schmorl's nodes

[xafnndapp]

My sister in Italy is 55, after intense pain at her back for a few days (middle section, with shooting pains also at her rib-cage), she went and had X-rays taken yesterday, and they told her she has Schmorl's nodes at her D-11 vertebre.
No ostheoporosis.

She is quite fit and active, she told me that this pain began after a few days of some extra effort she did carrying something and possibly after an intense session with her chiropractic she has been  seeing regularly for a few years now. She doesn't recall something specific that she did to cause the pain to start.

Her pain is diminished but of course she wants to be reassured that it is not something really problematic.
I did a little research and saw more or less what this is about.

What's the best immediate "therapy" for her?
Rest and chiropratic? Is there something she should be avoiding doing from now on or can she have a normal life?

Thank you very much for your advice.

STEFANO

[kkj8993]

These nodes can very much cause pain. The nodes cause inflammation in the spinal cord where all of your nerves run through. When there is inflammation in the spine, it does affect/ bother the nerves. I have this too.

[pkpeaks]

I'm 37 & super healthy & active. I've had a Schmorl's node pain for a year due to a minor tweak in my  mid back & it side-lined me. I found relief in acupuncture (some acupuncturist are definitely better than others) & yoga. I got my initial major relief from a Mayo Clinic chiropractor that does the Graston technique. He said I had scar tissue covering my back (it was trying to protect myself) and I was super stiff. That really got me on the healing path. I felt amazing after my first visit and didn't realize how crappy I was actually feeling before. He said yes, it was a Schmorl's node, but also noted myofacial issues related to that (your back is like a series of rubberbands & everything effects each other). So his focus was on my hamstrings--he really got in there and rubbed it out (it hurt, but so worth it). Now to keep relatively pain-free I need to keep my hamstrings very stretched. I always thought acupuncture and chiros were just hokey medicine, until I was at my wits end and would try anything. I can't sing enough praises about both. Acupuncture did seem to wear off effective ness after a while. I got really sick of hearing from my other Mayo docs that Schmorl's nodes don't cause pain, finally after 3/4 year the chiro finally agreed since that was my sole location of my pain. I did a few stints of PT then rested for half a year and activity moreso stretching seems to help the most. Yoga seems to be the best answer for a productive life & injury prevention (and this statement is coming from a former college rugby player :) Does anyone know if these ever heal or go away? Good luck!

[mybackpain]

For 2 weeks I've been taking Devil's Claw, a root found in Africa touted for relief from spine  inflammation. 4 capsules (2 at breakfast & 2 at dinner) gave me instant relief the next day and each day after. Do your research on the internet--you cannot take it with some drug, and it can only be taken for 4 months. It's sold on Amazon.
mybackpain

[sud8ed]

Smorl's node is a fracture or chip out the spine. Check wiki out. Mine as always caused me pain through my life after falling from a high slide onto gravel at 6 years old till now being 40. I've found cannabis to be my prefered medicine for relieving the pain. I've been using and studying herbal medicines in theory and practice for around 20 years.  

[cgdeepak]

hi,
  ur info pertaining to the schmols node was very interesting. i had compression fractures on d3,d12 n l1 when i ejected out of my fighter aeroplane. there was associated soft tissue damage and edema.i was treated coventionally with strict bed rest for 1 month and an additional month of rest...
  after 9 months i still have pain in the lower back from prolonged sitting at work...recent mri showed a shmols node at d12 where edema had been..did the edema develop into schmol node..is there something wrong i did in the interim period?should i have taken more of bed rest? i have been eaten up by guilt that i screwed up the recovery...i took the usual precautions of not bending forward and lifting weights...took adequate rest after return from work..etc.
  cud u please prescribe what i need to do...i feel immideate relief on lying down..should i take off from work? is schmol's node the cause?
   thanks a lot
deepak

[cgdeepak]

hi,
  ur info pertaining to the schmols node was very interesting. i had compression fractures on d3,d12 n l1 when i ejected out of my fighter aeroplane. there was associated soft tissue damage and edema.i was treated coventionally with strict bed rest for 1 month and an additional month of rest...
  after 9 months i still have pain in the lower back from prolonged sitting at work...recent mri showed a shmols node at d12 where edema had been...
  cud u please prescribe what i need to do...i feel immideate relief on lying down..should i take off from work? is schmol's node the cause?
   thanks a lot
deepak