan and orthopaedic appt. I'm wondering when in the future will I get back to daily activities like household tasks and such. I start physio next week or so
Thanks for any advice
Pain should eventually go away when things heal. Personally I’d wait for the DEXA scan results before the physio. If the DEXA scan confirms osteoporosis then you need to see a rheumatologist. If it turns out you do have osteoporosis I think household tasks will be OK but one needs to take care and lift (not heavy) things in the right way. Good luck.
You really should wait for a Dexa scan and a Frax score before any physiotherapist appointments as you could do more damage. Please use the ROS for information and the advice of their specialist nurses who are usually more knowledgeable than your GP who may or may not have specialist knowledge concerning osteoporosis……sadly many do not. A Rheumatologist does have specialist knowledge and hopefully the area where you live will have a Fracture Liaison Service. All this is overwhelming at first, especially when you are dealing with the awful pain which usually comes with osteoporotic fractures. The pain does lessen, but you do have to be careful. Good luck with your onward journey and be prepared to inform yourself about what is available to help you…..and be prepared to be assertive!
May I just point out that in your reply you said " a General Practitioner who may or may not have specialist knowledge concerning osteoporosis" is a contradiction as a General Practitioner is that - General. They refer patients to hospital specialists. So please stop bashing GPs. I am happy to expand if my point is not clear.
Thank you both so much for your helpful replies,I've had a Frax score done in my surgery GP says I could be waiting up to two years for Dexa Scan!!
GP outrageous! Get them to push and do their job. Is private an option. If you do have osteoporosis it’s important to start the right medication soonest.
I've been put on calcium and vit d, that's because I asked for them!!! They seem to think it's due to the use of a lot of steroids as I have bronchiectasis and asthma
PS to my comment below - I would have been D deficient when it went.
Wow! I only waited (in London) a few weeks. They're around £100 privately here.
Mine was old when discovered and is also 1L, I remember the initial intense pain, walking with a stick for a few weeks. It is now a little ache, most of the time I forget it, but I do find it helpful to deliberately engage the core muscles whenever I bend or lift things eg (at the sink). I pull in the stomach, the bottom, the pelvic floor, everything to support the lower spine.
Mine maybe went at L1 because I had worked intensively at a computer for years - I read that leaning forward from a sitting position puts the maximum stress on (because of the weight of the head). I try to be careful now on position even when I read my phone. (I got bad Repetitive Strain Injury at the same time,)
Good luck...
I just might consider going private, at least then I'll know for certain moving forward at the moment it's just all new to me and and no clue!,
That is great advice about how to engage our core. Many thanks.
Come to Malaysia. Walk in to any hospital and they'll give you one right away!
I was taking Alendronic Acid for 20 years . I asked several times for a scan but was told I didnt need one despite having severe back pain. Eventually they agreed and I was disagnosed with severe spinal Osteoporosis and a fractured T8 Vertebrae. Since then I have been very bent and have problems with bowels and bladder if I am not careful. My life has changed . Previously I was very fit and a hill walker . I still walk shorter distances and do exercise. I did not expect to end up like this. I weighed myself this morning and had lost 8 pound in last 3 months not sure why that would happen.
Hi,I was on AA for 5 years and was told you could only be on it for that amount of time or it would cause adverse effects,..... it seems a long time ??
I know now but GP wouldn't refer me until the damage was done. Rheumatology wrote letter said Alendronic was ineffective. I take Evenity now.
Seems all g ps are a bit hit and miss with OS meanwhile we are left to get on with it !!!
I am reading through your post with empathy.
You said that you previously had been a hill walker and very fit. It sounds like you could not have been able to do that with a T8 fracture that was not picked up. This does sound like a far more recent event for you.
You did not explain why you were taking bisphosphonates ie already being treated for osteoporosis. So you were being treated?
Yes push your GP to get ure Dexa scan urgently. Or go Private and ask to be moved across to consultants list. I've had a dexa scan - it was 18months late and am told the nhs waiting list is 4 months to get the results written up!!! . So far it's been 5months still no results. I'm under my local bone metabolic centre . They're sooo overwhelmed they can't cope.
Wavy lines, I just read your bio, I'm in awe at your determined and proactive approach to your health matters. Sadly I have also been finding gp's not interested. I feel they are all overwhelmed with patients and have no time for individualised care. I too have become very proactive, read everything, get real life stories on this forum, Study the ROS leaflets, knowledge is power! The latest gp has done whole set of bloods on me( she was more interested), but thinks my osteo tum could be ovarian problem....she had no understanding or experience of patients with kyphosis after vertebral fractures. My bloods all came back normal. Going for ultrasounds on 31st, which I expect to be OK. At least she was trying...
Thankyou Sleeplessinlife. The lack of proactiveness with GPs has been around for years tbh.....current situation has exacerbated it. I'm afraid pathways & their criteria alongside fixed generic treatments haven't helped if you are not mainstream or present atypical.
These days, what is worse, is that doctors have dismissed their respondibity towards your care.....unless you have a lucky inquisitive GP.. most will run their standard tests and if nothing flags up will say nothing is wrong. And you are left to deteriorate.
Sadly as a consequence I have little faith....
I got my dexa scan results the day after I’m in uk .
Wow.....lucky you. Where are you? I'm in the UK. The nhs wait time for results is 4 months where I am. I'm coming up for that. Still no results. With Xmas/NY bet it will be longer. Makes a nonsense of it all.
I’m in uk too Rochdale greater Manchester went to Oldham hospital for my scan . Had it Sunday doctor rang me on the Monday asking to see me .
Hope they got up sorted on a treatment plan. Amazingly fast!!
my pain has never gone away as I have a trapped nerve. It has gone from the acute pain to chronic pain. I was assured it would go but a year later I am still pacing myself. I now have a kyphosis on a fracture but no bent spine yet. I live in France and we get the DEXA results immediately, they are explained to us after the scan while we are stil lying down after the scan, printed off and put in an envelope for us to take to our doctors. Same with routine X-Rays and mammograms etc. Even Cst scan results take up to 48 hours max. I have just had the result of my annual blood test sent to me with 48 hours and I take it to my doctor. The nurse came to my home to take the bloods. Just over the channel but a different world.
That’s great but I still got my results the next day I’m in uk
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