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JaneLeslie
USA
88 Posts |
 Posted - 02/07/2007 : 11:41:45
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Hi TMS folks,
I have not posted in a while but I am feeling pretty well. I am on a small amount of an antidepressant. My pain is really fine and I felt I needed to take a break from worrying about TMS for a while and "let the project go" for now, as Dr. Siegel might say.
I am writing now about a family member who is in horrible pain and in the hospital. Dr. says it is a cracked vertebrae in lower back. Now this relative is 77 years old. My guess is that crack has been their for ages.
Would a cracked vertebrae cause intractable pain or any pain? This poor old man is under terrible stress and is very depressed about the loss of his wife. Thank God they are not recommending surgery. He has a hx. of failed back surgeries and a colostomy bag. Drinks to self-medicate.
I have always suspected fibro/TMS but I don't know about the cracked vertebrae thing. Maybe that could truly be painful? Or is this just TMS again???
Anyone ever been diagnosed with this? Did it really cause pain???
Thanks, as usual, for your help!
Jane |
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drziggles
USA
292 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 14:33:08
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| Hard to say. If the fracture is acute, that can cause severe persistent pain. Doesn't mean it can't be TMS, but an acute compression fracture should be excluded. This is sometimes treated with a procedure called vertebroplasty, which can be effective (though some studies have shown a very high placebo effect, interestingly...). |
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Stryder
686 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 17:26:58
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Your family member could have pain from both an acute injury and TMS at the same time. At 77 years old, the spine is indeed undergoing degenerative changes, but I cannot say if that would be the cause of his pain.
"My guess is that crack has been there for ages." - Quite probably so, or not. I don't think it matters much if the defect is old or new. Since there is no surgery in the RX, best to just try to forget about the DX.
If the docs says he is in no danger, then going down the TMS path is your best bet.
Certainly, as you wrote, "This poor old man is under terrible stress and is very depressed about the loss of his wife.", would contribute greatly to TMS pain and anguish, never mind the stress and worry of the vertebrae issue.
Take care, -Stryder |
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JaneLeslie
USA
88 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 19:17:13
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Thanks Stryder and Dr. Z.,
Dr. Z.: what he was told by his doctor was that it was a fracture secondary to age (or caused by his age.) No surgery was deemed necessary. He was told it would heal on it's own. That does not SOUND like what you were talking about (acute compression fracture.) I will double check (if that is possible.)
He is improving a little now. Is on pain meds and getting PT. It sounds like it is possible that this could be another TMS manifestation from what you are saying. I would never tell him this though as he is very pleased in a funny way to hang his hat on that fracture.
I just wanted to know for my own sake and so I could be of help, but it may not be possible to know.
Thanks so much.
Jane
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cracked vertebrae in lower back
