Osteoporosis is a common health complication that often causes vertebral compression fractures, a very painful and limiting condition. The condition occurs when a bone breaks, and instead of shattering or snapping, it flattens and compresses. Fortunately, managing a compression fracture in Shrewsbury involves combining several approaches, including surgical interventions to improve your range of motion and improve your pain. The diagnosis for your condition is critical to help you understand the approach to take. Here is how to go about if you suspect you have a compressed bone.
Pay Attention to Your Symptoms
Sometimes the compression fracture can occur suddenly, causing a knife-like pain in the middle or lower half of your back. The pain can be sudden, spreading to other parts of your back and trunk. While a compression fracture from osteoporosis may not show any signs initially, you can watch out for the following as time goes on:
· Pain when twisting or bending
· Back pain that worsens with walking
· Stooped posture
· Height loss
· Worsening of any existing spinal curves
Book an Appointment
If you suspect you are suffering from compression fractures, it is vital to book an appointment with your doctor. Equip yourself with relevant questions to ask your doctor for clarifications about your diagnosis. Also, be prepared to answer several questions, mainly about your medical and family history. Note when you first experienced the symptoms and explain the instances in which you were in pain. Also, note where the pain is located, if it radiates, and to where.
Seek to Know About Different Tests
Your doctor may suggest some tests to verify your diagnosis alongside asking you relevant questions. This can include a physical examination to look for tenderness around the affected bones and check for kyphosis. Your doctor may also recommend a spinal x-ray and a CT or MRI scan, mainly if the fracture is associated with an injury or an accident. It would be good to ask your doctor about the details of the tests and do further research to understand what you can expect and be prepared.
Understand the Different Treatment Options Available
Several approaches can be employed when you are diagnosed with a compression fracture. In most cases, fractures due to injuries often heal in about 8-10 weeks with pain-relieving medications, getting adequate rest, and taking muscle relaxants. Additionally, surgery can be recommended when the conservative treatments are exhausted without success. This includes:
Kyphoplasty: a minimally invasive option involving a needle with an inserted balloon being injected into the spine to restore lost vertebral height to address spinal deformity to minimize or eliminate pain.
Vertebroplasty: a similar procedure to kyphoplasty, only that no balloon is used. Instead, a low viscosity cement is injected directly into the collapsed vertebral area for bone stabilization.
Spinal Fusion: a more invasive procedure is mainly recommended after other less invasive options fail, and there is evidence of sudden and severe spine instability.
Prepare for Treatment
Your doctor will advise you accordingly on preparing for your treatment after figuring out the most suitable option for you. Generally, plan your pain control regimen, take good care of your body by eating healthy food and quitting unhealthy behaviors, and strictly follow any other pre-op guideline you might be given.
Reach out to the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine today to learn more about how you can manage compressional fractures. Your provider will examine your condition and recommend the most suitable treatment option for you.