Fifty percent of women and 25% of men will suffer a compression fracture in their lifetime. Many times it’s their spine that bears the brunt. Patients are usually elderly people who have osteoporosis or soft bones.
“Once they develop this fracture it’s extremely painful. It’s difficult to do daily activities. It’s difficult to get out of bed, it’s difficult to get in to bed, bathing is difficult,” says Dr. Paul Fuchs. He is an orthopedic surgeon on medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System.
Almost every movement is difficult, though sustaining a fracture takes little effort.
“Maybe they sit down vigorously on a sofa, or step off of a curb, maybe they didn’t see the bottom of a step, they’re carrying a heavy bag of groceries and they can sustain a fracture,” says Dr. Fuchs.
There is now a relatively fast fix for fractures. A procedure called kyphoplasty reinforces the bone from the inside. Sometimes called internal casting, it addresses the break and alleviates pain.
“We’ll put a small balloon into the fracture and try and re-create the proper alignment. And then fill the bone with bone cement to try and harden the bone. Essentially heal the fracture within minutes.”
With a minimally invasive approach, patients are less likely to experience dangerous symptoms caused by inactivity—like pneumonia.
View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/
Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.
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Is anyone else dealing with intermittent or chronic toe numbness after the compression fracture?
This surgery might be risky/dangerous for very old people with compression fractures.
Bracing and not doing certain movements and exercises along with pain medication should be tried before more invasive and expensive treatments.
I fractured t7 and t8 catching my mama when she collapsed. It's so painful been 2 and a half yrs now. I was offered this procedure but heard tht the cement can potentially fall apart, crumble and then your n alot more pain and other issues. I opt not to do this procedure
Does U of M in michigan do this?
The doctor wiukd not even xray my fractured back
I have the same issue but the bone is reduced to 50 percent can this procedure help me
Put some jb weld on it
Compression fractures heal. My dad had cyphoplasty and he had nerve pain afterwards. My two thoracic ones healed in a month and am doing PT to build muscles. I unfortunately also fell off a rolling stool and have a lumbar one that is almost healed. PT has helped immensely.
I had over 10 back fractures 20+ gunshot wounds by low calibers and over 25 broken ribs all the knuckles in my hands the adults smashed with a hammer when I was 2 years old
C1 cervical fracture, wrecked my car and flipped it 4 times. I’m really hoping I won’t have nec/back pain for life like these comments are saying :/ I’m 22
37 with fracture to L5 virtabre. Still in pain, but not as bad as 3 months ago and 7 months ago.
The surgery was minimally invasive and I had zero pain afterwards,T11-T12 fractured 5yrs and still healthy
I have a t5, t6, and t7 compression fractures. 27 years old. I’m very blessed to still be alive and walking 🙏
Wedge fracture of D12 vertebral body (Genant type 1) is seen with its retro pulsion posteriorly into the spinal canal causing it's severe spinal canal stenosis ( AP diameter ~8 mm) at D11-D12 level with associated T2/STIR hyper intensity in spinal cord cranial and caudal to it ( from D9-L1 levels) … s/o mylitis. There is significant soft tissue edema in the intramuscular and subcutaneous plane……this is my MRI report please suggest me
I was in 1O wheeler dump truck where the bed failed 3/4 way up and dropped down.i hit the ceiling of the cab and crushed and fractured one of my vertebrae/Was wondering if its a permanent pain.I stopped the pain killers after 4 days.Still get pain if i bend or lift stuff.I am hoping it will go away without surgery
I am 21 and have 1 L 1 vertebrae fracture it's very painful even it makes u agitated and also made me suffer from constipation
I broke my L4 and the discs were damaged
I found out i have spinal stenosis as well and I’ve been in extreme pain
Both my legs are numb
Walking is so hard it hurts so much
I have constant muscle spasms that are increasing and more painful than i would ever have believed
I just fractured my c1 & c2 and t5 & t6. Im very lucky to be here… hoping to recover fully.
When I firt had my 2 compressed fractures, it felt like my insides were super heavy and trying to fall our of my stomach, loads of pressure. Pain that radiated all around my back and front. Had T-12 and L-3 with the L1 twisted.
My l4 is fractured with two herniated discs
I am 26
I have balance issues from a part of my foot being amputated from a chemical burn
I fell on my tailbone area
Full fall bc i was holding a big bowl of water for my dog. So i didn’t catch myself
I heard a crunchy when i landed
My leg is numb. RT leg
I have excruciating sciatica
And I’m on prednisone and it’s the only thing that will stop most of the pain. Without it I’m housebound i can barely walk and bare weight
I’m 37 and have 6 vertebrae fractures I can tell you they are very painful 😢