Has anyone had vertebroplasty?

[Jac-genova]

My mom will be doing SBRT radiation therapy on her 2 tumors on her spine (t2 and l4 regions). Her radiologist said she spoke with a neurosurgeon who suggested that she do vertebroplasty in case the bone were to collapse from the radiation. I've heard that this is a pretty invasive procedure, and wanted to ask this group's thoughts on it. Thank you.

[Timtam56]

No I have not heard of it.

[Barbteeth]

Hi thereI had this done about 18 months ago...easy operation with an overnight stay in hospital

However it didn’t work

Barb xx

[Jac-genova in reply to Barbteeth]

Hi barb!

Why didn't it work?

[Barbteeth in reply to Jac-genova]

In hindsight I should have had it done sooner because he had trouble putting the cement into the fracture The pain still the same so I live on strong painkillers

Don’t let me put you off though

Barb xx

[Scandia68 in reply to Barbteeth]

Hi Barb

I have just had radiotherapy on two bone mets that looked like they were flaring up on a PET scan. I had no pain and the radiotherapy was only recommended to kill the cells. I had this Friday one on my spine and the other on my pelvic bone. Ever since I have been in agony on the pelvic side. It’s waking me up and nothing seems to help. Did you have this after radiation? Does it get better? I have taken more painkillers in the last 24hrs than in the last five years.

[Barbteeth in reply to Scandia68]

I had radiotherapy twice and tbh I didn’t notice a great deal of difference However I read that pain may increase afterwards but will settle in a few days

Good luck

Barb xx

[TNVol]

I had this procedure done when diagnosed with metastatic spine lesion. It was done outpatient and prior to radiation. It ended excruciating back pain immediately. And yes, the radiation/oncologist said he feared the vertebra would totally collapse if he did radiation first. I would have the vertebroplasty again in a heartbeat.

[Jac-genova in reply to TNVol]

Ah, so it was before the radiation not after?

[TNVol in reply to Jac-genova]

Yes followed by 10 radiation sessions.

[Jac-genova in reply to TNVol]

what was the timing after the procedure? how soon after was your first radiation session?

[TNVol in reply to Jac-genova]

This all began about July 5 at a walk-in clinic with what I thought was muscle spasms. X-rays, bone scan, MRI, etc. probably 2 weeks. Biopsy done at time of vertebroplasty failed and had to be repeated then radiation. Radiation was 5 days a week for 2 weeks and completed on September 28 so, all in all, it went pretty quickly especially considering the number of procedures, tests, doctors and clinical visits involved.

[Jac-genova in reply to TNVol]

Did you have SBRT radiation?

[TNVol in reply to Jac-genova]

Would you think me an idiot if I said I don't know? I do know these are the markings I wore for a few weeks. Well, something's not allowing me to show you these but I had all sorts of Sharpie drawings on my chest which were always aligned meticulously with the machine before treatment.

[Jac-genova in reply to TNVol]

no worries, thank you!

[PJBinMI]

I've heard of it and heard of good results. I would certainly do it myself if my neurosurgeon recommended it. I have preexisting stenosis in my lower spine, with mets in some of those vertebrae, and had different surgery there, with hard ware used for stabilization. It has worked well and the mets there have been stable........

[Jac-genova in reply to PJBinMI]

how long have your mets been stable?

[PJBinMI in reply to Jac-genova]

It's hard to know how to answer your question. I have had "extensive bone mets" since I was first diagnosed, in March 2004, almost 17 years ago. I am on just third line treatment right now. During this whole time, I have not had symptoms from the cancer itself and have done quite well, though my energy level is pretty low, but hard to know how much is cancer, how much is treatment and how much is age. My onc has not used terms like "no evidence of disease" I've had long periods of time when my tumor markers are creeping up but nothing to worry about shows up on scans. You would never think I have cancer if you were to see me out and about. I pay alot more attention to how I feel than what the cancer cells are supposedly doing. That's what works for me.

[Jac-genova in reply to PJBinMI]

Wow, incredible God bless! What treatments were you on and for how long? My mom was on letrozole for 2 years but now her onc wants her to do fulvestrant and possibly ibrance

[Shelby4now]

Jac-Genova

I had this procedure done approximately 3 years ago now. When I entered the hospital I had trouble walking . When I left the pain defiantly was less and my mobility had improved . Since I had extensive mets in l2 l3 and l4

l had 5 radiation treatments

along with vertebroplasty

. Sometimes when you have radiation the pain will intensifies for awhile but does subside. If she is having pain then do the vertebroplasty if not wait until you need to. Your "L" are your weight bearing vertebra which may affect your bowel and or bladder control. It is your

decision. You are awake during the procedure so I know there is no discomfort in this procedure.

I wish you well

. Happy Holidays Take care

Be safe

Shelby