Further developments in the 'back muscle strain' saga

[strawclutching]

Last October when changing bed sheets, I injured my back. Went to A & E in excruciating pain and they sent me off with a single dose of morphine deciding it was a muscle strain. It limited movement so much I was stuck in the chair for weeks, still complaining to GP about pain. They referred me to a physio and I've been following recommended gentle exercises. Still in some pain when I saw the rheumy in February, and knowing I had severe osteoporosis, she wrote to the GP asking for an Xray of my lower back which they got around to doing beginning of April.

Six weeks later, hadn't heard anything, but then the GP surgery rang asking if I need anything to control my pain. As this had never been asked before I asked why. She said my bone consultant had written asking them to ask me. Again I asked why but she couldn't tell me anything more. So I rang the bone consultant's (geriatric medicine) secretary and asked her if they knew something I didn't. She dug out the result of my Xray and it appears themuscle strain they diagnosed in October was a fracture of a lower vertebrae. But, she said, it's very common among osteoporosis sufferers and not to worry, there was a vertabroplasty op they could do.

So naturally, I Googled the blessed thing and discover that the sooner this procedure is done, the better the outcome (but it's been 7 months!!) also that it can cause adjacent vertebrae to fracture. I believe this happened to Missus835.

This is just another to add to the string of NHS blunders I've had to suffer over a lifetime, and I'm just so sick of it. It seems the older I am, the less time they're willing to waste as i'm probably going to peg it soon anyway. Oh, and that's another thing I read online - life expectancy after a vertebrae fracture is only 3 years for 50% of patients.

Now I have to wait another month for a GP appointment to discuss the results. is this in any way acceptable?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

No it's not acceptable, but unfortunately it seems to be the norm nowadays.

[strawclutching in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks DorsetLady. It just drives me nuts.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'd be very annoyed! I would be at the practice requesting an emergency appointment. They might need the police to remove me.

Here my rheumy usually sends me for a spinal x-ray if I have what might be new back pain. He writes the referral himself. Not sure why he did the last one because the pain had been there for about 18 months and that had been looked at back then! - but the radiologist identified a query compression fracture. So I was told I needed a bisphosphonate and given an infusion. I always said that was fine if they could show me a good reason. And I still have perfectly acceptable bone density - so it isn't due to osteoporosis. I'd had no identifiable new pain.

tangocharlie on here has a similar story - severe back pain and she told the physio that the exercises were too much and making the pain worse, shouldn't it be x-rayed? Poo-poo they said ... Eventually TC's rheumy ordered it - and spinal fractures found.

If it is any consolation, the 50% who die within 3 years will be the ones who have similar underlying comorbities to those who die after hip fractures which also frequently lead to loss of mobility and a descent into being bed bound and that is where pneumonia becomes the old (wo)man's friend.

[strawclutching in reply to PMRpro]

I've suffered so many blunders by the NHS I mistrust everything they tell me these days. My geriatric medicine consultant sent me a letter after my blood test saying that although my serum calcium was low, the serum adjusted calcium level was normal and I could stop taking oral vitamin D and calcium supplements. I can't see the logic as I'm waiting for a zoledronic infusion (having a tooth extraction first) and my last DEXA scan in the spine was -3.9 and that was February 2022. Thanks for the positive view of the death statistics. I'm still pretty mobile - for now.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to strawclutching]

Well if your calcium is low and you are to have zolendronate - you will need both vit D and calcium supplements. They go together ...

[strawclutching in reply to PMRpro]

I think so too. And I'll be ignoring that consultant's advice.

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

One of my questions is that my DEXA scans have always been fine, I think the last one was only about 2 years ago now. So if they can't predict you'll get fractures that they say are down to osteopenia (the forerunner to osteoporosis) and there is no other way of diagnosing the degree of bone density loss, then what is the point of giving us DEXA scans if it's false reassurance? And my other bones eg hips, sacrum are all absolutely fine. Of course they are jumping to the conclusion that the steroids have caused the weak bones but that may or may not be true - I don't know what the comparative rates are for post-menopausal women of my age who haven't been on steroids. They seem so keen to jump to immediate conclusions when it suits them. Just because you hear the sound of hooves doesn't mean it's a horse

[strawclutching in reply to tangocharlie]

That's so true. My DEXA scans showed osteoporosis just a few months after starting the steroids, so I was warned. Then when I was offered an infusion 2 years ago I declined, thinking I'd be off the steroids and would be able to rebuild my bones naturally. What a fool I was. You must be so angry that your scans didn't show anything going wrong. Since my fracture, my sacrum has started to bulge outwards. i don't know yet which vertebrae or how many are fractured until my next appointment with the GP at the end of next month. More time wasted.

[Indigo2417]

Hi, sorry you have had such a rotten time. If it’s any consolation, I had compression fractures in 4 vertebrae in 2019 due to osteoporosis. Not discovered until 2021. I’m still in the land of the living, so don’t let them write you off just yet.

[strawclutching in reply to Indigo2417]

That's encouraging news, thanks Indigo. Was this before you had any biphosphonates and how is your mobility?

[Indigo2417 in reply to strawclutching]

It was before. After a DEXA scan in 2021, I was put on Alendronic Acid. I was given physio exercises, which I was doing regularly, but then I got a bad dose of shingles. That put paid to exercises for 2 months and so I had to build up again. I also got trochanteric bursitis and found some of the exercises difficult with that. Last Aug, PMR arrived but I think it was probably building up under the surface before then. Then I got Covid. Didn’t do any exercises for a while but tried to persevere with walking to build up fitness. Jan this year, strained my back muscles badly so couldn’t do anything for a good two months. Have recently started to start walking and exercising again, starting very gradually. I’m hoping to build up my core muscles to help my back, but it’s a slow job starting from scratch again. My husband is exercising with me for encouragement and to help with his fitness, so we are trying to encourage one another.

[strawclutching in reply to Indigo2417]

Good for you to keep at it despite all those obstacles. It always helps to have someone working with you. I don't have anyone at home but my physio is really encouraging even though his available appointments are few & far between.

[Indigo2417 in reply to strawclutching]

The physio that I saw had a surgery at my GP surgery, but I haven’t seen her since Jan 2023. The Health board has taken over running of our surgery, so I don’t even know if she is there any more. Anyway, I’ve got the exercise sheets that she gave me and I’m trying to persevere with them. Its a bit disappointing when I think of what I could do before all this, but I’ve got to start from where I am now and try not to think about then. Is it any good looking for a Chair yoga class or something very gentle to start with, once you feel able to do something. I started with just walking round the garden, then going a bit further before attempting any physio. Now I’m doing alternate days walking and physio with some rest days as well.

[strawclutching in reply to Indigo2417]

Sounds like you're headed in the right direction. I neeed to get myself organised.

[Indigo2417 in reply to strawclutching]

I’m trying to be like the tortoise and forget about trying to catch up with the hare. I’ll only overdo it and have to start over again.

[tangocharlie in reply to Indigo2417]

Can I ask how mobile you are now? Did any exercises help? How is your walking ability? Did the fracrures heal at all? Any info welcome

[strawclutching in reply to tangocharlie]

My walking ability varies from day to day. I got so used to getting taxis to all my appointments that I was doing myself no favours. But walking those distances is way too much and I suffer for it. I've only recently started using buses again, so there's more walking involved and that works better for my mobility. Last week I spent an hour cutting back shrubs in the garden and I'm still suffering - way too much bending. The exercises from the physio did help, but I didn't know there was a fracture at that time. I've had to make another appointment to see if he can suggest something more appropriate, but can't see him for another 4 weeks. I still don't know if the fracture(s) have healed. Since I still have pain, maybe not. Or maybe the pain just stays regardless. I've still so many questions that no-one is available to answer.

[tangocharlie in reply to strawclutching]

Same here re questions and answers. I can only walk about 100 yards without using my rollator but I don't know if trying to walk more without it would make things better or worse, esepcially if some of the fractures haven't healed yet and I'm at risk of fracturiing more. Only my amazing rheumatologist is being helpful so I'll pick her brains at the next appointment in a few weeks and then try and get a GP appointment. I guess what I need is a physiotherapist who is experienced in dealing with spinal fractures and also understands PMR which is a bit of a long shot

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

Have you tried emailing Sarah with that exact question? I suspect her physio would provide the answers.

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

I've got it on my list for when I see her next week

[Indigo2417 in reply to tangocharlie]

The fractures healed, but I now have a bit of a curve in the thoracic area. When I was doing physio from 2021, it was slow but steady. Trouble was I strained my back again by overdoing the exercises and got trochanteric bursitis. Had to start again, got shingles for 2 mths. Stopped and had to start again. Got PMR then Covid, then back strain again. This time last year I was building up again and doing coastal path walks, two of about 6-7 miles. Now, I can do about a mile or so, but did about 3 miles recently. Haven’t tried the coastal path yet as I don’t think my hips could hack the climbs yet. I’m hoping not to get anymore hitches for a while to give me a chance to build up again. I do feel the exercises are beneficial. I’ve just got to not rush things.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Indigo2417]

I think maybe a problem with the costal path is it is likely to be uneven and the back muscles adjusting to that may put more strain in the vertebrae. I really struggle with uneven ground so avoid it as much as I can - even the flat and partially surfaced footpaths here, I stick to the cycle track where it is tarmacked!

[Indigo2417 in reply to PMRpro]

Exactly. That’s why I haven’t attempted it yet. I don’t think the hips and back are up to it yet. The walks I’ve done so far have been in pavements or tarmac. I can manage a slight incline, but nothing too steep. Initially, I walked round the garden, because it was easy to abandon it if I felt it was getting too much. My first walk in March, towards our village on a country road, I had to stop after about 200yards because my back muscle started aching. Today I’ve had a walk to the village and hung washing out and just got it in again and I can feel the back muscle aching a bit. Time for a sit down for a few minutes. Its a learning curve alright. Plus, as per my recent post, I now have this as yet unexplained lower stomach pain. I’ve been advised the wait for the ultra sound scan is about 6 weeks from last Thursday.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Indigo2417]

Another thing with coastal paths is after the horrendously wet weather we’ve had over the last year, they are being coming more unstable underfoot, and very often precariously nearer to the cliff edge.

Some of the pictures of the SW costal path are quite scary.

[Indigo2417 in reply to DorsetLady]

Quite.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Indigo2417]

No chance of a pool? It was the begining of my starting to walk OK. A few sessions in the hydrotherapy pool at the hospital and then the physio told me to register for the "water gymnastic" the rheuma charity runs. I was a bit apprehensive but it was brilliant, This last 2 sessions this year wasn't as good, different instructor and I think she arrives unprepared, but she isn't doing it in the autumn. Her choice of music was a bit dire ...

[Indigo2417 in reply to PMRpro]

Hadn’t thought about that. We do have a pool, but I’ve never been. Will have have to look into it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Indigo2417]

Even just walking in the water is good

[Indigo2417 in reply to PMRpro]

Or walking on water😇But maybe a bit too ambitious.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Indigo2417]

Water into wine would suit me better ...

[tangocharlie in reply to Indigo2417]

I go 'swimming' once a week at a women and girls only session which is usually quite quiet. I sort of float on my back and kick my legs frog-leg style, like breast stroke but on my back. I can't do breast stroke, too hard on the back, but can do a bit of front crawl in short bursts. I do a bit of walking round in the water or hang on to the side and do leg swings and other yoga type movements. and go to the deep end and just dangle, assuming it's good for straightening out my back. I ache more the next day, but it's probably doing me good, I hope so. They put walk-in steps out for me as I can't use the ladders. Ask them for a RADAR key so you can sit down in the disabled showers. Or keep it quiet or everyone will want one but you can buy them on Amazon

[Indigo2417 in reply to tangocharlie]

I haven’t been swimming for years. I wasn’t a strong swimmer then. I could do breast stroke and the same as you, a sort of breast stroke move with my legs and arms on my back. Could never manage front crawl. Not sure how I’d get on now as I’ve have rotator cuff problems with both shoulders in addition to the other problems. I find twisting movements at the waist can cause muscle aches in my back. One of my physio exercises is sitting on a chair with hands either behind the head or holding elbows in front and twisting as far as you can go to the right and then left. I do have to be careful with that one.

[tangocharlie in reply to Indigo2417]

It's so difficult to know what to do for the best and avoid further damange isn't it? One of my fractures is recent apparently acording to the x-ray and I have no idea how I've done it

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

You don't necessarily have to have "done" anything - even twisting wrong can trigger a fracture in poor quality bone. The really dangerous fractures are due to high speed trauma but many compression fractures aren't even noticed.

This says 1 in 4 women over 50 has a compression fracture - pretty common.

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, there are similar stories on the ROS website, you can get a fracture just turning over in bed or lifting something. Yet the medics jump to the conclusion that steroids have caused the problems which may or may not be true. And as they're so common why don't physiotherapists recognise them in women of our age?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

Correlation maybe - because it happens more in older women who have been on pred? I don't know - correlation is not always causation and they do rarely LOOK in younger women. Don't tar all physios with the same brush - a lot of very poor physios in the NHS, taught in the UK, never worked anywhere else, unaware of alterative ideas, They are by no means all the same, but you only need to meet the one or two lazy ones who are disillusioned and it feels as if they are all rubbish. The backpain story in the UK is appalling and starts with the GP who hands out painrelief willy nilly assuring the patient muscle pain will go in a few weeks. But nothing is done to correct the issues underlying it. Every patient gives up eventually, What happened to you is bad - and I think a complaint is called for, When the pain is excessive or lasts a long time it is time to get some imaging. But I don't think they can get it directly and it means more work for them. And GPs are reluctant to spend their money. It's systemic ...

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

But the amount of women who have been on long-term steroids must be very small, say 1%, yet a quarter of all women get spinal fractures and they imediately just blame the Pred. I remember reading a book about ageing well by Mirielle Guiliano, who wrote the 'French women don't get fat' book, and one of her quotes was 'hang on to your oestrogen as long as possible'.

I agree, back pain isn't handled well by doctors, the first line is Naproxen or co-codemol and if that doesn't work you're supposed to go back and like you say most people just give up. Even the private physio I saw (who was more use than the NHS ones) said when she first qualified she used to get so bored of dealing with bad backs it was the major part of her workload. She is an ex-Olympic competitor and still does physio for the British judo team so more interested in sports injuries I guess. She's the one who told me I needed scans and that the exercises I'd been given were much too strenuous and would make thigns worse. It beggars belief that at first I was only offered physiotherapy appointments over the phone when I kept saying I needed to be seen and have a physical assessment. That's why I was forced to go private. I am definitely putting in a formal complaint about the way this has been handled. The NHS is on its knees, I'm sure HCPs are doing the best they can with what little they've got but how many of us are suffering due to lack of appointments and staff? Ooh I'm ranting again, I'd better shut up, go for a walk in the park and do some mindfulness 😀

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

Well that's right - and to be honest, I put my good bone density thus far down to having also been on HRT for 13 years. Deciding to stop it after one scare too many was a bad decision - next stop. PMR. I'm inclined to feel that instead of handing out AA they should be handing out HRT for anyone who wants it - something else I would be first in the queue for! There was an article I saw a few days ago that said "the time to stop HRT is when you die"!

But that also illustrates the UK problem: bad backs are perceived as "boring" and the good physios I met in the UK had had back problems themselves so knew it was far from "boring"

[strawclutching in reply to PMRpro]

I asked my GP on two separate occasions for HRT and she refused, said that starting at 70 years old could cause vascular issues such as stroke, heart attack. I went back and asked about the patches, because they are a milder form and I'd heard another doctor on the radio recommending them for bone preservation in older wormen. But again, she said no. She only agreed to do the spinal Xray because I'd pleaded with my rheumy and she sent the GP a letter. Otherwise I'd never have known about the fracture(s). Still don't know how many or which vertebrae are affected. Everything is like pulling teeth.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to strawclutching]

It has to be the right HRT - and most UK GPs are still in the Stone Age about HRT ...

[Indigo2417 in reply to tangocharlie]

Credit due to the physio that I saw in 2021. She examined me and said” you’ve got kyphosis due to compression fractures “. She said she would get GP to request an X-ray, but then forgot. When I reminded her 2 weeks later, she said she’d forgotten, but anyway, it would come out with the DEXA scan that I’d got osteoporosis. Catch was, that NHS scan was a wait of 14 months, so I ended up getting a private one and they advised I should have the X-ray to confirm the fractures.

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

PS The procedures called Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, sort of 'injecting a cement' look interesting. Other Google searches came up with options like putting metal rods in to straighten your back. I'm going to ask for a referral to discuss things like that. It's given me hope that I may actually be able to walk again one day (without needing the walker)

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

They are best done soon - but Celtic who was a founding member of the forum told stories of her elderly aunt, still playing tennis in her 80s, who had a compression fracture despite umpteen years on alendronic acid, She had vertebr- or kyphoplasty, don't remember which, and the following season was back on the tennis court. You don't want to get to the stage of needing rods if you can help it - serious spinal surgery that!

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

Yes re being done soon that's what Strawclutching says at the top of her/this post. My fractures probably happened about a year ago now so that might be a problem, but I still want to ask about it. What are you going to do about yours?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

Leave it to Christian! No idea if the back pain was due to that but it is probably mainly due to arthrosis (wear and tear) in the lower back joints and that is currently bearable enough. As long as everything else is being managed, it's fine. Part of the desire to stay here as long as I can for medical management is because I have Actemra and a lot less pred but no argument about how much pred as longer as I feel good and stable.

[Indigo2417 in reply to tangocharlie]

It is so easy to overdo it and I’ve learned the hard way. I’ve had to adjust my thinking from what I used to do and what I can do now. My fractures were in 2019, but I didn’t get an X-ray until 2021, after the DEXA scan. That was only because the report from the private scan recommended it. I suspect but can’t prove, that I did a bit further damage after lying down after I’d had my first Covid jab. I wasn’t feeling too well, laid down, tried to adjust my position and felt a pain go in my back similar to the original fractures. But I didn’t know then that I had got osteoporosis. The best advice I can give from experience, is to take things very slowly and carefully and build up any activity gradually.

[tangocharlie in reply to Indigo2417]

I move around like a sloth now! I was pretty slow anyway as I have bad eyesight so have to avoid tripping and stumblig over things, but I'm ultra-cautious now especially when lifting things, bending over, stepping down off buses and trains etc even when I do armchair yoga stretches

[Indigo2417 in reply to tangocharlie]

Slow and steady wins the race as the saying goes. Can’t remember who though.

[strawclutching in reply to Indigo2417]

That might have been the tortoise from the story 'The tortoise and the hare' by Aesop. Crikey, which dusty corner of the brain did I dig that one up from?😜

[Songbird6]

OMG 🫣 Life expectancy 3 years after vertebrae fractures, for 50% of patients!!Where did you read this info, please? I've had 10 in my Thoracic spinal area and two in my Lumbar, that was almost two years ago. I have been on Evenity/Romosozumab injections for a year and my spinal bone density has improved but my hip Osteoporosis 0%, they are hoping Prolia/Denosumab will sort the hip out.

[Songbird6 in reply to Songbird6]

I'm not surprised you waited so long for an X ray and the results, I waited 6 weeks for my X ray results and even then my Daughter had to chase it up with the hospital, and was responded to abusively by the receptionist in the imaging department for daring to inquire! Only then after being fobbed off with Cocodamol tablets was I prescribed Morphine, Gabapentin and Risedronate 😑🤷

[strawclutching in reply to Songbird6]

Blimey, so that's twelve in all. I didn't know we had that many vertebrae. 😜I got those stats from the internet, and clearly they can't be right. I freak myself out and lose sleep over statistics like this and yet I still swallow them up. I haven't heard of Evenity/Romosozumab. How often do you have these injections and do they offer you a DEXA scan after such a short time being on them? I will have to wait 3 years after starting Zoledronic acid for my next Dexa scan which will make 5 years since my last one.

[Songbird6 in reply to strawclutching]

I know, it doesn't do to read too much but then again 🤷 Evenity Injections once a month for a year with a Dexa Scan at the end, had my first Prolia injection on May 10th a month after finishing Evenity. I think the Evenity offer is a postcode lottery thing but yes I'd enquire about it, they seem to offer it to severe cases like mine.

[strawclutching in reply to Songbird6]

I will! Thanks Songbird.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to strawclutching]

There are 33 vertebrae in the spine, 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 4 coccygeal (your tail bone). The top 24 move, articulating on the next to allow you to bend.

How long you live after a vertebral fracture depends on whether it is properly treated or not and on any existing comorbidities and age.

link.springer.com/article/1...

gives some more reliable figures in over 65s. Bear in mind people die of other things - not just the fracture.

[strawclutching in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro, I've saved that info for a proper perusal later. I think the next time I get poo-pooed by a clinician after making a perfectly reasonable request, I won't shut up like before.

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

This was a useful diagram for when I was trying to interpret my scan results, I have a fractures in T11, T12 (must be new, as shows oedema), L1, L2 and possibly L3

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

Reading that has now worried me as it has taken so long to get diagnosed and I'm sure the exercises I was told to do made things worse. Should I be worried or am I over-thinking?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

Probably overthinking. I really don't know much about the rehab - usually here you would be given a backbrace if the fracture wasn't stable. But obviously the UK is a different matter.

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

I've been googling them (back braces) but don't know what to buy. I had a sacro-iliac belt before but that's not helping now the pains are higher up. Another 2 questions for my list, who can advise on a back brace and with rehab, thank you. I'm so depressed, wondering if I'll ever be able to walk again tbh.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

They do really need to be fitted - OH had to stay in hospital over the weekend as the people qualified to fit them only worked Mon-Fri.

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

I was in orthotics a few months ago being measured for support tights for the vascular circulation problems in my legs that keep swelling up. I explained I've got no chance of getting them on with my back problems, it's hard enough trying to get socks on and they fully understood! I've got made to measure compression stockings but they keep rolling down around my knees adn diging in. If it's not one thing it's another. I'm only 63 ffs, I should be out enjoying life and seeing the world :). I've put off trying to see my GP as it's partly their fault I'm in this mess. I just don't know where to turn. Hopefully the wise and wonderful SM will be able to guide me and short-cut referrals in a few weeks time.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

Now MY swollen ankles have disappeared completely since the cardiac ablation! Even here I was being nagged about getting stockings even though I pointed out there was no way I could put them on. The blame was put on poor venous return - no, poor cardiac function during a/fib episodes...

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

Glad they found the solution for you, even ifit was eventually. Heart problems have been ruled out in my case, no a/fib or heart failure or anything like that. The senior vascular specialist I eventually saw in person (after turning down the op twice after phone appointmentswith other vascular consultants) said it was a textbook case of venous problems and pumps not pumping. Steroids do seem to help a bit which is puzzling. But I can't have the venous operation that would normally be an option for such things because I'm on high dose steroids which complicates things, and I have had problems with slow wound nealing due to steroids in the past. I must remember to elevate my legs more too, a good excuse to sit and read with my feet up, though that isn't easy with a bad back ...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

I have a footstool next to me and perfectly placed cushions so sitting with my feet up is the most comfortable option

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

I'm so tempted to get on a plane and come and see your doctors but I'd have to do it in a wheelchair. It might come to that ....

[strawclutching in reply to Songbird6]

Are you off the pain meds now or take them as and when needed? Did they refer you to a physio? That was all they offered me just after the injury. There was no way I could cope with exercises while in so much pain.

[Songbird6]

Yes, before they X rayed me my GP sent me off to a Physio at my local hospital, who tried to get me lying on a bed doing exercises and bending down touching my toes 😏 🫣 after that I told her where to go and I told the GP what he could do with his referral too 🙄I tell you what when they did get my Xray results back they changed there tune then! My Family were so angry and wanted to put in a complaint of negligence but It didn't come to that in the end but they (GP, etc) knew they were flying close to the wind!!

I am still on Gabapentin for muscle pain and I have the Morphine as a back up if needed but I am better but still need to be very careful, I won't forget the pain of those compression fractures till I die. 😔

[Songbird6 in reply to Songbird6]

Hope things get sorted for you, good luck and thanks for reading my rant. Best Wishes 😊💐

[strawclutching in reply to Songbird6]

You're right. The pain is so unbearable I think I'd rather have a baby. It seems every health problem as you get older gets played down and put down to old age. Frustrates me no end. Good luck to you too and thanks for sharing your story.

[tangocharlie in reply to Songbird6]

I'm a strong person but there were tears rolling down my face I was in so much pain on the physio table trying to do the exercises they recommended. If compression fractures are common in women of my age why on earth did they not do x-rays as I kept pleading for? Physios seem to think exercise is the solution to ALL back problems. They were also totally clueless when I said my back had gone into spasm and I needed something for that.

[strawclutching in reply to tangocharlie]

The first physio I had was pretty useless. I asked why I hadn't had an Xray and she said, 'We only do imaging if you've had a fracture.' So I said 'But surely that's the only way of finding out?' and she said, well A& E have said it's a muscle strain, so we have to honour their diagnosis.' Piffle. My GP practice nurse said more or less the same. Prescribed Votarol gel 1.17% which I could have bought at the chemist and was completely useless, as was paracetamol. Sometimes you just want to give them a good shake. If your back was up to it of course. Physios, like pharmacists are the 'go to' when GP's are overstretched on their 3 day week NHS workload. Or maybe I'm being unkind.

[tangocharlie in reply to strawclutching]

I kept asking for scans but the physio was adamant it was muscular. I went back to my GP and asked for a different physio and got referred to MSK spinal physio. but got the same response from him, he was adamant it was muscular and referred pain from bursitis. So I turned to my rheumatologist who ordered the x-rays and sure enough it was fractured vertebrae. A GP friend of mine told me I needed Diazepam for the back spasms but my GP refused to prescribe it, I don't know why some GPs can adn some can't presecribe it. I eventually got it by persisting and it sorted out the spasms but meanwhile I'd got more fractures which went undiagnosed. At one point I was in so much pain I went to A&E and they tested me for cauda equina but still didn't do any x-rays. They gave me a scan for a suspected blood clot and I said can't you just do one for my back while I'm in here? but it was a case of 'not my circus not my monkey'.

I think you are being a little unkind re GPs, they are so overstretched and few and far between. My mate came back from retirement because her practice was so short-staffed. A third of all GPs retired in the last 5-7 years as they were Baby boomers and came up to retirement age. The government or NHS or whatever knew it was a ticking time bomb but failed to train more GPs, relying on poaching them from abroad because it's cheaper, but now they can't do that. I can totally understand your anger though, I'm in the same place, a mix of angry and bitter as to what's happened but also realising we are where we are and I'm going to need to work with them to get the help I need. My list of questions I want answers to keeps growing. Thank goodness for this forum

[Songbird6 in reply to tangocharlie]

That must of been so distressing for you. The Physiotherapist was not emphatic at all, it was like she thought I was making it up and had the nerve to say, you'll be fine, I'm here! 🙄 😳😑

[tangocharlie in reply to Songbird6]

Mine said if I didn't do the exercises I wouldn't get better, end of. I replied I'd love to but they were impossible and making things worse. She and the physio I moved to after her just wouldt listen

[tangocharlie]

I'm in the same mess. Useless NHS physios failed to diagnose my severe back pain, even though I kept insisting something was wrong. And I mean severe, excruciating, they said it was muscular and eventually an x-ray that my amazing rheumatologist ordered has shown multiple spinal fractures.

I'm in the process of trying to find out what on earth I can do now. It's impossible to see a GP but I don't trust them anyway since they fobbed me off with painkillers for a year. I need to put in an official complaint. The NHS is a mess because not only is there a great shortage of every kind of health care professional but it is not person-centred anymore, it all revolves around GPs commissioning things like tests and consultant appintments and then being there to explain and interpret the results, which they aren't. I just wish I'd got my credit card out 6 months ago and paid for a scan. But we are where we are and I'm trying to fathom a way forward.

It's not a death-sentence, don't believe that. It probaby is important to maintian sme degree of mobility, but how and what exercise to do that won't make thigs worse or cause anther fracture is one of the questions I'm trying to find an answer for. The videos on the Royal Osteoporosis Socieity website are useful, Id have a look at them. I haven't been in touch with them yet but will do as they can probably advise and reassure on their helpline. I suspect that some kind of operation will be needed to straighten my spine again but it'll take years to get that sorted. Meanwhile well meaing friends and family say that I should just walk more to build up my muscles, not use my rollator 'because I'll get dependent on it' and I get so angry that they have no idea what they are talking about but feel qualified to offer 'advice'.

I'm generally an optimistic and resilient person, but this is really getting me down, so I can empathise how you feel. My advice is get all the information you can, write down all your questions eg mine include what exercise and movement can I do to help or what could make it worse? who can I ask about this?. I've been offered a Zolendronic infusion which should help to strengthen the bones against it happing again. Write it all down and make a plan (I love lists) , that in itself is therapeutic

[strawclutching in reply to tangocharlie]

Yes, I love my lists too and soak up as much info as I can find. As far as I understand, vertabroplasty and kyphoplasty have better outcomes within 2 weeks of fractures. Fat chance of that happening with the state of the NHS. Some days I feel like I can do loads and take too much for granted only to find I'm creased up with pain & exhaustion for 2 weeks after. I'm so careful changing my bed sheets these days (the cause of my fracture) and bought extra big fitting ones that I don't have to wrestle with. But when you've been active for most of your life, it's hard having to assess before you do anything. I'm having a Zoledronic acid infusion as soon as I finish some dental work and its all healed. Thanks for sharing your story tangocharlie.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to strawclutching]

Vacuuming and changing bed sheets is for the cleaner - only have her for an hour a week but it covers the things that are risky.

[strawclutching in reply to PMRpro]

I'll need to consider this when I move. Still haven't sold my house yet. After 10 weeks online I've only had 3 viewings. There was to be a fourth today but they didn't show up!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to strawclutching]

Is it with a local agent or just online? I just sold the flat my daughter lived in. Hardest thing was choosing the agent - all very keen and ranged from "it's only worth x ..." to "Starting price of x+ £30K". The ones chosen were brilliant - I will hand them that.

[strawclutching]

It's with an agent, local and online. But it's difficult to find in a search unless you actually the name of the street. I'm committed to a contract and can't list it with anyone else unless I pay a hefty fee.