Osteoporosis Fracture - patients' advice

Patients share tips on experiences with spinal fractures

I had a sore back which kept getting worse. My doctor prescribed a physiotherapist, several times a week. My back seemed to feel worse, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis after my yearly checkup in May of 2007 and I had lost an inch in height, so she sent me to get a bone density test, and an x-ray, showed I had already had fractures that were healing and more recent ones. My doc put me on didrocal right away. I have to put my legs up on a wedged cushion everyday, as my legs feel like they are going to collapse. Hope this backache goes away soon.

From: Nora – British Columbia, Canada

Article continues below

Pain wraps around my lower back and ends up like a cramp-like sensation in my lower stomach area . The pain was sharp & intermittent. The pain got worse when I was moving or going from a sitting to standing position, or moving in bed. I had the pain for about 3 months before it was diagnosed as a fracture, the intensity got much worse. The pain came on gradually, I did nothing that I was aware of to cause the fractures. I do not avoid any activities. I have been told that I could fracture another just by sneezing so I may as well continue my normal lifestyle.

I lost 2.75 inches in height and now suffer from neck pain The pain and the fact that every Dr I had seen only did C-Scans. I finally went to a Dr in Worcester, Ma who took the x-rays that found the fractures, and loss of height and severe loss of bone density.

From: Bill Cox – Massachusetts, USA

I had a car accident this past weekend for which I suffered a compression fracture at the T11 area. I felt it the moment it happened. I didn't move until the paramedics came, I knew something was broken. I had gone airborne and the car slammed down. Luckily, it is the only injury they have found to date. However, I have been on prednisone for 4 years as well as a host of other prescriptions for an autoimmune disease called Relapsing polychondritis and Fibromyalgia. I have a clinical diagnosis of RA as well. I had surgery on my L4/L5 (what they called a clean and clip) just over four years ago. I believe the accident caused the fracture, but the prednisone has definitely weakened my bones and didn't help.

The doctor is treating me with a brace that prevents bending of the T11 area. I am also on a pain patch and Lortab for breakthrough. Because I am on so much other medications for the autoimmune diseases, I have a high tolerance to pain. It's going to be a long hard road from here on out. I have the feeling this is just the beginning. Oh, and I am only 40 years old.

From: Beth - Alabama, USA

I am 70 years old, and was diagnosed with osteoporosis about 5 years ago. Within the past 5 years, I have had 2 vertebral fractures. They were detected by dexa scans. I had no awareness of pain with either one. One was at T-6 and the other was at T-11. I believe that the second was caused by trampoline exercise, which I had been told would be beneficial because it would separate my vertebrae and relieve pressure. In the past year, I lost 6.9% of my spinal bone density while density in other areas of my body rose up to 1.9%. I took no prescribed medications, but had an excellent diet, additional supplements, and an exercise program for my lower body. I have read that there are new exercises require no unusual equipment and are very effective in uncreasing bone density. I would love to learn more about this new exercise program.

From: Theresa Lynch – Virginia, USA

I had my 3rd fracture in June at T12. I have had 2 previous ones in recent years in the lumbar area. This last one was the most painful. Nothing I know of caused it. I woke up one morning and couldn't bend nor lift anything. After 2 months of pain I had a cement injection. I still have pain. I have tried several medications but none of them agree with me. Prayers to all.

From: Joyce – Virginia, USA

I suffered a compression fracture of T11 in a boating accident (I was bounced up and down in my chair). The pain was mainly muscle contraction and spasms. It was diagnosed at the ER that day and I was sent to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL, where I was a patient. I had kyphoplasty a month later.

The pain was severe and came on when I moved to sit from a lying position. After kyphoplasty and physical therapy I have resumed my normal activity. I was 69 years old at the time.

From: Marcy – Florida, USA

My grandmother had a spine fracture but we didn't know it. She said after she tried to open a window she got sudden upper back pain, but her regular doctor and her chiropractor - who took an x-ray - thought it was probably a pulled muscle. She took a lot of pain medication but still was in agony. Finally she went to a surgeon who took an MRI and saw the spine fracture. I wish we had insisted on an MRI from the beginning so that she could've gotten treatment earlier on, so my advice is if pain continues make sure you're getting the right tests from the right specialist, - a spine fracture from osteoporosis can be hard to see on a regular x-ray.

From: Sheile

I had shoved a heavy arm chair but did not associate it with a subsequent dull back pain beneath my right shoulder blade that appeared several days later. The occasional pain felt more like that from a viral chest cold infection that I had once experienced. I would particularly feel the pain when taking a deep breath or shrugging my shoulders, but noticed no other symptoms. A first doctor treated me for infection, but three months after the event and continual recurrence of the back pain, a second doctor ordered X-rays and saw a hairline fracture of T7. Review the x- rays indicated a compressed T7 thoracic vertebra and he suspected an osteoporosis condition. There was no significant effusion (fluid) or intrusion (infection). I had also lost about an inch in height compared to a measurement taken several years previously. A subsequent DEXA scan indicated osteoporosis in the leg/hip femoral neck and moderate lumbar osteopenia, but no thoracic osteoporosis as such. I started taking weekly Fosamax as prescribed. After several more months the pain subsided and has not recurred. I do moderate exercise.

From: White Male Age 62 – California, USA

Communicate with others about spinal fractures and osteoporosis

* Note: This page expresses the experiences and opinions of patients, not doctors. The Back-to-Back forum is provided because we think people often have very practical advice and insights to share that can benefit other patients who have similar back problems. This section has not been peer reviewed by our Medical Advisory Board, and is provided for your informational purposes only.

If you have questions about your specific condition or treatment approach, please go through this site to read peer-reviewed health information about spinal conditions, diagnosis and treatment options. The quickest way to locate information on the site is to use the “keyword search” located in the upper left hand corner of each page. Also, if you want to talk online with others who may be in a similar situation, please go to the Message Board.