possible compression fracture

[Clyde12]

Last Saturday night (it’s Thursday now) I turned over in bed and felt excruciating pain in my lower back. I was very uncomfortable all Sunday and went to GP on Monday am. She asked all the relevant questions and like me thought I may have had my first fracture. She arranged for me to have an X-ray which is booked for end of next week. I’ve been taking co codamol x8 a day. Today I felt great and decided not to take any pain tablets til later…..I haven’t felt the pain much at all! Anyone give me an idea why it’s just about gone after being so sore. I couldn’t twist or bend etc til this afternoon. So …..should I cancel the X-ray? I feel like a fraud! But I’m frightened that the pain might return….anyone any ideas as to why it’s has just about gone.

Thank you.

Breast cancer 10 yrs ago and taking letrozole has led to osteoporosis. ……last dexascan -2.6 in spine/hip. ……but that was before lockdown. Haven’t had a scan since.

[Kaarina]

Good to hear the pain has gone but if I were you I would still go for the x ray for sure. Better safe than sorry. No idea why the pain has gone but as you have been offered the x-ray I would not cancel it.

[Clyde12 in reply to Kaarina]

I do have more pain this morning and now think the pain killers had built up and were obviously working quite well. I didn’t take so many yesterday so now have more discomfort! Obviously my brain has been affected! Silly me. Thank you . 😂

[Kaarina in reply to Clyde12]

I am sorry to hear that. Yes a very possible answer why the pain went. I hope all goes well for you at your x-ray appointment. Do let us know how you go on.

[Haz58]

Still go to the x-ray. It's booked so use it. My compression fracture mid back I was told was muscle pain due 3 weeks by go and a & e. Until I couldn't move without screaming so my rheumy got me an x-ray and they found it was a compression fracture.

[Sunseaandsand]

Hello Clyde 12,

I’m sorry to hear of your pain but it does sound like things have much improved and very quickly.

I can only speak from my own experience of fractures and from what you are saying it does not sound like you have experience a fracture.

I have had 15 fractures and paracetamol would not come anywhere close to helping the pain, I have not been able to move with any of mine and the spasms have been horrific.

However everyone is different and a lot of people don’t even know they have fractured till it shows on an x ray or scan.

I would recommend you have the x ray to put your mind at ease.

You don’t say if you have been on treatment for your bones but I presume with your medical history the consultant you were under would have arranged that you were

I hope that you’re pain continues to improve and please let us know your results if you take the x ray.

[Rizrak]

I experienced another compression fracture recently and had severe shooting pains radiating all around my chest area and back, I had an X-Ray to confirm the fracture but was told the pain was probably caused by a trapped nerve. The severe pain did ease but obviously the fracture is still present so I would get it checked out.

[Clyde12]

I’m back on at least 8 co codamol (30/500) daily which are helping with the pain. I was really stupid to have reduced them! Looking forward to getting a diagnosis. Biggest problem is constipation! Everyone has been so kind thank you.

[CinnamonRose in reply to Clyde12]

You'll need to take a laxative, something like fiborgel, the last thing you need at the moment is to be constipated, the Dr can prescribe it or you can buy it.

[ABwn in reply to Clyde12]

I had the same problem with constipation having been put on co-codomol . Am now eating various dried fruits which have been much better than medication. Figs, prunes, apricots, and many others. Am in my 70's and when I was a child my mother gave me syrup of figs, spring and Autumn to "clean" me out!

[rwlmartin1]

Be very careful when dealing with the "Pain Management" industry. Remember that whenever you take a pain killer, it will remove the pain but NOT the cause of the pain. That needs to be established FIRST.

[Rooruby]

I would 💯 go for x ray and no twisting tbh. You are not a fraud you need to know. I had a fracture Sept 2023 and it still not healed properly so ongoing issues and I know when I get an outburst of pain what it is x

[CinnamonRose in reply to Rooruby]

It's ghastly isn't it, the not healing, several if mine haven't, apparently it's not uncommon with Osteoporosis but the pain is almost too much to put up with sometimes. Xx

[Rooruby in reply to CinnamonRose]

Then you get sent to physio who tell you osteoporosis is not painful well sorry it is especially with a fracture. Good luck oh and I have just booked a REMS scan in late October hopefully get some good advice.

[CinnamonRose in reply to Rooruby]

The Osteoporosis specialist physio at RUH Bath is the one on a lot of the ROS website talks, she's really kind and certainly wouldn't say it wasn't painful. I had physio appointments but it was more a talking therapy, because my fractures haven't healed they wouldn't set any exercises. They gave me hydro therapy instead which was lovely.