[eskielover]

Grrrr, my 2 horse ride of the year this year, & the fall ended up causing a compression fracture in my spine. I kept resting after the fall, & figured that 2 weeks, it should feel better than it was feeling.

I went to a chiropractor to see if he could do something to make it feel better, thinking I knocked something out of place....no such luck. He wouldn't touch me without x-rays, which I was really impressed with him. x-rays showed up a compession fracture, but couldn't tell when it happened without an MRI. But knowing exactly where it hurts right after the fall & my pain specialist pressed exactly where it hurts which is exactly where the x-ray says the fracture is.

Have an appointment with an ortho next week to talk to about any treatment if it's worthwhile. They do an injection of a kind of cement to stabilize the fracture.

My back feels like a huge pressure no pain because of the pain medication I'm on for the migraines. That pressure feels uncomfortable laying or sitting & also walking.....can't really find a comfortable position which really stinks.

Without treatment....no riding for 4-6 weeks which messed up my endurance clinic I was planning on going to in May. Going to make doing the decorations for the Rolex eventing show this month a bit difficult, but will try to do the light weight stuff.

At least it's not a fractured hip like I dealt with quite a few years ago after a fall off my horse.

Heading for bed & trying to get comfortable for a few hours.

Wondering if anyone has had a similar compression fracture & gone through the injection?

[Leed]

I'm so sorry you had to endure such an injury!! That must have been very painful !!

I have LOTS of spinal problems, and I've had lots of injections but not the "cement." I have had the epidural steroid injections, and they never worked ~ they don't work for alot of people. I have heard about this "cement" and I certainly hope this works for YOU. The little I have heard about it, it's all been positive so I would think that it would work for you too !!

I think after a broken hip and compression fracture, I'd think twice before riding anymore!! After 26 years of spinal problems, I can tell you that the chronic pain is something you do NOT want to live with!! Best of luck and let us know if this works, ok? Hugs, Lee

[ECHOES]

I have not, but I am so sorry that your fall is more serious than originally thought.
I'm glad you aren't in pain, but even so the pressure feeling and not being able to find a comfortable position when something is going on with the back I am familiar with.

I just wanted to send some your way and that I hope the orthop doc has something to offer so you can heal up fast.
Keep us posted!

[lynn P.]

(((eskielover))) - so sorry to hear you have this fracture in your spine. As we get older the falls do more damage unfortunately. I used to have back pain for several years but mine was muscle spams. I don't know much about this kind of injury or treatment. Have you ever had a bone density scan - I think its women over 50 who should start to be screened. I hope they can do something to relieve you.

[eskielover]

(((((Leed))))),

Sorry you had to have the steroid injections & they weren't successful. They tried that for my migraines with absolutely NO help. I am on a heavy dose of pain medication for the chronic migraines (that don't go away) which is probably why I am not feeling the level of back pain I would feel otherwise.

(((((echoes))))),

Thank you for the hugs...will definitely keep you posted after Wednesday appointment with ortho..... 8am in the morning...I don't do mornings, so will probably stay up all night so I can get going in the morning......grrrr. NO other options or I would have taken anything other than 8am.

(((((LynnP))))),

I have had a bone density scan & came out good which was surprising after dealing with anorexia issues on & off since 1995....have really had strong bones considering all the falls I have had from horses....the number of anything broken have been very minimal. I did land very hard this time, so it makes sense that there would be a fracture.

Not sure I will deal with the procedure only because of the co-pay expense with medicare....not sure it would cover it in the first place. Shoot, medicare doesn't deal with dental & my dental situation is more needing care than this.

The fracture should heal in 4-6 weeks but not sure what residual issues it will leave. Know that in the cold winter & hot humidity in the summer lets me know which hip I fractured. Not sure what the 20-30% loss of height will do in the future with my back either (other than to make me shorter than I am already....lol)

Never realized how wonderful the ice pack feels.

[shezbut]

Yikes eskie!!

I vaguelly recall having steroid injection for my L5/L6 a few years ago. It wasn't a fracture though...it was...the spinal cord being pierced by those bones. I think that's what it's called.

Anyway ~ the injection didn't really do anything to ease my pain. But, I think that I'm pretty medication-resistant. Pain meds have rarely ever helped me, despite the injuries. Physical therapy was the biggest help for me. And time. Both were needed for the swelling in my spinal cord to ease.

Don't know if that helps you. Gentle hugs to you ~ hope that you find some relief soon!

[googley]

(((((((((Eskie))))))))))))

I'm so sorry this happened. I hope that you are able to find a comfortable position to sit/lay in soon.

[Beholden]

Sorry about your fall and fracture ((())).

I've not heard of anyone having the injection you talked of, but good luck with it. I sure know what you say when you talk about how good ice can feel. I have a detecated bag of frozen peas that have become my best friend when my back pain flares up.

I know how much you love riding, so I am sending you bunches of "fast healing bones".

[Umbral_Seraph]

Ouch!

[eskielover]

I'm feeling very frustrated at this time. I went to see an orthopedic spine specialist on Wednesday. He looked at the previous x-rays & then took x-rays of his own (chalking up the $$$$ co-pays). What was previous 20-30% is now 40% compression. Had no idea that I shouldn't be lifting anything over 5 pounds......I wasn't lifting heavy things but know that everything is over 5 pounds......so will be doing NOTHING for the next 2 weeks in hopes that it will start to heal. It's been almost 4 weeks since I fell, so it should have started to heal.

I felt like all I have been doing is lying in bed......every time I try to do something like yard work, it's been about 5 minutes & I CAN'T do any more......so now, I will do NOTHING. Need to let my body heal without needing the procedure. He explained it as they put in needles from either side & blow up balloon like things & then inject the cement. He said that 80% have immediate improvement....10% find no change & 10% it doesn't work for......but I don't have the money for the co-pay for that kind of procedure anyway......so it doesn't matter if it works or not.......

Just feeling rather discouraged.....with all the extra co-pays for Dr's & then he wants a bone density done to rule out osteoporosis. Had to stop adding to my expenses with the DBT group. My psychology group is great in that they waived my medicare deductible for the charges that come through to them......which last year was the whole deductible....this year my pain specialist got their charge through & I really don't have the money to pay it especially when I keep adding to my monthly bill with the weekly DBT group......got to balance MY
BUDGET even if the government doesn't.

just feeling a bit down right now....not being able to ride for 3 months is defintely a killer also.....but I was really good.....a friend of ours has a friend who has a farm not far from us & is building an arena & has some beautiful horses along with rescue horses......a group of us went there yesterday & had lunch & everyone enjoyed riding one of her horses....but I restrained myself from getting on him......ugh, it was sooooo hard.......but I just stood there & watched with one other lady who has back problems also.

This too shall pass & I will be back to normal. Darn, I didn't get the first mowing on my grass before not being able to ride my lawn tractor either.....it's growing & growing with all the rain & spring sun between the rain storms.........my friend said she would come & mow at least the front part of my yard so it doesn't get overgrown. I filled my gas can so I have gas for mowing......ah well. It's so hard having a huge place & not being able to do what needs to be done......but I will be back to normal in a few months....this is NOT A PERMANENT condition.

[lynn P.]

(((eskie)) - sorry you're in such pain and feeling discouraged. So are you going to have this procedure or do they have to wait a bit for the inflamation? Do you have money for this? Good to hear at the end of your post, you're trying to sound optimistic. Nagging pain is horrible.

[(JD)]

So sorry I didn't double check up on you about things...like not lifting! Okay so here goes... nothing over 3 lbs!... no bending, twisting, turning, dancing, riding, sleeping on your side, keep your jaw tucked under, shoulders down, pelvic tilt, heel to toe walking in sensible shoes... hmmm seems I missed something.

I do hope you can get back to riding. But here's the bad news ... while it may "heal" in 3 months, it's takes a year of recovery for most. Try not to think of all you can't be doing this next year...and thank God you can still walk and talk hon!

I lost the ability to do most everything I "did" in life... and while at times I become melancholy about it all... I thank God that I did all I did while I could.

You might need to change the kind of saddle you use, or other adjustments once you do ride again. Maybe from all your rest time God will give you an idea on how to help others who are this way permanently...or such...

I hope you are managing your pain and inflammation well. Oh...just blogged about the herbs and spices I use for those and other things... check it out (now that you have time.)) Be well.

[sabby]

((((((((((((( eskie )))))))))))))

Sorry to hear of your compression fracture. Boy they really do stink!!

Sending you healing thoughts and prayers.