To all those in the broken back club!

benson21

benson21

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I am now 11 months after my operation to put rods and pins in my back after breaking T11-T12.
What I really want to know is, how did you cope with the pain?
I am still taking 150mg of diclafenic, fentanyl patch which is morphine, and another anti inflamatory. And I guess I just cant see the end of it.







(Please dont say nice words, or I will cry!!!!):o:o
 
When I fractured C6 and C7 I was on the 150mg of diclofenac but had the slow release one that you just take once a day, I found this worked much better than the 50 mg that you take three times a day.

I also tried the fentanyl patches but they didn't work for me and ended up with a Buprenorphine patch which is 5mcg but you can use 2 at a time and they last a week.

You may find you have a pain management nurse based at your hospital who your GP can refer you to.

Are you having any physio?
 
Not been in your situation but just wanted to say that i hope you make a good recovery, it all sounds horrendous!
Was it a riding accident?
 
No for some reason they have not started any physio yet, although I am having accupuncture.
I am actually coming off of the bupren patches tonight and going onto fentenyl because of the side effects I have had from the bupren.
I have also tried a tens machine and hated it, it made it 10 times worse!
 
Ok so how are you with Codeine?

Just remember that all of the morphine type pain killers are highly addictive and 'sometime' it becomes more of the fact that you 'think' you must have them rather than you actually need them.

I would ask to be referred for physio because your muscles are probably totally screwed from supporting such an injury.

I know my neck and shoulder muscles are the main thing that give me jip when my neck plays up, not the actually site where I fractured it.

Your other oral options are things like tramadol, meptid, cocodamol 30/500, also something that will stop any muscle spasm might help .
 
I've broken C7 in my neck (8 weeks in) - very luckily it's fairly stable so I've had to wear a neck brace rather than have an operation. However, I found co-codamol 30/500 and ibuprofen 400mg together to be the best combo. My greatest pain was all in my back rather than in my neck and since starting physio last week has massively improved. As the others suggested, I would be pushing to see a physio as quickly as possible (obviously once you've been given all clear by your consultant first!). I've found that wearing the brace has put my back right out of shape, hence all the pain. Really wish you a speedy recovery - speak to your consultant, they should definitely be able to help you!
 
I start the day with diclofenac and paracetamol and then later either take same again or paracetamol and/or ibubrofen or sometimes nothing else, depending on how my day is going.

I can't remember which ones they are but I only take the codeine based ones at night if I am in alot of pain as they make me sleepy.

Just before Christmas I had some facet joint injections (local anaesthetic and steroids) done under a general anaesthetic and that has helped quite alot with the pain but the effect wears off and my consultant seems to think that I will need to have more as the pain increases again.

(I have fused and rodded lumbar vertebrae)

I am very surprised you haven't been referred for physio or to a pain management clinic, although I know they tend to have a long waiting list.
 
I'm off the pain meds now and have been for a while, but find that when things do get iffy (I've not been in that level of pain), heat helps more than anything.

Physio and Equipilates have been god sends! I use a combination of them both to manage when the muscles are having an iffy day/time.
 
jodie3 said:
Oh Mrs M you are so right - my electric blanket at night is a godsend and stays on most nights and definitely helps ease the back.
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I am the Heat Queen! I now have:

enough hot water bottles to start a shop;

a bodywarmer from Blazewear - it has heat pads in the back (full length) and is bliss :D

a lava heat pad thingy that heats up in the microwave (Christmas pressie from D1 :D);

and,

heated seats on in the car no matter what the weather outside :D

There have been times when pain killers didn't touch the ouch, but the heat did :D

I was only on the Codeine for just over a week, I was either as high as a kite or as miserable as sin on it :(
 
Yes, I certainly find a really hot bath helps! Doctors keep saying its early days, as did the pain clinic, but for Gods sake its 11 months!!!
I am seeing the physio on wednesday as its her thats giving me accupuncture and will defo ask about some physio.
Would just like to see a light at the end of this long dark tunnell. (I would make do with just a little speck of light!!)
 
benson21 said:
Yes, I certainly find a really hot bath helps! Doctors keep saying its early days, as did the pain clinic, but for Gods sake its 11 months!!!
I am seeing the physio on wednesday as its her thats giving me accupuncture and will defo ask about some physio.
Would just like to see a light at the end of this long dark tunnell. (I would make do with just a little speck of light!!)
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How can it be 'early days'? Six weeks for bone to heal. Two years for it to be as strong as it was.

When do you next see the Consultant? Definitely ask when you can start physio (and pilates).
 
Also, obviously don't know the full extent of your injuries but if you had nerve damage as well that takes a long time to heal.

I think you have to take each day as it comes and not beat yourself up if you feel you have a 'backwards' day. You had an appalling, traumatic accident and you have done so well to progress as far as you have.
 
Yeah my nerves were damaged down one side when they done the op. So maybe thats what is causing some of the pain. Docs have told me the feeling in my skin should come back within time, and to just be patient. Something I am defo not good at!
 
Sorry to hear you are still needing that amount of painkillers nearly a year on. I'm nearly 2 years on from exactly the same break/op and I find that I very rarely need any pain relief - that may give you some hope - I do still have some bad days but a good dollop of ibuprofen helps!
I would absolutely agree with everyone else about heat. My top treat is a hot stone massage - in the early days I went once a month and it really kept me ticking over (and I was back riding too so not exactly taking life easy) and now I go when I feel a bit ropey. - My physio recommended it in conjunction with the exercises - sad to say he knew it would help but wasn't available on the NHS!!. Just make sure you find a sympathetic therapist - my lovely lady knows just how much pressure I can take - you may find it is the screw heads rubbing on your back muscles which cause the most pain. disgusting to think about but my surgeon made the connection between sharp points of pain and when you look at my x-rays it all makes sense!
He also said that around 1/3 of people longer term have no pain, 1/3 have some and 1/3 have moderate pain. At your stage I had convinced myself I might be in the worst category but I kept on improving to where I am now.
Last thing is a positive mental outlook - I really do understand that can be hard to find and dark days do take over at times. It's OK to feel that way but I hope that you can find what works for you and you continue to improve.
 
Broke my neck c6 & c7 in 1994-am still on pain killers to this day. Refused the operation to have metal rods supporting my spine as this climate is far too cold and when the surgeon said I would not be able to ride again decided to not go for the operation. The mri also supported my decision due to the compression on the spinal cord.

Am surprised that the physio department hasn't been in contact but with the nhs over stretched then you could have been lost in the system! I had hydrotherapy for around 3 years as no one could touch my neck.

My weight did sadly balloon and that made the pain worse. So I had to work very very hard to keep the weight off all the time-just being half a stone over weight absolutely kills me.

Like Mrs M HEAT!!!!! I have more hot bots than boots the chemist. Heat Gels everywhere. Heated electric blanket which is on ALL year round even in summer. Heating on in the car and heated seats. And clothes- omg I live in my overtrousers again all year round and body warmers even in the wonderful summer last year! Have been know to wear a jumper in dubai as well. Friends just say I am broken!

You have to find the combination of pain killers that will work for you - no pain killer taken orally will be 100% unless you start the morphine/diazapan/ketamine which are not recommended for long term use.
 
Sorry to hear about your injuries. I have not broken my back but I am 5months from being a qualified physio! I would certainly ask you physio about maybe doing some gentle massage and seeing if that makes any difference. I have to say physios tend to be quite hands off when a spinal injurie has happened although it has now been 11months so things should certainly be healing. The acupuncture you are having is probably the best thing for you at the moment and alot of the pain will be due to the nerve damage and nerves regenerating. Unfortunately nerves regenerate very very slowly and you will have this pain for a long time. Obviously I am assuming the operation was totally successful so the bones should all be inline now and maybe the physio can give you some gentle exercises to do. Heat is a good thing as the rods will get cold through winter, my friends mum broke her back about 10years ago and in winter she is still on pain killers for it. In summer it is much better,
Take it one day at a time. Speak to your consultant, they could be the reason your not having much physio as we have to go with what they request. Good luck unfortunately everyone is different and the pain may not go for a long time
 
benson21 said:
I see the consultant at the end of Feb so will be asking lots of questions!
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Please please do start writing down a list of questions for the consultant, in a book, with a largish gap underneath for you to write quick notes on his answers down, or take a friend as scribe.
Otherwise you'll come out of the appointment thinking 'damn, meant to ask..' and the information overload will mean you forgot what he said too.
 
I started physio as soon as I was mobile on crutches. He used a combination of techniques and once I was off the crutches started me on pilates. He also told me to lose weight, which may not be applicable to you, I was a size 18 at the time of my accident as, in his words, it was like a mini trying to tow a fully loaded caravan, I joined Slimming World as you can lose weight following it without exercising to any great degree.

I try and steer clear of pain killers, I have codine, diazapan and tamazapan in the house for when it gets bad (normally because I've not done my exercises, put on a bit of weight, fallen off or generally overdone it) but as these types of painkillers are highly addictive and can cause more problems than they solve I try not to.

Ditto about heat pads, hot water bottles etc and definitely write a list of questions for your specialist.
 
Can't speak about bones but nerve damage I've had (in my neck) and while I know it can be painful and does take a long time, the good news is, it does heal in the end :) I'd ask your consultant about this, but would you consider doing something like Alexander technique when you're well on the road to recovery so that you are more aware of posture*, just to make sure that you're giving your nerves a full chance to knit back together?


* you might have great posture already, but mine was awful and made everything worse, so I just thought I'd chuck that in the ring in case it helps.
 
I broke my back in seven places in a riding accident in 2002 and I won't lie to you it is still agony at times now. I am never out of pain without pain killers and I often have to sleep sitting upright as lying down flat is for some reason excruciating for me. I find I'm actually at my most comfortable in the saddle ironically as the swaying motion loosens the cramped muscles. If I bend down to put shoes on or to run a bath, that sort of thing, I can't get up again without something to grab to use my arms to lift myself. I do find that keeping my weight right down helps, as soon as I get over a certain weight I am practically immoblie, I can't get in and out of my car, on a horse or out of bed! I agree with others who've said that heat pads are a total godsend. I can't take codeine as it makes me very sick but I do have a constant supply of ibuprofen and take 4 at a time instead of the usual 2 (doc recommended this as being cheaper than getting prescription for the higher dose ones from him). I basically do all I can to keep mobile by keeping the weight off, doing yoga, swimming etc... I know that I won't improve any more than I am now but it's manageable to the point where I can work full time, still keep my horse on DIY and ride (although I will never be able to jump, gallop etc as I don't have the core strength to stay on and fold appropriately). Best of luck with it all and hope that you can continue to imporve with time.
 
It is so reassuring to read through this thread. I shattered my L4 in May and although I felt I was doing well at first the pain is now really getting me down.I'd expected to be back to normal by now and I'm nowhere near it. I suppose my situation was complicated by having to have a hysterectomy eight weeks ago (due to problems shown up by the CT I had on my back :( )

Whilst in hospital I had oromorph but it was useless, didn't do anythiing for the pain. Now I'm taking a mix of tramadol and paracetamol. The tramadol does help but it also makes me feel 'not with it'. Heat definitely helps but that has become difficult because thanks to the hysterectomy I'm besieged by hot flushes and spend most of my time next to a fan. Have to have a fan on at night, even when the temperature was minus 15 and the ice was on the inside of the windows. OH has moved to another room.

I have a few sessions of physio but think I may ask for more. If I fall over I can't get back up without the help of something to lean on, so when I went flying in the paddock I had to crawl through the snow to reach the nearest fence. I'm so fed up with feeling so helpless.

When I look back I have, of course, improved immensely. At first I couldn't make it to the toilet unaided. Now I can bath and shower on my own.

But the gnawing, constant, horrible pain is really getting to me. If I overdo things one little bit I end up in the sort of pain you just can't escape from. I have 12 hairy dogs that need daily grooming and the effort of that, especially leaning over the grooming table, is enough to make me feel physically sick.

It will get better. Repeat 100 x.
 
Jendie, like you say its been good to see these replies. You have described the pain I have to a tee, and also where I am in my head. I get angry with myself when I find something I just cant do, but then think of what I can do now. The excitement was overwhelming the first time I got in the bath after the accident! 7 weeks of my husband washing me was not good!
What things are they doing with your physio? I had hydrotherapy for my back, but that aggrivated my knee which they scanned and found I had broken the head off my shin bone, so had to stop it! So I now have accupuncture which is helping.
This is probably gonna sound a bit weird but its so nice to hear people have got through this, but also that there are others that are in the same place as me, and I am not alone.
 
So, quick update. OH has been lovely and bought us a decent electric blanket, so went to bed all warm and toasty last night, and woke with not too much stiffness. Seen physio today who is now happy for me to start with some gentle strtches and excercises, I asked why this hadnt been happening before now and she said I was in far too much pain to start pushing it before now. Got an appt with consultant on Friday where I will ask again if I can go swimming, not necessarily to swim but to do some excercises in the pool.
Thanks to you all with all your good suggestions, feel in a much better place now, xx
 
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