Spinal compression fractures can be a result of osteoporosis, and treatment will begin with pain management. Your doctor will want to evaluate what is causing your osteoporosis and work with you to try and stop further fractures from happening. Your fracture can heal, but it may take some time and rest for you to get back to your regular routine. Your doctor will talk with you about medications that will help control your pain and promote bone density. While you are healing, your doctor will likely recommend wearing a back brace that will reduce motion, and you will be asked to limit your activity so that the fracture can heal.
Spinal Compression Treatment without Surgery
Surgery is usually not the first option when considering treatment for a spinal compression fracture. While the initial pain is significant in the beginning, the pain usually gets much better within a week or so. Pain medications can be used while you allow your fracture to heal, and limiting your physical activity will be necessary. Your doctor will want you to listen to your body, and rest when you need to. A fracture will generally take up to three months in order to heal. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen is usually enough to control the pain from a spinal compression fracture once the initial pain has calmed down.
Modifying Your Activities
While initially you may need full bed rest, too much resting can lead to osteoporosis getting worse. When you don't get exercise, you will lose bone even more. This increases your risk of further compression fractures. Talk with your doctor about bed rest and how long you should wait before resuming activities. If your doctor suggests a back brace, you will need to wear the brace while participating in activities in order to avoid further injuries to the area.
When Surgery is Needed for Your Spinal Compression Fracture
Sometimes the pain from a spinal compression fracture won't go away, no matter how much you rest, take pain medication or wear a back brace. Surgery may be used to correct any abnormalities and reduce your pain. Several techniques are used, depending on the problem that is presented. You may need a spinal fusion surgery, which will fuse to vertebrae together when the disk is no longer functional or has completely disintegrated. This is more extensive surgery than a vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, which both stabilize the spine and are minimally invasive for the patient.
When you have a spinal compression fracture, it's important to work closely with your doctor and monitor for increased levels of pain throughout your recovery. To learn more, visit websites like http://swfna.com.
Share20 March 2017
My name is Katie Langer. For a long time, I was bed ridden and I felt like I had no control over my life. I simply went along with what was instructed by my doctor and I didn't ask questions. It wasn't that my doctor wasn't willing to work with me, but I preferred to simply not think about the illness I was suffering from. I didn't realize that some of the symptoms I was suffering from were side effects of my medication and were not normal. After communicating more with my doctor, I was able to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've taken an interest in patient-doctor relationships and how to improve them.
