Radiation Stress Fractures

ann m
ann m Member Posts: 30
in Lung Cancer #1
I completed 15 radiation treatments on my spine last Thursday and now have a stress fracture. My doctor is scheduling me to see neuro neurolist now. How common is this to happen? I am an active person and had been doing my regular activities like playing in the garden during treatments. I felt great and then last week the pain in my back started. I wonder if I caused the fracture or this is a very common occurance? Am I suppose to be toning down my activities? I've just been going on with everything like always as I thought that to be a positive thing.

The pain meds work great until they fix this. But I want to get off the pain meds asap. Tomorrow I start my first chemo. Anyone know how they fix a stress fracture? I heard somewhere that they can give you a shot of something to fill the crack.

Comments

  • stayingcalm
    stayingcalm Member Posts: 650 Member
    #2
    I was laughing
    About the idea of being able to fill in cracks in the bone with a putty of some kind, but that's not actually so far-fetched. Turns out there is a kind of "bone cement" that is used to treat fractures - I have no clue about the safety or efficacy of the stuff or if it can even be used on a spinal fracture, though.

    From what I've read, the best treatment is rest, I hope your doctor can help you more!
  • Jayhawk6
    Jayhawk6 Member Posts: 8
    #3
    stayingcalm said:

    I was laughing
    About the idea of being able to fill in cracks in the bone with a putty of some kind, but that's not actually so far-fetched. Turns out there is a kind of "bone cement" that is used to treat fractures - I have no clue about the safety or efficacy of the stuff or if it can even be used on a spinal fracture, though.

    From what I've read, the best treatment is rest, I hope your doctor can help you more!

    Spinal fractures
    I suffered a spinal compression fracture (T-7)in June, 2010, after finishing 30 lung radiation treatments (currently with chemo). Tried to "tough it out" for a while with the help of pain meds, but finally consulted a neurologist. He recommended a procedure called "Kyphoplasty" , which he performed in September, 2010. (Google it and you'll find lots if information.) It's done in a hospital, with anesthesia, on an out-patient basis and takes about 15-20 minutes. My results were "mixed"...it certainly helped (considerably), but did not completely restore my back to its former state. (But then I want to be 18 again, too!) However, I know of others who have pronounced it a "miracle treatment". I believe it is a fairly common procedure. Good luck to you in relieving your pain!
  • ann m
    ann m Member Posts: 30
    #4
    Jayhawk6 said:

    Spinal fractures
    I suffered a spinal compression fracture (T-7)in June, 2010, after finishing 30 lung radiation treatments (currently with chemo). Tried to "tough it out" for a while with the help of pain meds, but finally consulted a neurologist. He recommended a procedure called "Kyphoplasty" , which he performed in September, 2010. (Google it and you'll find lots if information.) It's done in a hospital, with anesthesia, on an out-patient basis and takes about 15-20 minutes. My results were "mixed"...it certainly helped (considerably), but did not completely restore my back to its former state. (But then I want to be 18 again, too!) However, I know of others who have pronounced it a "miracle treatment". I believe it is a fairly common procedure. Good luck to you in relieving your pain!

    Thats it, Kyphoplasty. I'm
    Thats it, Kyphoplasty. I'm going to a specialist tomorrow who does this procedure and hope I qualify. I have the same thing, a spinal compression fracture on T-5. The pain does get very bad. From what I read, the results are very favorable.
    From what I'm told it was the cancer cells that did the damage to the bone. I can't help but think the radation contributed to the deterioration too. I see how it burnt my skin on the back and how much my throat still hurts. My last radiation was last week of a 3 week cycle. I had no side effects until last week. Soon, my throat should start to feel better so I can't complain.
    I'm glad you had a positive result and thanks for sharing it.
  • ann m
    ann m Member Posts: 30
    #5
    stayingcalm said:

    I was laughing
    About the idea of being able to fill in cracks in the bone with a putty of some kind, but that's not actually so far-fetched. Turns out there is a kind of "bone cement" that is used to treat fractures - I have no clue about the safety or efficacy of the stuff or if it can even be used on a spinal fracture, though.

    From what I've read, the best treatment is rest, I hope your doctor can help you more!

    It is pretty funny when you
    It is pretty funny when you think about it but logical thinking, why not?
    I'll update you on the results!

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