If the fracture occurs suddenly, you may also feel abrupt, severe, and disabling back pain. A stooped posture (kyphosis) and/or dowager’s hump in the upper back.Limited movement in your spine that prevents you from bending or twisting.Slowly worsening back pain that’s relieved with lying on your back and worsens with standing.Symptoms related to vertebral compression fractures include: What are the symptoms of a compression fracture? Bone may press on the spinal cord and nerves, often causing severe pain and limiting the flow of oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood to the spine. However, even mild fractures can cause the affected vertebrae to lose height and collapse into surrounding spinal structures. If the fracture is minor, you may not realize it’s occured. The snow and ice that’s a normal part of winter in Rhode Island increases your risk of taking a tumble that can cause a compression fracture. Stepping off a curb, getting out of bed in the morning, or coughing to clear your throat can cause a compression fracture. When the vertebrae are weakened by a back injury, spinal tumor, or loss of bone density and strength caused by osteoporosis, fractures can occur with even the simplest movement. The vertebrae are stacked one on top of another in your spine and create the strength and structural support necessary for normal movement. Understanding vertebral compression fractures This minimally invasive procedure delivers pain relief and bone strengthening that can get you moving again – and it’s delivered via injection. The pain specialists at Comprehensive Pain Management offer another option: kyphoplasty. In the past, treatment options available for compression fractures were very limited and most often included bed rest, narcotic pain medications, and back bracing that prevented you from bending. Often due to loss of bone density (osteoporosis) and strength, a compression fracture occurs when weakened vertebra in your spine begin to break or splinter with normal activity, such as walking.ĭepending on the number of vertebrae involved, and if fractured bone is pressing on a nerve, compression fractures can cause significant pain and interfere with even simple activities like standing. Your doctor may suggest taking certain vitamins, minerals and medications to help strengthen your bones and prevent additional spinal fractures.Spinal compression fractures can signal the end of pain-free mobility for those who experience them. Talk with your doctor about whether you should avoid any activities after the procedure. You may quickly notice that you have less pain than you did before the surgery. You may feel some soreness where the needle entered your back, but this lasts no more than a few days. It’s possible that you can start walking an hour after the procedure. You could go home the same day, but your doctor may want you to stay overnight. The entire procedure will probably take less than an hour, though it may last longer if more vertebrae are treated. Your doctor will remove the needle, with no stitches needed. Your doctor will inject the cement while checking X-rays to ensure it’s going into the right place. With X-ray guidance, your doctor will insert a needle through your skin and back muscles into the bone, then inflate a balloon to help the vertebra regain its normal shape. Your doctor will examine you, possibly drawing blood for testing and using X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to locate the fractures.Īn anesthesiologist will deliver medicine through an IV to either relax you and relieve your pain or put you to sleep. Make sure to discuss any concerns with your doctor before the procedure. You may face other risks, depending on your specific medical condition. Tingling, numbness or weakness because of nerve damageĪllergic reactions to chemicals used with X-rays to help guide the doctor In most cases, a weakening of the bones ( osteoporosis) has caused the vertebrae to compress or collapse, causing pain or a hunched posture. Kyphoplasty can restore a damaged vertebra’s height and may also relieve pain.Īs with vertebroplasty, the effectiveness of kyphoplasty is under debate in the medical community - you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.ĭoctors might recommend kyphoplasty for cancer-damaged vertebrae or certain spinal fractures. Like vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty injects special cement into your vertebrae - with the additional step of creating space for the treatment with a balloon-like device (b alloon vertebroplasty).
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