With a lumbar compression fracture what is the best way to stand up?
Is it - engage core, move to edge of seat, head up, balance over feet, use thigh muscles to rise, using a hand or two to help balance and probably also push a bit?
I realise I need to protect the spine, and it will be ages before I get to a physio, let alone one who is a specialist in OP.
I have found the best way is to press a button on my sofa recliner which I have to sleep on too, so I'm in sit position, then lean forward a bit press down with knuckles either side and push. My thighs take the strain, I slowly straighten up ( I am bent re kyphosis, so not much) wait a moment until I feel balanced then first step with feet quite wide apart, like penguin and I'm off to the beach with surf board under my arm and dog carries her own - I wish! 😂😂 I can be wobbly so feel my way round walls till I loosen up a bit, not too long later I have to sit down again, refractures say so. I cannot use a bed as it's too difficult to get out of it, but after my back op yonks ago was told to shuffle to edge of bed, put legs down same time as sit up , like rolling off a log. Hope some of that helps and see you on the beach! 🤗😎
Hi ,poor you it's so difficult and limiting. I think your description is perfect . Sitting actually wasn't an easy option ,I did everything standing or lying on my front with no pillow ,walking was OK. Its exhausting not being able to rest comfortably. I took 2hrly pain relief alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen, not sure it helped other than taking the edge of it .As with all these things it does pass ,hope you can get some good pain relief .
Xxxx
If I sat down, which I did as little as possible!! I found it best to do it all in one movement, I used the arms of the chair for leverage, yes sit nearer the edge and I suppose I almost dug my heels in, my legs took the strain but I guess it depends on how you were before your breaks, I'd been fit and active with no idea my body was going to throw a perfect storm at me in a split moment!!There's some good videos on YouTube/ROS that show you how to get up, watching someone doing it is easier than trying to explain it!!
Thanks Cinnamon, I'll look for videos.
Hi,
I have fractured spine in the lumbar area. When I went for Physio they wouldn't touch me, but that's my experience.
How I rise from a chair is shuffle forward and use my core muscles because you don't want to lose the use of your core strength because it helps your spine and if you lose your core strength you can't get it back. I do hope this helps and hope you get some Physio soon and you'll be able to ask questions about core, balance etc.
Kind regards
Thanks Dizzy. I think that must be right, all about core, and keep the spine straight and use muscles v deliberately.
Pathetic that physios wouldn't give you tailored advice.
Good luck Dizzy...
I quite agree it is pathetic. I've had my Spinal fracture for over 12yrs . I was misdiagnosed with a leg discrepancy for over 2years and had to keep having build ups made to put in my shoes and it wasn't till the orthics said that when I got to 12mm I would have to have the build ups on the outside of my shoe's that the penny dropped and I was having to roll out of bed to crawl to the bathroom and pull myself up holding on to the sink,then have a shower and be at work for 6am ( I was doing 3 jobs) . I have never been in so much pain and up and down the Dr's so much and after this time I had to be insistent that I wanted to know what was wrong with my spine.
Eventually I saw a lady Senior Physio and she stood at the back of the room me at the front in my underwear and all I heard her say was "oh my God!your spine has moved!" To cut a very long story short I worked until I couldn't bend my right leg as it felt as if it would come out of the socket.
I was on sticks for 7yrs and because of damage to my neck , then it felt as if my spine was being crushed, my build ups for my footwear on my left side are now 42mm I was given an electric power chair (which I never expected and am extremely grateful for) as I can't walk distance. But I am very independent and keep as active as I can as not everyday is a good day.
I wish you all the best and hope I haven't overwhelmed you.
P.S. I don't know if you've heard of The Spinal Cord Injury Association (SCIA) Thy are very helpful. Best wishes again and keep as active as you able to.
Oh Dizzy, u really have had it rough and tough haven't you!! I admire you that you managed to carry on working with that type of pain, I'm lying in bed reading your comment and literally felt myself stiffen in reaction to your post!! Pain is so wearing and makes everything at least 3 times as hard, bless you, I hope you've jolly well got the help you need, if not it's disgraceful.Sending love and hugs xxx
Hello Cinnamon Rose, thank you very much for your reply. I suppose I have had it rough and tough, it came out of nowhere that's what surprised me most always had plenty of calcium rich foods and out and about walking everywhere. Apparently not everyone absorbs Vitamin D. I can remember the Dr asking me "don't you go out?" I replied "I'm never in".
Pain is wearing and draining I agree 100%, I had always worked and enjoyed my working life. They kept sending me to Occupational Health to see the same Dr, which I questioned "why do I keep seeing you? I'd like to see someone else as you keep telling me the same thing " That didn't happen and they didn't finish me on the grounds of ill health! where I live we have a disability charity who have been fantastic and helped me do the forms ,because you adapt without realising it. I have recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalga which I woke up with the pain in my right shoulder and arm last March 2024 and when am still waiting for pain management .
I have to be honest and say that for all the help I have been given through Physio, Occupational Therapy and Wheelchair services I'm extremely grateful and as I mentioned I want to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible. My outlook is there's alot of people worse off than myself.
I hope you're well CinnamonRose and I wish you all the best and thank you again xx
I just read your reply and I am so grateful to hear about the SCIA and will Google them. I have a lumber wedge fracture which has trapped nerves so I, also, have Restless Leg Syndrome very badly. I showed the Dr. the hard lump on my spine and I begged for a scan but it took 7 months for him to send me for a DEXA Scan which showed Osteoporosis all over. That was 2 years ago and I have only just seen an Orthopaedic Consultant who said that I had had too many birthdays!! So I have Osteoporosis and he can't do anything for me. I am 71 and don't believe that that is old !!! My head is stuck at 28 ish ! I had a battle with the Pain Clinic and my Dr. to be prescribed Opioid medication because that's what helps the RLS but they, eventually, gave in . I don't trust the Pain Clinic anyway as they had missed telling anybody that I had a tumour on my right lung for 15 months and left me pretty wrecked. If I hadn't been ambulanced to hospital with Pneumonia, I wouldn't be here now! Grrrr!
I had a hysterectomy at 34 but was never given any help or advice so I made sure that I walked my dog's twice a day but since I had the Lobectomy I have been getting progressively worse. I can't walk far now because the more I do the worse the pain and RLS gets but I'm stubborn. Have to learn to pace myself but I find that so difficult because I used to do so much like
many people here.
You are amazing. I hope you know that! Is your pain under control now? Do you take calcium? 🤔 This Forum and the RLS Forum have been so kind and helpful. I get so tired of fighting for treatment and we shouldn't have to. I have asked to see a Neurologist but the waiting list is 2 years ! The Dr. rang me yesterday and said that the only thing that they can do is give me the Opioid painkillers! Well...that was fun !
Please take care. Sending very best wishes. Danni
Hi Danni, try and get Oxycodone, I've been on it since May, with Duloxetine and it's made the world of difference, it's a better form of Morphine. For the 1 st couple of weeks it did make me a bit sleepy but I soon got used to it and it's helped soooo much. Many people seem to fear opioids but I've a very old friend, she's 100 and been on morphine for over 40 years so when people tell me I should be careful I laugh to myself, it certainly hasn't killed her and she's still bright and spritely. I've known her for over 50 years and she's certainly got all her marbles. A Dr friend once told me when my 19 year old son broke his back in a nasty fall and I was worried about him getting addicted, he assured me if the body needs it, it'll utilise it, the problems occur when people use it and they don't need it, then they'll become addicted.
I hope this is a help to you, sympathy and a gentle hug xx
Thank you for replying so quickly. Unfortunately, when I had my Lobectomy I had a terrible reaction to Oxycodone! I had been on Dipipanone and Cyclizine for year's and took them with me to the hospital but the medic's ignored that and gave me Oxycodone. I couldn't lie down for 5 hours because my arms and legs were jerking in all directions and my husband had to hold me up and walk me round my room. I kept saying that I was having an allergic reaction but that was ignored until the Nightshift Staff came on and got the Pharmacist who said straightaway that it was a reaction and he gave me quite strong Vallium which calmed everything down in about 20 minutes. This all happened the day after the Lobectomy so I was in agony and exhausted. It was truly awful 😖! I will keep trying the Tapentadol and see whether it helps once I have experimented with the dosage. Saying that, it's 2.30 a.m. and I had to get up because of the pain and RLS !Please take care. Thank you for the sympathy and hug. It helps so much to ' speak ' to somebody who understands.
Very best wishes and a big, very gentle hug to you. xx
Hello Danni, thank you very much for your response.
I have always had plenty of milk and natural yoghurts and eat seeds, nuts I take Adcal Vitamin D3 along with Morphine patches that I change weekly. Soon after I was diagnosed with my spinal condition I started having spasms in my right leg and then it went to full body lasting from 20minutes to 24hrs and I went to the Dr's and asked "am I supposed to be like this? As no-one tells you anything " and she was fantastic and made an appointment straight away to see a Neurologist and I have Dystonia never had heard of it so I got in touch with The Dystonia Society who sent me alot of information as it's a big umbrella with different types. I believe knowledge is key and iff I can find out as much as I can it enables me to understand and know what to ask. I have Osteoporosis and have recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalga and am waiting for an appointment with the Pain Clinic. My Spine pain seems to be well controlled it's just stiffness and tiredness, pain in my shoulder and arm that I'm battling with at the moment.
I don't take a Calcium supplement as too much calcium can cause a calcium hump, but it's a question for me to ask so thank you for that Danni. You're right everything is a battle and it shouldn't be, as we haven't asked for what we've got but we won't give up!
Thank you also for the compliment but you're amazing to with everything you've been through and come out the other side stronger.
I wish you all the best and take care xx
What to take to discontinue Prolia safely and for how long?
Exercise
Mix Up?
Feel like giving up
I am from Australia and am new to this site.
