T12 fracture feeling very depressed

[Rooruby]

Hi sorry but last few days I have been feeling very low. I fractured my t12 in Sept 23 then had x ray Jan 25 which showed this was progressively worse. I get severe back spasms especially when doing everyday things. Lately however I have been getting a severe pain around the top of my leg/groin. Somtimes I physically have to lift my leg as it does not seem to work then suddenly it is ok again. Does anyone else suffer anything like this and could it be somthing new or related to spine such as pinching nerve. It does not hurt at all if im not moving which is strange. Enjoy your weekend.

[fraid]

Hi, first of all don't panic. I have t12 fracture as well as many other vertebral ones. Yes it probably is a nerve problem in your leg and from your fracture, same as I get and I would say don't just carry on doing things 'normally', you need to look after your back now to prevent further damage. Bending, twisting, carrying heavy stuff all contribute to straining an already damaged back. It will of course ease pain if you rest it like any other part eg if you sprained your wrist you wouldn't keep using it till it healed. Did anyone give you advice when your fracture was found? If not talk to GP or ROS on here, even an Osteopath. Good luck. Enjoy the sun and rest! ☀️😎

[Rooruby in reply to fraid]

Thanks for your support

[questionably]

Rooruby, I'm sorry these fractures can be terribly painful and pain is depressing. With T12 you can get referred pain to the groin. It would be good to get an MRI which I'm understanding might be arranged through ROS.

If the vertebra is still fracturing there is a bone cement that can be injected that would stop further collapse. Vertebroplasty can also resolve some of that intense pain.

Salmon calcitonin is also sometimes prescribed simply for the pain.

I don't know how easy it is to get to a pain clinic, but botox would help with the spasms.

[Lopera in reply to questionably]

Hi questionably, please can you expand on "with T12 you can get referred pain to the groin". This is something that is troubling me and hampering me from getting my mobility back.

[questionably in reply to Lopera]

hi, Lopera. The nerves that exit the spine at this level innervate the buttocks and the groin. When the vertebra compresses it narrows the space at the sides of each vertebra. The foraminal space is where the nerves exit. If the space is narrow enough, the nerves can be pinched and painful. There is a procedure called Radiofrequency of the medial branch nerves in which the nerve that carries pain signals is disconnected using vibration (which actually becomes heat). The provider might use a numbing agent with steroid the first time to ascertain that this is the source of your pain.

youtube.com/watch?v=By16eUh...(Not working as expected?)

[Lopera in reply to questionably]

Thank you, I didn't know about this.

[Rooruby in reply to questionably]

Thank you for this info x

[Rooruby in reply to questionably]

Thanks where I live I saw a osteoporosis nurse twice she checked bloods and put me on teriparatide. Gave x ray Jan and bloods and said see u in 2 years lol. My GP will not refer me to mri as they feel it's normal to get pain. Makes you feel alone tbh.

[questionably in reply to Rooruby]

Rooruby,

you are on the very best medication for osteoporosis. While it's "normal" to feel horrid pain after a compression fracture, it is normal for the GP to provide some relief for that pain. Vertebroplasty may not be appropriate if L1 is osteoporotic. Are you able to contact your physician during this two years.

[Rooruby in reply to questionably]

Trying to get GP appointment is terrible but I have a phone call booked for 30th April lol. I will ask for somthing although I'm reluctant to take any form of opiate based medication. Thanks for teply

[questionably in reply to Rooruby]

Rooruby, they formerly used salmon calcitonin as a nasal spray for osteoporosis. It wasn't very effective at protecting the bones, but they found that it did help with the pain. It might be available to you. You might ask about vertebroplasty and radiofrequency. If the fracture is stable it usually take about four months to heal. But the groin pain sounds like compressed nerves.

I'm glad you are on teriparatide. I'm just starting my third year. It is the kindest drug for me. We are getting safer and safer with this medication.

[Sunseaandsand in reply to Rooruby]

I’ve had this with many of my fractures, it is nerve pain and opioids do not help with nerve pain.

It takes time after fractures for everything to adjust to the changes. The surrounding muscles and ligaments are all effected and nerve pain is very common.

There are medications that your GP can give you for the nerve pain, Gabapentin, Pregabalin are often prescribed and can work very well.

Why would you be reluctant to take Opioids ??

When fractures occur we need to be able to have the pain under control as much as is possible.

Been in constant pain effects our overall health and can in itself create other serious health problems amongst them it can play havoc with our mental health.

Having a referral to the pain management clinic is always a good way forward.

In the meantime do everything you possibly can to reduce your risk of having any more fractures. x

[Rooruby in reply to Sunseaandsand]

Thanks for your reply. I lived for years with an addict then last 20 years worked with substance misuse. I personally think side effects of certain meds are not for me. Just my preference. However I do take gabapentin as I suffer no side effects. I may ask to up them slightly I also go to hydrotherapy weekly and I was doing gently exercise. I love my wrap around hot water bottle.Thanks for your message x

[BlueWilbur]

I am sure you must be feeling awful. I’m dreading a vertebral fracture - I strongly advise you phone the nurse on the royal osteoporosis society helpline for advice and information. You don’t have to be a member to phone. They are so knowledgeable and so supportive. Good luck and I hope your symptoms ease

[Rooruby in reply to BlueWilbur]

Thank you I will on Monday xx

[Mongy90]

Hi Rooruby I get the same pain in my groin and cannot lift my leg it is connected to the fracture you are right it affects me the same way being in pain wears you down. I'm with Connect Health for pain management .

[Rooruby in reply to Mongy90]

That's it cannot lift leg it is so painful. Thanks for support I looked but we do not have that service near me. I will speak to GP

[Mongy90 in reply to Rooruby]

The service is done remotely via phone or teams. They referred me to consultant to cauterise my nerves to give some relief that procedure will happen next Saturday. So fingers crossed it will work. Initially I was referred to Connect via physio.

[CinnamonRose in reply to Mongy90]

Please let us know how you get on, it's it relatively new? I've been told I'm on a waiting list for it and haven't been able to find folk that have had it. I was wanting to find out how successful it is xx

[CallMeSunny in reply to Rooruby]

I empathise wholeheartedly with you as I also suffer this exact situation, severe pain, having to lift my leg (for instance, getting into car) etc. I have had spinal issues for 10 years (fractures, spondylolisthesis, retrolisthesis, scoliosis, instrumented fusion, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis)…bit of a mess really, but over the years, I’ve managed pain levels with gentle exercise (brilliant guidance on exercise on Royal Osteoporosis Website and wonderful gentle videos on YouTube from NRAS & Versus Arthritis..but as others have said, no twisting of the spine) plus a variety of medications which I take on a temporary basis, just enough to get me over painful/excruciating periods…any tolerable pain, I take Paracetamol as per packet guidance). At it’s worst, I kept the excruciating pain at bay through my groin and down my thigh (which affected my gait and lifting muscle) with prescribed Pregabalin plus 1 x 10mg Amitriptyline at bedtime to help with sleep. I have been able to wean myself off the Pregabalin over a month …yeah….and will start reducing amitriptyline soon. I’m 78 and live alone. I would say the most important thing is to keep moving….safely, of course….little & often. Please feel free to pm me if you’d like. My very best wishes to you; sending a gentle hug.

[Meuslialways]

Yes your groin and leg pain is from trapped nerve in your spine. I used to get that regularly and could last months but after each spinal fracture I had them filled with bone cement and that would stop the very bad pain in my leg. Still ocassionally get twinges but not nearly as bad. Try not to bend, twist or lift heavy weights. My Consultant told me years ago not to have physio and not to see a chiropractor.Phone ROS as the Nurses are brilliant. Even just talking to someone in the know can help you think more positively. Good luck.

[Rooruby in reply to Meuslialways]

I was sent to physio it has been worse since then. They gave me exercise that was slight twisting and bending and I questioned it I was told it was OK. So did not go back. I will call ROS nurses thank you

[wellness1 in reply to Meuslialways]

Try not to bend, twist or lift heavy weights.

I saw an article in which a neurosurgeon referred to combing these actions as The B.L.T, the bend, lift, twist. (it's behind a paywall so I won't link to it)

He said that doing all three actions at once maximizes the stress on the disc, making it more likely to rupture. He said that as a spine surgeon, he would never do it and advises doing each motion separately. Another spine surgeon advised that when lifting something, both feet should be planted with weight evenly distributed and you should lift from your legs instead of your arms and back. Heavier items should be kept close to the body because it places less strain on the spine. I'm surprised he wasn't more specific about using the hip hinge instead of spinal flexion. Further advice was to avoid twisting altogether by having your feet face whatever you’re lifting. Margaret Martin did a video on this last bit of advice recently and we've probably heard much of this before, but I'd never heard it referred to as 'the B.L.T.' before.

[Rooruby in reply to wellness1]

Thank you for this info x

[PoppyPaddler]

Something slightly different, I've just had injections in both hips as have arthritis giving issues with pain and similarly having to lift leg getting in the car. Injections have helped.

[Mavary]

Hi Rooruby. Have you spoken to a Dr about this and have you been for a Dexa scan? It could well be a trapped nerve or it could be something to do with your fracture. You won’t know unless you get it checked out.

[Rooruby in reply to Mavary]

Hi I had a dexa 2024 still severe Osteoporosis and x ray January 2025 shows fracture from Sept 2023 progressively worse. I'm now on Teriparatide for 2 years x

[Mavary in reply to Rooruby]

Oh good. I was on Terraparatide and had a good bone improvement in two years. I’m now on Denosumab which seems to suit me ok. My Dexa started out at -5.5. After the two years on Denosumab it was -4.6. So I was quite pleased with that result. I must admit my T12 was the worst one. I actually felt it drop. I then couldn’t put my feet to the floor. I was in hospital for twelve days then. They now consider my T12 as serious. It does bother me sometimes but the bones that have gone up further are even worse for pain. Anything I use my arms for is painful. Like washing up or wiping up. Having a wash and cleaning my teeth. Getting dressed having a shower and the worst thing is clothes shopping. I don’t know about you but I used to be a shopaholic especially for clothes. I just can’t look through the rails now. Walking is painful if I walk very far. My Son took me shopping yesterday and he wanted to take my scooter but I don’t like him lifting it into his people carrier. I worry about him. And anyway I wanted to walk. That was a big mistake. We stopped along the road for coffee then I walked as far again and stopped and sat on a bench. Then we walked about the same back to the car. But I was so glad to sit down.

I have had pains in my hips but not enough to go to the Dr. I can’t remember what my hip score was but that wasn’t very good either.

Since I’ve been on bone meds I’ve not had another fracture. Only when I had to wait for my Denosumab because my vitamin D had dropped so low. I had four more spinal fractures because of that. The consultant said after I had to get my blood test a month before. I was only getting it a week or two before until then.

[Rooruby in reply to Mavary]

Omg you really have been through this ti is funny you say that about washing up etc I get the worse pain in my ribsvatvthe side. I'm so glad your t score has improved. I hope mine dies. Good luck take care x

[Mavary in reply to Rooruby]

Thank you. I hope yours improves too.

[TeddyandCocoa]

I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I know how bad the pain could be and how you could feel very down about the pain.

Last year, I fractured my L3 and the pain was horrendous (although my doctor said it was from severely herniated discs and not from the fracture itself). The pain was excruciating going down the outside of my left thigh. In any case, I took an opioid prescribed by a pain specialist and it didn't do much for the pain so I thought it best not to continue. What did help was naproxen 2x daily for a few weeks. When I got a bit better, I started walking more and more and I found that really helped with the pain.

My spine doctor told me that the vertebra takes 3 months to heal so I couldn't understand why I was having so many ongoing issues with muscle aches and pains. Then I read how important protein is to bone and muscle health and I started to make sure I eat about 50-60g of protein/daily throughout the day (combination of plant protein and animal protein). My muscle pain has dimensioned greatly and I feel (almost) like my old self. Pretty sure it's from the increased protein I'm eating.

I hope you feel better soon.

[Rooruby in reply to TeddyandCocoa]

Oh that's interesting about protein tbh. My diet is so hard at the moment as I have to get 1000 to 1200mg of calcuim so it's lots of milk yoghurt fresh green veg etc tbh I hate it but my osteprosis nurse wanted me to come of adcal d3 and get calcuim through diet. I think I just felt alone I saw the nurse she put me on Teriparatide and checked in for bloods after 3 months then said we will catch up again Sept 2026 just before my 2 years end on Teriparatide. So I now have to try and get appointments at GP if I have pain etc and that is a joke tbh.Anyway thanks for info good luck xx