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Suggest Treatment For Pain Due To Fracture On Spine
Question: Height 170cm Weight 56kg
I fell down a flight of stairs 3 years ago, ER Dr said I just had muscular pain and rx analgesia. I still get pain if I move arms when walking and carrying light things, lying down flat resolves pain, analgesia and heat packs help a bit, cold packs dont help.
I had back Xray and MRI of back this year which showed I actually had compressed facture T7 and T8 . Is there anything I can do to stop the pain?
I fell down a flight of stairs 3 years ago, ER Dr said I just had muscular pain and rx analgesia. I still get pain if I move arms when walking and carrying light things, lying down flat resolves pain, analgesia and heat packs help a bit, cold packs dont help.
I had back Xray and MRI of back this year which showed I actually had compressed facture T7 and T8 . Is there anything I can do to stop the pain?
Brief Answer:
explaining the problem
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I am Dr Mittal
I have read you query
I will try to explain to you the problem you have.
The fact is that the MRI should probably have been done 3 years back. At the time, the fractures may have developed freshly. A trained neurosurgeon may have at that stage fixed the fractures quite simply, even if by open procedure.
The problem is that now the bones in 3 years would have fused and calcified. So I don't think a neurosurgeon will be able to fix the spine now. After all there are too many nerves in the area and therefore an operative procedure should be avoided as far as possible.
The nerves come out from holes between the spinal bones.In a compression fracture, the overall height of the bone reduces. Therefore the relevant pore through which the nerve comes out is compressed.
This compressed nerve causes pain, tingling and numbness.
In the situation, the best treatment would be to operate. In the absence of surgery, the other options are physiotherapy and medicines like methylcobalamin and pregabalin.
I hope it answers you.
Please feel free to ask a follow on related query
Dr Mittal
explaining the problem
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I am Dr Mittal
I have read you query
I will try to explain to you the problem you have.
The fact is that the MRI should probably have been done 3 years back. At the time, the fractures may have developed freshly. A trained neurosurgeon may have at that stage fixed the fractures quite simply, even if by open procedure.
The problem is that now the bones in 3 years would have fused and calcified. So I don't think a neurosurgeon will be able to fix the spine now. After all there are too many nerves in the area and therefore an operative procedure should be avoided as far as possible.
The nerves come out from holes between the spinal bones.In a compression fracture, the overall height of the bone reduces. Therefore the relevant pore through which the nerve comes out is compressed.
This compressed nerve causes pain, tingling and numbness.
In the situation, the best treatment would be to operate. In the absence of surgery, the other options are physiotherapy and medicines like methylcobalamin and pregabalin.
I hope it answers you.
Please feel free to ask a follow on related query
Dr Mittal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for the useful information.
The pain I get from activity occurs in my back always around the T7 and T8 site and if I do don't rest which is usually the case the pain increases and extends further in my back.
Do you think medicine like methylcobalamin and pregabalin could help my back pain?
What sort operation do you think would help and would it be better done by an orthopaedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon?
The pain I get from activity occurs in my back always around the T7 and T8 site and if I do don't rest which is usually the case the pain increases and extends further in my back.
Do you think medicine like methylcobalamin and pregabalin could help my back pain?
What sort operation do you think would help and would it be better done by an orthopaedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon?
Brief Answer:
Specific answers
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I think you will need a neurosurgeon.
They can open the pores through which the nerves pass.
However being an old case, I am not sure how successful they will be.
As for the medicines and physiotherapy,
they are standard medicines used in such cases.
The response will vary from patient to patient.
But short of surgery, I think they are the best options
Best of luck
Dr Mittal
Specific answers
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I think you will need a neurosurgeon.
They can open the pores through which the nerves pass.
However being an old case, I am not sure how successful they will be.
As for the medicines and physiotherapy,
they are standard medicines used in such cases.
The response will vary from patient to patient.
But short of surgery, I think they are the best options
Best of luck
Dr Mittal
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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