I too have the same problem I am 68 years old had 5 spinal fractures in January 2025 lost 2 inches from my hight I am 4.11 now my stomach sticks out very noticeably I had to change my style of clothing from small waisted tight fitting clothing to baggy tops and dress to hide my stomach, I got into bad depression nothing fitted me nice everyone noticed but I am learning the new me and buying cloths again but have to alter the length luckily I can do the alterations myself. I am feeling much better about myself and learning to accept the new me. With regards to my stomach I am always in discomfort I get the feelings to open my bowels but nothing happens specially when I need to go out it worries me I have to make sure to he near toilets. Most evenings my stomach feels so tight are you ladies experiencing this problem.
Thank for your reply. I am not taking any painkiller its the compression where all my organs are squashed thats what causing the feeling of wanting to go but nothing happens due to organs being squashed.
I have found a teaspoon of chia seeds in my cereal every morning ensures regular emptying of the gut. This makes my mornings much more bearable and i look better. Of course as more food goes in throughout day it swells again, but for me its definately better if i watch the type of foods closely. Its not easy. Im not happy with the new style i have but i too am buying new clothes to try and feel better about myself. Ive gone from 5 8" to 5 4" and its not a look i enjoy.its improving gradually.
Thank you for your recommendations I will definitely get some asap Its reassuring that the way I am feeling is normal and need to manage my intake and manage the body shape which I am learning to accept, I am building new style of wardrobe now, even changing my shoes where I used to love high heels stiletto now I am going for kitten heels and low platform, its the new me. Once again thank you.
I can relate to all you ladies about a bulging stomach but to be honest that doesn’t bother me it’s the squashed up organs and the discomfort it brings which I find hard to cope with .
Thank you Shilly for sharing your experiences, I feel a lot of discomfort with my organs being squished its very hard to cope with. I also have very weak muscles between my spin where I had the feactures, I am doing all the exercises regularly but it doesn’t seem to improve, is there anyone going through this can share i welcome any comments.
I’m finding the squash really hard to cope with too. I seem to be getting an even more prominent belly. The shape I will just have to live with, but the discomfort is bringing me down . I seem to be in more lower back pain again. I’ve booked a private physio assessment for Monday to get an opinion and hopefully some advice.
Hi Beebop, thank you for your response I know how you feel the discomfort is hard to deal with I also have accepted my body change and changed the style that suits my body. The lower back pain us always there, I have rheumatology appointment in two weeks will discuss this with them. Could you please keep me updated if the physio work for you. Thank you once again for your response.
I to had the constipation problem, I’ve solved it by eating ten prunes a day with some Greek yoghurt. Not sure if it’s true but I’ve read that eating prunes daily helps with bone density, if true then it’s a double hit. Had anyone experienced vertabrae augmentation? I’m desperate to hear some success stories.
Sad to say the physio hasn’t helped overall. I was very motivated but if anything , the same level of discomfort persists. I tried to stop some meds( amytryptyline ), it seemed to be no worse off the med…then suddenly after 2 weeks I’m back to square one. It’s very disappointing. I can walk, but half hour on my feet and I’m done for rest of day. It’s never improved in last 2 years. I will continue with the strength exercises suggested, but I’m not hopeful. On month 8 of teriparatide, hoping it’s working magic.
Hi Beebop for my belly discomfort I am drinking peppermint tea it seems to help worth giving it a go. Did you get any side effects from the teriparatide I am waiting for the appointment on how to inject myself.
I also take peppermint tea. Doing the injections has been very straightforward and no side effects that I can say.i still get back discomfort though. It never leaves. But certainly.no new acute pain since on Injections
I’m getting episodes of acid reflux which I’ve never had before which I think is due to the other organs pushing against my stomach. I’ll try the peppermint tea and see if that helps. The GP has given me a laxative which I take once a day as I’m on opioids* and it means I can go to the loo without putting any force on my back. I’ve recently started eating dried figs as my go to dried fruit as I read they were good for calcium, but I think they are also helping with the constipation.
*GP keeps upping the pain relief, but none of it really seems to work very well, certainly not enough to walk or stand for more than a few minutes, and currently just sitting is uncomfortable too.
Feel for you I also have acid reflux had endoscopy confirmed I have Hiatus hernia was prescribed LASPOROLE but this medication can weaken your bone I got the GP to change my medication to Famotidine but its not very effective I still have to take gaviscon after meals meals. I know how you feeling I weak up with pain and discomfort and I go to bed with pain very debilitating it does get me down but I do have to talk to myself to accept my new life condition. I also find sitting up very uncomfortable so I ordered a recliner that measured my hight the depth to fit my size I am looking forward to receiving it in the next few week fingers crossed will help. I eat 6 pruns a day to help to strengthen my bones also I am waiting for my new medication of teriparatide. Do you attend physio class or do exercises? I wish you good luck.
I agree it’s pretty miserable, but I try to keep positive and take it as it comes. I was seeing a physio regularly and did a 4 week Pilates course as part of the treatment and managed the first three, but this was suspended following a bad flare up ofsymptoms and subsequent diagnosis of spine fractures. Walking and gentle exercise had started making things worse before the flare up and I was able to do less and less. Now waiting for a hospital appointment to be rearranged (unfortunately cancelled yesterday owing to doctor’s illness) at a specialised neurology unit at St George’s Hospital. I can sit (in one particular chair) though it gets more and more uncomfortable as the day goes on. Not sure we have the space for a recliner unfortunately. I can only walk and stand for a few minutes so confined to the house. It’s been like this for four plus months I keep reading that spine fractures should settle in 6-12 weeks, but this is not my experience and it’s been very up and down.
Thank you Beebop for sharing you experienced about the injection I also suffer from constant back pain when doing things round the house within 20 minutes the pain starts i have to rest for at least half an hour the start again with what ever I am doing. I can’t hoover, lift washing basket, pick things from the floor that my picker can’t pick can’t do gardening which I love doing can’t streatch to reach high things without my husband i will struggle I feel so guilty he is 75 and does all the things I can’t do very frustrating.
My spinal fractures still give me a lot of discomfort 2 years on. I can manage short trips out, but after around an hour upright i need to lie down. Ive been like this for at least a year now. I tried private physio this year. I had some initial success with that, but it didnt last long. I tried weaning self off cocodamol and amytriptyline but after 3 weeks off i could hardly stand up. I think i just need to accept this is me now.
That sounds miserable for you. Since posting above I’ve had a telephone appointment with a neurologist to whom I was referred by my physio. He is recommending exercise plus Paracetemol/ibuprofen/amitriptyline for pain. He was unhappy about the opioids my GP has put me on. I have to say none of the painkillers help much which is why the GP keeps trying different things. The neurologist says the osteoporosis medication is key alongside exercise. He is sending me for an MRI scan though he thought an operation was probably not the way forward. I’m still on an NHS physio’s books though we had suspended treatment owing to the pain I was in and pending the hospital appointment. So back to the GP and physio I suppose, and onward with the osteoporosis medication (currently Alendronate, but either infusions/injections to start shortly).
