Compression Fracture of "L3"

[Kai in Seattle]

Hi, all.

Been hurting badly since mid-December; finally got an x-ray yesterday and I have an age-indeterminate compression fracture of L3, one of my lumbar bones. Meaning they don't know how long I've really had it, but the full fracture is new. May have started when my sewing stool came apart beneath me and I fell to the floor fairly hard. (Bolts had come loose.)


Explains a lot, anyway.


Soooo. at this point, not knowing what shape I'll be in over the next months, we're not making plans for camping possibly the rest of this year. We'll see. It'll have to be a whole lot better before I can manage it.


Please, have safe fun out there and I'll think of you all.


Kathleen

(Kai in Seattle)

[Glenn Baglo]

I fractured L3 years ago ( shear fracture ) and it took months of rehab for me to be able to go back to work. I know how it feels and you have my sympathy.

[Kai in Seattle]

Thank you, Glenn!

K

[rgrugg]

My wife had a vetebra fracture and it was glued back together with bone cement. A friend has had several glued back together. Nearly instant relief. Ask your doc about it. I suppose there could be something that would preclude doing that but it could be worth asking about,

[Kai in Seattle]

Bone glue, eh? Wow! I definitely will ask. Thanks.

K

[Mike Magee]

Best wishes for a complete recovery!

[Kai in Seattle]

Thanks, Mike!

K

[alan H]

Had 2 surgeries on L3 & L4.... within 6 mos of each other..... follow your Dr orders carefully ( something I neglected to do)

[Steve Hammel]

Best wishes Kai. Hope you're well by SAFE.

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by Kai in Seattle

Bone glue, eh? Wow! I definitely will ask. Thanks.

K

A friend of mine is a surgical nurse and she was just mentioning this awhile ago. First I had heard of it too. Yeah, ask your doctor. Don't want to miss out on too much camping, do you?


Bummer about your accident and hope it heals properly for ya. I take it that it would hurt even if you're the passenger and someone else does all the driving and setting up. Rats!

[Maryellen]

Hope you get good medical care and relief for your pain soon!

[Paul O.]

Sorry to read this, hope you get well soon. Take good care of yourself.

[Kai in Seattle]

Thanks so much, all, for the kind and supportive words!

Following up Thursday at the clinic...will do my best to follow orders!

It's not so much the riding, although that can be painful, but the getting in and out of the Dodge Caravan and worse, Peanut. Also sleeping.

I'm sad to be in such shape; usually no ball of fire, but this is ridiculous! Don't know if we can do SAFE this year; if anyone else would like to organize it, I'd say feel free.

Thanks again.

Kathleen

[margeleept]

I agree with the other posts about the bone cement. It's a surgical procedure where they inject the cement into the vertebra. It does give instant relief. I'm a PT and I've seen many people do very well with the procedure.

[Glenn Baglo]

What is a PT?

[Kai in Seattle]

PT: physical therapist

[Glenn Baglo]

Oh yah. I had a couple PTs with different theories as to what would help. One like to pull my leg ( saying one leg was shorter than the other ). I think he was pulling my leg.
What did help was exercises to build core. Tread mill, pool exercise, weight lifting, sit ups ..

[RJnNC]

The bone cement works! My mother when in her mid 90's had this done (out-patient) and she had instant relief from her pain! I hope you'll check into it.

[CPrice]

I'm so sorry to read about your back pain. There is nothing worse than the constant throb and no way to get comfortable, especially sitting.
A few years ago, a tree limb broke off in a strong windstorm and struck me across my back. It took about 2 months but I finally got through the pain. The best position was lying with a large wedge under my bent legs.
I wish you a very speedy recovery and gets lots of "Outdoors" magazines to keep your camping fuel burning strong.

[Kai in Seattle]

Asked my PCP for a referral to a back surgeon. He thinks I might have osteoporosis--first time I've heard that mentioned. I still want the kypho-thing where they try to make the vertebrae it's normal height before cementing it.

You're all right; this really is rough.

Thanks to all for your support and ideas!


Kathleen