When Back Pain Is A Compression Fracture
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When Back Pain Is A Compression Fracture
Is it just a strain, or is your back pain something more serious? A compression fracture can be caused by something as simple as a fall, a cough, sneezing, or lifting a heavy object. Osteoporosis, a loss of bone mass, is the most common cause of compression fractures. While the symptoms of a compression fracture generally start with back pain, they can increase and become life-affecting if left untreated.
The good news is treatments are available to reduce and treat your pain.
Compression Fracture Symptoms
Compression fractures can be caused suddenly by something like a car accident. But most frequently, compression fractures are a result of osteoporosis. Women over 50 are most at risk for osteoporosis, a condition defined by weak and brittle bones. In the United States, osteoporosis impacts 200 million women. The symptoms from a compression fracture may happen so gradually that the pain is relatively mild or noticeable, but for many, the pain may turn into chronic back pain.
The first symptom of a compression fracture is generally back pain. This pain may start gradually and worsen over time, or it may begin suddenly and sharply. When compression fractures first start developing, they may not cause any symptoms at all. Typically, compression fracture symptoms start with acute back pain that can lead to chronic back pain. Along with back pain, other symptoms may include:
- Pain in the back, arms, or legs that gets worse when you stand or walk, but you may feel some relief when you lie down
- Limited movement in your spine, trouble bending or twisting your body
- Numbness, weakness, or tingling in arms or legs
- A decrease in your height
- Loss of height
- A curved, hunched-forward or stooped-over posture
Symptoms are often felt when performing daily chores and activities like:
- Bending to the floor to pick something up
- Lifting a bag of groceries
- Changing the sheets on the bed
While the majority of compression fractures linked to osteoporosis are found in women, men can also develop osteoporosis and compression fractures. If you've noticed any of these symptoms, ask your practitioner to test you for a compression fracture.
Compression Fracture Treatments
There are options for non-invasive procedures that can:
- Reduce pain
- Stabilize the spine
- Improve functional status
- Restore some height when needed
At aCellerated Interventional Orthopedics, its physicians use Kyphoplasty repair, a safe and minimally-invasive procedure, to treat compression fractures. During a Kyphoplasty procedure, the surgeon inserts a narrow tube and then fills in the area with a solid, cement-like mixture. These procedures can usually be completed with a single outpatient visit. Following the procedure, many patients experience pain relief and a stabilized vertebra that is restored to its normal height.
Vertebral compression fractures are the most common osteoporotic compression fracture, and they only get worse over time. Don’t wait for symptoms to increase — call and schedule an appointment today to see if you are a candidate for Kyphoplasty repair.
At aCellerated Interventional Orthopedics, every treatment is individualized to get you living pain-free.
