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

[Bonkee]

I totally agree and appriciate your reasearch and opinion about smorl's nodes.  I think the medical comunity is unaware of the pain caused by these smorl's nodes.  I also think many people with no apparent herniation or buldge, but apparent smorl's nodes are routinely sent home with the understanding that nothing is wrong with them.  I had an injury and the same thing has happened to me, in my opinion is you get a smorls node from injury or event and its painful you must get rest becuase this irritiation will never stop if it does not have time to heal ( my present situation).  I have smorls nodes in the thorasic area extensively and have pain in my thoraisc.  One interesting finding is that when I had a discogram from T-5 to T-8 we found a symptomatic herniation in T6-T7, an asymptomatic herniation at T7-T8 and supprisingly a symptomatic disc at T5-T6 and what is there, a smorls node.  I think many of my others are symptomatic as well.  But I am no doctor.

[k will]

I have had constant severe lower back pain for 6 weeks and had begun with typical PT activities to strengthen core spine muscles ( lumbar multifidus and transversus abdominis ). After several weeks I was still in great pain and had an MRI with contrast of the lumbar spine done yesterday.  The radiologist report noted an acute Schmorl's node at L4 to the inferior endplate and related edema and swelling in the area.  I am beginning oral steroids at my Dr's recommendation but would like to better understand what options exist for repairing both the disc and the hole that has developed in the bone marrow of the vertebra.

[cowgirldollar]

I found your comments on schmorl's nodes and pain related to "bulging" disc due to chemicals that irritate the nerve interesting.  My husband has schmorl's nodes at multiple levels in the lower thoracic and upper lumbar spine and has had a recent microdiscectomy at L3-L4 with re-injury.  The recent MRI shows only bulging in the L3-L4 and L4-L5 region and he is in terrible pain radiating down into his hip and leg.  The symptoms are the same as they were when the disc was herniated before surgery but the doctors don't treat the bulging the same as the herniation but the pain is the same and the schmorl's nodes were mentioned on 2 of the 3 MRI's he has had.  I've been wondering if the schmorl's nodes were significant even though the doctors do not seem to place much significance in them.
cowgirldollar

[Hockey17]

I was diagnosed as having a schmorls node L5-S1.  (some other minor buldges L3, L4) It was found last Feb.  I have had back issues for a lot of years, but the pain from this is like no other.  I had an MRI from 2002, that that they compared to on from 2007. The pain radiates out to the outside of my hip, making it tough to walk and bend, but the pain never radiates down.  I'm 43 and an avid ice hockey player.  I ended my season early last year, and  did all the therapy thru the summer, and now I have played 1 game this fall and I'm a wreck.   Everything I read is about controlling inflammation.  Has anyone tried any herbals.  I looking at a pill that contain glucosamine, boswellia, devils claw, turmeric, and ginger.  I'm also reading about Mona-vie Active, a power juice also with glucosamine.  has anyone gone down this path?  Really want to keep skating.

[janycathy]

My 16 year old was finally diagnosed with a Schmorl's node from a cheer accident two months ago and she is suffering terribly.  Does anyone know how long this will take to heal, does it heal and what can be done?????????

[commandk]

Have a 17 year old daughter that is now being diagnosed with Schmorl's nodes.  She is a softball player and works out rigoursly during the off season with a trainer.  Has been in terrible pain.  Radiologist brother in law after two MRI's  has made diagnosis and we believe to be correct.  He thinks laying off all activity is key.  However, don't know if she is willing to do so.  Having tried PT and chiropractic, now thinking about trying accupuncture to help with the pain.