Degenerative Discs and March Fractures

[MaryF]

Out of interest who has had a march fracture on here and how slowly did it come one, and those of you who have degenerative discs to you get trouble with them all the time or from time to time?

A question relating to me for a change!

MaryF

[SoulRebel-APS]

I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my early 30's. It causes ne pain its worst in mt lower back and back between my shoulder blades. But to my knowledge I have had no fractures from it. So I have been lucky so far. always remember lift with ur legs not ur back. Best of luck to you!

[MaryF Administrator in reply to SoulRebel-APS]

Thanks, yes a few years back the MRI showed up one in my lower back and one in my neck, they seem to play up from time to time, and I now suspect I my have the beginnings of a march fracture in fright foot, I know they don;t show up in xray and need decent imaging, so will wait and see for a bit. MaryF

[SoulRebel-APS in reply to MaryF]

I certainly hope it heals well and soon. Sometimes it seems that if a dr can't see whats wrong then nothing is wrong, not untik u can prive it to them. Good luck

[Barb4beachnit in reply to MaryF]

Any fracture must be xrayed because even if it is a sprain, you are supposed to keep it immobilized for a few weeks.

[Hidden]

I have degenerative changes in cervical (spondylosis) and lumbar spine. These started in late 20s. Mind you my career with horses probably didn't help. The cervical ones cause pain on a very regular basis. Lumbar ones not so often but are always a bit niggling and a wrong move can be very painful indeed. I know nothing of March fracture. I can guess roughly before looking up. MRI to me is the best way to go for definitive diagnosis and perhaps get some physiotherapy advice.

Hope you're not in too much pain? Wish I could help more. 'M'

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Hidden]

No worries about me, I am an old trooper, just in a bit of a flared place currently due to a knock on set of circumstances! MaryF

[Hidden in reply to MaryF]

Good for you. Soldier on is my motto too. I call myself 'a tough old bird.' You support us all the time so why shouldn't we try and give you some support. 💐

[Barb4beachnit in reply to Hidden]

We should all take notes about our situations during this solar eclipse . The last one was 1979.

[Puska]

I had a ruptured lumbar disc and required emergency surgery when I was 30. Now my niece who is 29 and also has Lupus has just had the same surgery. Neck CT shows degeneration but it doesn't bother me yet.

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Puska]

At least we are all in the same club! MaryF

[Puska in reply to MaryF]

I wasn't sure what March fracture was though but the disc issue got my attention. There was no reason at the time for my disc to rupture but auto immune issues were not taken the least bit seriously in the '80's in Australia. Almost like it was all in people's head.

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Puska]

That sounds familiar, the all in the head bit, the march fractures are written about including by Professor Hughes himself!

books.google.co.uk/books?id...

MaryF

[Puska in reply to MaryF]

Wow. That is so interesting. Last year before APS 'expressed' itself via dvt then diagnosis of APS and lupus I had a fracture of a bone in my toe - no reason or trauma - it just happened then improper treatment led to bony overgrowth then diagnosis of severe OA. i.e. - age = wear and tear.

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Puska]

They are particularly common in the Metatarsal area. MaryF

[Puska in reply to MaryF]

It's so sad that patients know more than doctors sometimes or maybe we are better at connecting all the dots.

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Puska]

Yes for me it was like doing a giant jigsaw working it all out, historically to date. MaryF

[Puska in reply to MaryF]

I have exactly the same story here in Australia. And I don't think we are as advanced as in the UK. My GP says I am the first he has ever seen. But he also now listens to me as I am the conduit between him and the Specialist. I'm going to the International Conference on Lupus in Melbourne next year and where one of the speakers is the specialist that I think originally worked with Prof Hughes and is now in the UAE. There is a subset series of lectures on APS. Very much looking forward to it.

[Barb4beachnit in reply to Puska]

Between this site and all the latest I have read of late they are discovering that they can put your own fat in between the bones that are rubbing, like my knees that I have to get shots in every 4 months. And stem cell.

[Barb4beachnit in reply to Puska]

I am sorry as I know you are in pain but please no surgery. Rehab can help but surgery will just get you more surgery as I have noticed in many friends. All advised me against surgery.

Barb

[Puska in reply to Barb4beachnit]

Surgery helped me - or rather allowed me to keep walking, without it the ruptured disc would have compressed the spinal cord until eventually I would not be walking. I was left with some, but minimal damage. Whether surgery is warranted depends on the individual situation.

[Yllek]

Hi Mary

I believe I have had fractures of my metatarsal - or at least the beginnings of the process towards fracture - last year but it was never investigated. I suffered terrible pain on the outer edges of both feet that got worse throughout the year. As I had so many other issues and a normal brain and spine MRI I was dismissed as a crank with nothing wrong.

Eventually I got my correct diagnosis and within a week of starting warfarin in February I have never suffered that pain again! Definitely APS related and no doubt in my mind if I wasn't diagnosed when I was this would have progressed.

Thanks

Kelly x

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Yllek]

oh dear, how typical, my pain is underneath the ball of the foot, and progressing! MaryF

[Barb4beachnit in reply to MaryF]

Are you sure it is not Plantar Faciaitis? I had that for a year and kept asking everyone if their heels hurt when they got out of the bed. I found my cure at the state fair of Texas. It was advice and the purchase of a fitted stretcher to stretch out the facia. Within a half hour of walking I was not in pain.

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Barb4beachnit]

No not that, I did have that before treating my Thyroid, very connected to under active thyroid, this is different! Ball of foot under metatarsals. MaryF

[SjogiBear]

Very interesting. Waiting for a GP appointment to discuss foot pain that fails to resolve - one foot has pain underneath the front part - feels like walking on sharp stones but the other foot is much worse with the front of the foot swollen and sharp pain radiating from the front top part sometimes into the toe area. I haven't done anything in particular to them - they have just started to hurt for no reason

[MaryF Administrator in reply to SjogiBear]

That sounds like it, and xrays do not show them up only more detailed scans. MaryF

[SjogiBear in reply to MaryF]

Thanks Mary - I will keep you updated. My GP appointment is not until the 30th - I made it over a week ago now and I guess the GP won't do much but we'll see.

[Barb4beachnit]

Yes, I have broken my back in the lumbar area but it took awhile to be seen as I had to wait for the stand up MRI machine because I could not sit down and get back up without falling due to the pain. By the time I got to see the doctor who was prepared to do surgery, I was already beginning to grow bone back. I have 2 degenerative discs, but I did have a car accident and my hips and back have never really stopped hurting.

I trust you are healed and am sorry you broke anything.

Barb

[Debbweb01]

Yes Mary I was operated on in 2014 for degenerative discs! My doc cured me till my head on collision and now back where I started! Had metal bar and screws in my back! It was an amazing cure till the head on collision!!! I wish u well! I'm sorry to hear ur in pain! GODSPEED

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Debbweb01]

I am fine, nothing too bad compared to other people, I was just curious. MaryF

[Apspain]

I have degenerative and they bother me all the time and are getting worse. Even though I am apparently young for this. I am sure what a march fracture is but it appears two of my discs have fused whether that was from a fractre or not I dont know.

[1dayatatime]

This has really got me thinking. I have APS & Lupus btw. When I was pregnant in 1998 I had something called symphis pubis dysfunction, but this went away after my first son was born. I then had my daughter in 2001 and I knew something wasnt right, I just didnt feel well or myself, I then had lots of tests, then had a gastroscopy where they took a biospy of my stomach, I went home, came over very unwell, and then the Dr that came out to see me called an ambulance, I ended up in hospital for 2 weeks, it turned out I had haemmoraged internally, and it is then that the Drs realised I had APS, diagnosed by a haemotologist in 2003. As I didnt feel well straight after my daughter was born Aug 2001 I wonder if my immune system sparked off APS then? In 2004 I had lower back problems and later was told I have dejenerating disk at L 4/5, I just assumed that I already had a weakness in my back from my first pregnancy, but the symphis pubis dysfunction did right itself after birth. I didnt get diagnosed with Lupus until 2006. In 2014 I also got diagnosed with dejenerating disks in my neck. Just reading your posts, I suppose I feel today perhaps the penny may have dropped, that APS has caused the dejenerating disk in my back, and now my neck, after all. Although Drs ask that I had back problems before I got diagnosed with Lupus, but the essential link missing here is that I was diagnosed with APS before I had my back problems. Co-incidence? Really interesting reading all your posts. Try to keep positive, you are all strong and brave, keep going and we all have eachother. Much love and kindness xx

[Hughes-Comrade]

Cervical and lumbar degenerative discs. Three back surgeries. Pain in right foot. Two ankle surgeries.. not metatarsal related. Swollen right ankle with unknown reason for years.

[Barb4beachnit]

The problem about all of the bleeding issues because of lovenox Is because America would only allow the higher doses into the country. This was from my oncologist who is in Dallas. He was wonderful.

Barb

[KellyInTexas Administrator in reply to Barb4beachnit]

Barb,are you still on this forum? I have never seen you active? I’m in Texas also- looking for a hematologist.

( not sure about the doses of Lovenox... they come in varying pre filled syringes. You can waste what you need out of each syringe. For example, for my weight I need 70 mg for an active clot. The string comes pre filled at either40, 60 or 80.)

My doctor orders 80. I waste 10 , then inject the rest.

If it’s for bridging, I use 40 ml. I have separate syringes for that. Prefilled at 40.