night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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I either have the worst luck or my multiple spinal issues are causing me to be vertebral fracture-prone!?!
Saturday evening I was backing up at a hotel convention to take a photo of some friends and didn't know there was a small set of steps behind me (2 steps) I fell. I landed partially reclined and mostly on my butt. I have substantial bruising of my feet (from the sandals I was wearing twisting as I attempted to regain my balance on the way down) and exacerbated pain of my usually-painful mid-back. The scary thing was the severe pain in my lower back that has not been a problem before my fall. In addition, I now have a large numb patch from the side of my right hip that extends to most of my upper thigh. No pain or tingling--just dead numb. I tried making it a few days to see if it was just muscle strain causing the pain until the area above my lower spine became swollen and hot and the pain increased so much I could hardly move. I went to the ER this evening and there is another fracture now at L3--which they say has caused the thigh numbness. Again, it is a compression fracture and they have opted to utilize the "wait and see" treatment method. I don't want surgery anyway unless there is absolutely nothing else that will help or the odds are very good the problem will be fixed.
This is my second vertebral fracture since early February. The thoracic fracture was not precipitated by an injury--it was the result of a previous unstable healed fracture to the same vertebrae. I'm starting to wonder if degenerative disk disease with multiple bulging disks and minor scoliosis would be sufficient reason for multiple, recurrent fractures of the spine? Osteoporosis is NOT a factor (my blood calcium levels are actually too high.) Nor can I think of any other medical issue that would cause easy fracture.
Fortunately, the doctors were compassionate and prescribed accordingly, but I am mystified as to whether or not DDD would contribute to this issue? Any thoughts on this?
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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tortie2
Journeyman
Reged: 04/20/04
Posts: 59
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night shade -
So sorry to hear of your vertebral fracture! How painful! However, I wondered if you have had a bone density test? The level of calcium in your blood is not an indication of your bone status re: density. I had multiple fractures including foot, elbow, multiple ribs, and pelvis and I didn't think I could possibly have osteoporosis because I thought I was too young and active at that time - but, after the multiple pelvic fractures from falling off my horse, they finally ordered a bone density study and to my great surprise I had severe osteoporosis! I was shocked at the time but it certainly explained why I seemed so susceptible to fractures.
This may well not be the explanation for your problems, but, if you haven't already done so, it might be worthwhile getting the bone density study. Regards -
tortie2
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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UPDATE-
I was contacted by the radiologist who had the final look at my xrays from the ER. He said he felt there was a great possibility that the disk at L3-L4 was ruptured as there was "substantial disk space narrowing" and evidently must be a bulge with that disk as indicated by the angle the two vertebra are stiiting at (making a vee rather than a parallel to each other) and I must now get another MRI.
As to the fracture, he said it was not serious, just a slight "crack" or hairline fracture. A relief for sure, but it would explain the severe pain in my mid-lower back. OUCH!
Can anything be done for a ruptured disk? Or do they just let it go and continue treating the pain?
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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LumbarSpasm
Silent Chaos
Reged: 05/07/02
Posts: 1538
Loc: USA
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The ruptured disk can be removed and the level fused.
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LumbarSpasm
Or just a pain in the butt?!
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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That's good news indeed! I couldn't imagine just "having to live with" this additional pain--especially in my lower back where I have never had pain previously.
Thanks for you help!
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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daisyhess
Journeyman
Reged: 04/16/04
Posts: 61
Loc: Far, far, far Northern Minneso...
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Night-Shade, What incredibly bad luck! I am so sorry to hear it. I highly suggest the MRI. I know they are expensive and not fun but they are absolutely necessary. so many spinal injuries are mis-diagnosed or not diagnosed all together because the soft tissue is not imaged well enough by x-ray. An MRI is the only way to fly. Incidentally x-ray images of the spine have more relics (what are referred to as relics), shadows, false positives (with regard to fracture) and false negatives than anywhere else in the body. Just a strange little bit of trivia! Anyway, I would never trust an x-ray image as the final word with regard to the spine. It is a useful tool perhaps in determining whether further imaging is required but I have my doubts there too. The poster recommending a bone density test is right on the mark. I concur. Good luck to you. I formed my opinion of all this as a NP. I saw it over and over again, misdiagnosis that is. I have to admit that I have done it myself. The worst case I ever saw was a doctor informing a woman that she had a fractured tibia. The patient was ambulatory. As it turned out it was a piece of LINT on the film and when blown off by a nurse the fracture disappeared! What a moron! But it can and does happen, even things that silly. I wish you the best, truly.
Peace, Daisy
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