Question: Hi, my father is 80yr old. Oct.23 xray showed a L1 fractured vertebrae, unknown if recent or old trauma. He is in a LOT of pain. Was started on 1mg Dilaudid 4-6 hours, last week changed to 2mg 3-4 hours. He cannot sit at all and finds walking very difficult beyond a very few moments. Once he goes back to bed it hurts a great deal but after a few minutes it eases and becomes virtually painless. About 2 weeks after the xrays he had a few days where it was remarkably better so he decided to push it, getting on all fours to do something, and also lifting the lid off the toilet tank to do a minor repair. That was about 1st-2nd week November. Since then it seems to be getting worse on the pain level and lack of mobility. He had constipation but milk of magnesia seems to be helping that very well. He had nausea and lack of appetite but Gravol Non Drowsy in the Gingerroot formula seems to be helping that greatly. The problem is his ability to be on his feet long enough to get something to eat. He does live alone and manages with a walker. He has family stopping in once a day to prepare meals to be reheated, getting groceries and anything else he needs but he is getting worn down by the pain and confused that it is actually hurting more as time goes by. He can easily urinate into a container when lying down but everything seems to 'freeze up' when sitting on the toilet or standing. Is this just the body tensing because of the pain? Would this kind of fracture actually go through a period of hurting MORE as it heals? It seems lately that this is the case :( Can I safely tell him to take more of the 2mg Dilaudid than 2mg every 3-4 hours? He is spending a great deal of time in bed due to pain, I am guessing this can't be good? Are just short walks up and down the hallway of benefit? I go to his clinic to talk to his doc but its always a 1-2hr wait during work hours and is getting very difficult for me to get away. I am feeling desperate to do something for him, not sure if a hospital will take him or just fill him with pain killers and send him home again. My most recent concern was to get him eating well and I've done that but the pain is now interfering with him the food even though he wants to eat again. I believe he is/was on medication for cholesterol and HBP but I don't think either were greatly serious. Also had to watch sugar intake but was not diabetic. I'm desperate to help him, not sure if I should take him somewhere or what. He wants to stay home, he understands it is a long healing process, but I fear depression because of the pain, it is wearing him down.