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My mom, my husband, my 5 year old and I live together in Canada. Two weeks ago she started having an acute lower back pain adding to an overactive bladder and chronic UTIs and also already existing balance issues and limited mobility. The first week she took Tylenol and muscle relaxer. The second week a combo of arthritis Tylenol, Naxopren and morphine. At this point her pain hasn't improve even though she has been resting although still moving around to go to the washroom, eat, take her meds etc. She is scheduled for a lumpectomy for an early breast carcinoma in two weeks. I plan to take her tomorrow to the emergency room, but with I read on the internet about low back pain in elderly, I really don't know what else they could do to help. In addition I have a full time job and a 5 year old and despite things not being crazy demanding (she can go to the washroom on her own and can eat on her own) I am feeling I am starting to reach my limits on how much I can spread myself between child care, work, elderly care and my own care (my husband is supportive and helpful too). One question that keeps popping in my head is whether is too early to start thinking in a nursing home for her (hoping we can get a subsidized one).
So I guess in summary I wonder: what else could they do for her at the hospital and... Is it too early to consider a nursing home?

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I don’t want to scare you but often metastatic breast cancer is discovered when metastasis weaken bones and cause spontaneous compression fractures. I would ask about this before further treatment for breast cancer. It could also just be severe osteoporosis which should be treated with bio phosphates such as Zometa or Xgeva.
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Reply to ShirleyDot
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"She is scheduled for a lumpectomy for an early breast carcinoma in two weeks."

Don't think this will happen if she has any infection. Has she had a culture to determine what type of bacteria is causing the UTIs? She may need antibiotics by IV to clear up the UTI. Then some cranberry tablets, probiotic and naybe D-Mannose to help prevent more.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Normally, compression fractures are treated with rest, minimized activity, back braces and pain killers.

In some cases, minimally invasive procedures like vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty may be used to inject bone cement into the fractured vertebrae to stabilize the bone and relieve pain. 

I had kyphoplasty in May of 2023 and it required general anesthesia. It did stabilize my spine, however, but I still experience a lot of pain when I move around a lot.

See what the orthopedist recommends.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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My MIL had several compression fractures in her lower spine. It was a nightmare and she really wanted to die. Kyphoplasty was tried initially and that works for some. For her it caused additional fractures. She had to wear a back brace and see a pain specialist because the OxyContin was not enough. Eventually she ended up with a fentanyl patch and that did the trick making her comfortable. She was able to lose the brace after about a year, but she needed to be in assisted living because she could no longer bend and turn well (and she was at risk if she did) so she needed help bathing, dressing, and getting out of bed. She used a wheelchair if she had to go long distances. She was in her 80s. This was in 2013. She was stable for many years with these limitations and her beloved pain patch. She died of cancer in 2019.
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Reply to ShirleyDot
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Update: I forgot to mention she had Xray done and it shows a compression fracture and Osteoarthritis facet. It is likely they are causing the pain. The problem is that the pain meds don't seem to be making any difference and when I search the internet for these type of conditions I am not sure what would be the next level of treatment. Yesterday night I read something about infections with steroids.

We came to the ER and are just waiting to be seen. Hoping they order a CT scan and additional treatment ( besides physio and steroids... not sure what else it can be)
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AlvaDeer Dec 29, 2024
Good. Be sure to mention the infection. You don't want something missed just because there's another issue musclo-skeletal in that area.
There isn't a lot that can be done about spinal compression in the elderly and the nerves. Sometimes nerve blocking agents are required, but a not fun procedure to you through in age.
Good luck.
Looking forward to your updates.
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Her UTI may have become kidney infection.
I can't know where this pain is but if it is at about waist level and on the side in flank area she may be having pain from the kidney.

Important to know where it is coming from.
So sorry, but anything we say is guesswork. Sounds like she needs a diagnosis of what's going on with the pain.

Hope you will update us.
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Sandwich81 Dec 29, 2024
Thank you for thinking of that. We visited ER 9 days ago and they ruled out kidney issues
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Sounds like compression fractures to me.
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Reply to ShirleyDot
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I agree she needs to get her back imaged.
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Reply to Geaton777
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Mom needs X-rays , possible CT scans/MRI to see if she has any spontaneous compression fractures of vertebrae . Fairly common reason for elderly who have a new or worsening relentless ( severe ) back pain .

And Yes to start looking for a care home . This is too much for you with a 5 year old and job .
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Reply to waytomisery
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Happy Hemp Buddha sports cream is good for Pain . You are in Canada - I do not Know the laws regarding CBD or THC being shipped from America to Canada . 80 is Young .
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Reply to KNance72
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lealonnie1 Dec 28, 2024
80 is NOT young, and if morphine isn't helping with back pain, ain't no way hemp is gonna do the trick! Sorry.
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Welcome, Sandwich!

Does mom have a regular doc you could consult about her back pain?

Can the oncologist refer her to someone who can do some imaging?
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Reply to BarbBrooklyn
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Sandwich81 Dec 29, 2024
She was referred for imaging. She has a compression fracture and OA facet. What it is not clear to me is what could be next steps once the first line of treatment doesn't work for easing the pain.
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