Just rang my rheumy nurse to ask if there was anything showed up on the spinal x-rays the Rheumatologist organised for me because my gp nor a & e did them when my pain was totally off the scale. I kept telling them it was my spine not my muscles but they didn't listen,! Turns out I have a fracture in my spine. T9. I'm so very angry a & e just sent me home with morphine and my gp got her physiotherapist to email me excersices to do. I kept trying them but the pain was dreadful. Turns out I shouldn't have been doing them at all! In fact the nurse has told me I need to be very very careful and basically not do anything until the 'plan' whatever that will be, is sorted. Like they say, you know your body better than anyone does so listen to it. I KNEW it was a spine problem not my muscles.
Back update - broken: Just rang my rheumy nurse to ask... - NRAS
Back update - broken
So sorry to hear this. I hope “the plan” is told to you very soon, as being given wrong advice hasn’t helped by the GP/physio. x
why don’t they listen? You poor love. Hope things get properly sorted soon. Xx
Had a similar thing - doctor said at my age my agonising back pain was likely to be ‘a touch of osteoarthritis’. Turned out after three private MRI scans that I had fractured my sacrum. Take a tip from my Pilates teacher - if something causes pain - don’t do it, even if we’ve done it before and even if she’s told us to do it.
Do try not to worry….although it is extremely painful & sounds very dramatic …when you see the clinician who decides on your treatment ….usually gentle physio with some stretching exercises. …a thoracic vertebrae can heal well. If your fracture was at all unstable on X-ray …..you would have received treatment there & then. I fractured T11/12 a couple of years ago in a fall…..although these spinal bones can fracture spontaneously for no apparent reason……& like your doctor…mine was more interested in the magnificent bruise I had on my shoulder than my spinal injury….it took 5 weeks before I got an X-ray….by which time things were calming down.
I hope you are lucky & you heal well & quickly….but if you didn’t have a fall…..ask your rheumy to get a Dexa scan of your spine to see the condition of your bones.
Thank you Aged. No fall at all. We've racked our brains but can't think how it would have happened. Again it's helpful to hear from someone who's been through it. I will ask for that scan. Xx
As I said- these compression fractures can occur spontaneously out of the blue,& when that occurs follow up is essential.
So don’t take no for an answer…you really need to get some scans done, as quickly as possible.
Good luck.
The Rheumatologist rang me today. She's organising a Dexa scan for me. Told me to get more calcium in my diet as the tablets are horrid, I can't take them anyway as Ive had them previously and I was taken off them, can't remember why. She said it will just take time to heal. So that's the 'plan'. What did you do when you had fractures? Physio wasn't mentioned it anything. Did you just take painkillers and take it easy?
Sorry that happened.
I’d be sending the practise manager a letter and saying you’ll be making a complaint to your equivalent of our Health Care Complaints Commission. Do you have some other doctor you can swap to?
Thank you Wanna. I only changed surgery in August. My old surgery would have offered me an appointment in 3 weeks time. At least I get to talk to these ones the day. I think it's the same wherever you go. X
SO sorry to hear you have a break in your spine darling Sending hugs. xxxxx
We always know best about our bodies. Hopefully things move forward in a positive direction for you now.
sorry to hear this. I had similar 5-6yr ago. I was sent to a physio who specialised in rheumatology. She did some intense manipulation of my thoracic spine, which is contraindicated in AS. I suddenly had intense pain in my thoracic spine, and told her to stop. For 10 weeks I couldn’t rest my back against a chair or mattress. My gp just insisted it was soft tissue, my rheumatologist just said tell her next time about your pain and don’t let her do it again. No X-rays ordered. It was only 2yrs later when I had an mri for a flare that it was mentioned that I had evidence of a previous fracture at T7. Like you say we know our bodies and should be listened too. Thankfully thoracic fractures are usually stable and heal on their own in time. When I mentioned it to my rheumatologist he clearly didn’t want to discuss it, probably worried I’d put in a complaint about it. I knew deep down I’d fractured it, as I heard a snapping sound at the same time as her manipulating my spine. Hopefully they are getting the opinion of an orthopaedic consultant as too how it should be managed. 🤗
That's horendous! Yes I think a gp who I spoke to yesterday for advice shut down once I said a gp there told me to take my painkillers and morphine and when they'd kicked in do my stretching exercises. He wanted to end that conversation very fast! I'm the same agony sitting and agony lying on my back. X
I also suffered a severe stroke in 2018, due to undiagnosed adrenal insufficiency. I suspected I did have issues with my adrenals and pushed for a referral. 3 weeks before my first appointment, my symptoms escalated and I suddenly had no tolerance to stress, as well as nausea, weight loss, dizzy etc. I contacted the gp to ask if I could n tease my steroids slightly, even 1mg to fry on top of it all, and was told to stay where I was. 24hrs later I had a severe stroke, unconscious, paralysed down the left side and unable to speak. Thankfully I was thrombolysed and made a good physical recovery, but havd been left with memory issues. When I explained to the endo how I felt and that I’d asked to increase he said if I’d followed my gut, I would probably havd averted the stroke. It was caused by an adrenal crisis. When I informed the GP he swiftly moved the discussion away from their error, without any apology. Now I would follow my gut rather than take their advice if in a similar situation again. My colleagues used to tell me to write a book, with all the challenges I’ve faced. I worked as a nurse for 34yrs and knew how to work the system, so dread to think how challenging others find it all. Hope your pain subsides soon 🤗
Crikey Maureen, that's a horrendous thing to go through! The gp who I spoke to after a & e discharged me with 'backache' and morphine asked me what I wanted from her...I said please get me admitted to hospital I shouldn't be left at home with pain like it. She said she couldn't do that because the protocol is that they have to try 2 different pain killers before they could step up and even consider sending me to hospital. I said I just wanted to drink the whole bottle of morphine, take all my painkiller box and get it over with. Just silence is what I got from her. No wonder some people actually do overdose. It's so difficult to get them to listen. Yet they also say 'only you can tell me how bad the pain is'! I think my rheumy will be getting a bunch of flowers from me, she's the only one who listened.
I completely understand your frustration. However if your fracture is stable, staying home with adequate pain relief is the best option. I was an orthopaedic nurse for over 30yrs, when you havd extended periods of immobility, which you inevitably do in hospital, then your muscles waste at a rate of 10% a day, making recovery more challenging. At least at home you have to get up frequently to make a drink, or just stretch your legs, whereas in hospital your sitting or lying fir extended periods because physio can only see you 10 mins a day. Your gp should be making sure your pain is controlled though. Possibly muscle relaxants may help, I take Baclofen regularly which is non addictive unlike diazepam. My ribs are fused so my muscles have shortened where the tendons have calcified, causing constant spasms, but the baclofen helps. Might be worth asking gp about a relaxant 🤗
He prescribed gabapentin yesterday I believe that's a relaxant from what I've read. You're probably right but at that time I was just in depair with the pain. I knew I need an x-ray but they wouldn't listen. X
How long do you think it will take to heal Maureen? The pain isn't excruciating now but I still need the co-drydamol in the day and some morphine before bed so I can sleep at night and during the night. Docs given me gabapentin too but I'm a bit scared to take that as well as the co-drydamol and morphine.
it usually takes 6-8 weeks, but depending on your age can be slightly longer. It’s quite safe to take Gabapentin with the codydramol and morphine. It can make you quite sleepy, so may help with quality of sleep at night. It especially helps nerve type pains, like sciatica. Take in easy, you will get there 🤗
😱!!!!!!
That’s awful! I hope ‘the plan’ arrives soon. I often talk to medical students from our local medical school, and they all ask what they should do from the patients points of view, and my answer is always to listen to to the patients.
that’s disgraceful! At least you know now and treatment is on its way to you. 🤗
sorry to hear of the problems re A&E and dr. I always say we are the experts of our own body, they should learn to listen to us . Hope your recovery goes well, take care, xxxx
I had a similar problem of not being heard when I complained about back pain after falling and breaking my wrist. Eventually the (very careful) osteopath insisted that I should have an X-ray of my back - and hey presto, there was a fracture and 'possible osteopaenia' (this following a dexa scan which had been above normal for my age a few months previously). Arguments followed between GP (who wanted to treat the 'possible osteopaenia' with drugs) and Rheumy (who didn't) while I continued in pain and my wrist healed up - the orthopods were only interested in my wrist! I had further back Xrays which hurt like .... and then a MRI organised by the physio who wasn't happy. I've since seen a spinal surgeon privately at her suggestion as the wait was 3-4 years on NHS.
But it was the ignoring of the fact that I was complaining of back pain that really got to me, as though it didn't matter.
Exactly, you feel like they believe your putting it on how bad the pain is. My x-rays... I was screaming in pain having to get on the bed, lie flat and then turn over onto my side. I said to the radiologist your kidding aren't you! But I had to do it to get them done. I had a chest x-ray first that was bad enough having to stand still.
So sorry to read your update Haz, hope things improve quickly for you 🤗
Thank you monkeysmum xx
That’s awful I hope your pain decreases very soon and they do come up with a plan for you. My husband was discharged from A&E this year with double pneumonia and pleurisy they did give him some antibiotics to go and get from the other side of the hospital and he could barely move because he was in so much pain. It’s only when a pneumonia nurse called him the next day that he knew he had pneumonia and it took him six months to recover. Totally get your anger I’ve had similar issues with no follow up.
Yet again a dreadful story! I love our NHS but something has to be done it's totally broken.
I agree my daughter who is a teacher had to deal with a lad who snapped his arm at school and totally displaced it today and it wasn’t considered an emergency so they had to ring his mum to take him to A&E because they wouldn’t send an ambulance and the same last week when a teacher passed out on the stairs and fell down them she was in and out of consciousness and they said an ambulance would be 5 hours !! so had to bundle her in a car and take her themselves. What is considered an emergency these days ?
I can answer that. When I was taken to a & e by ambulance the paramedic went to check me in and said all they wanted to know was did I have chest pains and if not sit me in the waiting room. I was screaming in pain when he had to take the gas & air off me. He said he'd wished he could have said yes I was having chest pain.
That’s awful you must have been in agony. As the poor kid was today with his arm the wrong way around. I totally get that some things are more urgent than others but if someone is screaming with pain then to me that’s urgent. I’m sorry you had to cope with that. Hope you feel better soon.
So sorry to hear of your compressed fracture. I have spent from March of this year trying to sort mine out. I reached up to get a mug from the top shelf of a wall unit in the kitchen and heard and felt four snaps. Stupidly, I did nothing at first. 8 weeks later had xrays and yes two vertebrae compressed fractures of L1 and T9. Very painful and certainly feel for you. It does get better, I can stand up more straight now but have lost 3 inches in height. I found it does help to sleep slightly sitting up. No Physio or medication for it. The GP said I had oesteoporosis, I had a bone dexa scan, waited until September for result. Bones normal, no oesteoporosis. It was an accident. Now due to the trauma I think I have costochondalitis. It is like trying to get blood out of a stone for a Gp face to face to examine me and confirm. Do take care.
Hi recorder. Thank you 😊 yes when I first started having a bad ache in my back I bought a wedge pillow for bed and a lumbar cushion for my armchair. I must say I don't know what I'd do without the wedge pillow! I couldn't get out of bed without being at an angle. You take care too. X
That is dreadful sounds like a medical negligence solicitor required! Hope you get better soon take care 🌹
Thank you green. Your not the only one to say to that. X
Thinking of you! Take care and make sure they sort you out this time 💐
just sending hugs I knew something wrong with my breathing and heart and I persisted and now rapid chest clinic my next stop! Perseverance is the name of the game
I know how you feel ,I fractured my back over 3 yrs ago - 7 fractures crushed vertebrae was told to rest for 4 months , 3 years on never seen a consultant, this happened before Covid, my spine has now in a curve and I find it difficult to walk “shocking “ 😡
That's aweful! I'm having pain in my right hip inner thigh and knee now too. Told gp yesterday... His answer... gabapentin to add to morphine and co-drydamol and wait for the 'plan' from my rheumy. My Rheumatologist said that it seems they are expected nowadays to be gp too to their RA patients. It's not fair is it.
I’m really sorry that you have had to go through this, I hope that you get the proper treatment really soon. Biggish hugs 🤗 xx
Aw thank you Bessieboo. Xx
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Broken Shoulder and RA, update.
Broken distal radius
Broken and brittle nails
Broken Leg !
Any advice on back pain
broken wrists
Update, update post surgery...
Broken tooth!
update
