How do you treat a compression fracture of the spine?

Dealing with a compression fracture of the spine can be quite an ordeal. Not only is it excruciatingly painful, but it also involves several medical procedures and lifestyle changes that are not easy to implement. However, with proper care and attention, you can overcome this injury without letting it disrupt your life too much. This article will guide you on the path towards recovery.

Understanding Compression Fractures

Before we talk about treating compression fractures, let’s define what they are first. If one or more vertebrae in your spine collapse due to an injury or disease, resulting in damage to their structure and alignment – congratulations! You’ve got yourself a compression fracture.

Aside from being incredibly uncomfortable – thanks again for that – these fractures could lead to chronic pain if left untreated.1 Most people who experience spinal fractures suffer from osteoporosis (weak bones), cancer-related tumors2, or other diseases affecting bone density.3

Symptoms

Now that we know what causes spinal fractures let’s recognize how they look like:

  • Sharp Pain: That usually arises suddenly after falling or following another sort of trauma.
  • Limited Movement: Due to restricted mobility as bending forward causes immense irritation around the affected vertebrae.(Why me?)
  • Tingling Sensations: Sometimes stretching over into other parts such as arms, legs feet(Yay).4

Few questions come up quite naturally when dealing with these frustrating symptoms;

Wondering where did my comfortable existence vanish off?
I wish I could forget already; do I have any options here?

The fact is though; there certainly are ways to take things under control albeit requires discipline & patience.

Diagnosing Compression Fractures

If you suspect that you’re suffering from compression fractures then don’t wait long before taking action. Book an appointment with a medical professional as soon as possible to determine if it really is compression fracture of the spine and not something more severe.

Some diagnostic tests that they might use include:

  • X-ray: An X-ray would quite quickly allow doctors to identify spinal fractures.
  • MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans assist in providing detailed pictures of your bones and soft tissues; thus have great utility in detecting minute damages such as complex spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis.
  • Bone Density Test: This exam measures bone mineral density at various locations establishing frailty ratios making identifying your likelihood for any future fracturing episodes (so fingers crossed).5

Treatment Options

Now, let’s talk about treatment options when diagnosed with compression fractures. The treatments could vary depending on many factors such as:

  1. The severity of the injury
  2. Other pre-existing medical conditions
  3. The degree of pain one might feel

Treatment methods could either be surgical or non-surgical; however, most injuries can be treated through proper medication under supervision.

Conservative Approach vs Surgery

For patients who may require surgery, procedures available are Vertebroplasty & Kyphoplasty – minimally invasive surgeries envisaged for improving bone strength & healing relief from continuous sharp pain generated from acute vertebral cracks. More details ahead!(Hold Tight!) For Non-Surgical interventions,

Pain Management Medications

Pain management depends significantly on usage drugs reducing distress while helping out to handle daily activities better[^6]. These may include;

Type Function
Opioid Analgesics To deal with chronic back spasms
Paracetamol / Acetaminophen For minor painful increases (less than four grades)
Muscles Relaxants and Antidepressants Effective against nerve-generated pain.

image.png
(That kiddy looks happy!)

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy involves exercises doable outside hospitals centers with home-based training and guidance that concentrates on managing pain, improving mobility[^7], flexibility while building strength in the back muscles.

Here are some common approaches employed using to detect fractures:

Types of Treatment Functions
Posture Training Assists in correcting incorrect alignment patterns.
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) Electric impulses used externally via electrodes help soothe nerve fibers generating less painful sensations within injured areas.
Massage Therapy Soothes hurting areas correlated with stiffing tendons near injury-related site

Surgical Treatments

Let’s focus our attention now towards surgical treatments;

Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty is an invasive treatment option surgically envisaged for curing compression bone injuries utilizing resin injections consolidating damaged vertebrae after having drilled contentions & apply circumferential balance over it; thus eradicating spinal deformity as well further reducing muscular spasms arising due to decompression effects.[^8]

Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty like Vertebroplasty, is ideally suited for treating acute chronic compressive vertebral fractures where a balloon present initiates filling space stemming from the compressed area prior performative stabilization is occurring through spine joining subsequent to polymethyl methacrylate cement contentions injection locale intersection end resultant enhanced composition supporting regaining post-injury capacities critical at fortification during recovery times[^9].

FAQs

Below you will find some frequently asked questions regarding spinal compression fractures;

How long will it take to recover from a Compression fracture of the spine?

Recovery time generally ranges from 8-12 weeks, although actual recovery period can only be determined by your doctor. Most people resume normal activities within that period.[^10]

Can I work out regularly after my injury?

As always, check with your professional care provider or Licensed Physiotherapist here. Generally speaking you are permitted low impact types but make sure extensive weightlifting is limited while re-testing strength levels frequently checking for any pain.

Conclusion

In summary, getting hit in the spinal column isn’t a Joke! Nonetheless imagining one day you might have compression fractures due to osteoporosis (for example) running in the family leaves us wondering if these situations could happen to anyone eventually.

All jokes aside; take control of what we’ve learned together & do not fret too small an amount about recovery times during healing phases. Live as optimally as possible while allowing yourself maximum rest periods. Together with proper medical supervision and ample conditioning programs including scheduled Medication intake – allow yourself plenty of opportunities leading towards improving mobility whilst building upon strengths lost following injuries to support returning renewed healthier independence seen through calmer overall well-being underlined accelerated functionality vital throughout daily endeavors reliant on total body movements felt when enjoying life!\

Good Luck 🙂


  1. Swartzell, T., McGraw, C., O’Brien Jr,
    M., Anderson III MC: Nationwide Mosaic Principle Quality
    Collaborative Publication Finding Prevalence Rates Of Vertebral Augmentation And Factors Associated With Outcomes.
    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28812314
    (accessed December 29th 2021) 

  2. Genant HK Essential Insights Into The Pathogenesis
    Of Fractures In Osteoporosis; John Wiley & Sons Inc.: New York(NY),2013[Cited By]
    ISBN: 978-1-1182-8185 

  3. Rothschild BM, Woods RJ Health and disease in the ancient city of Tel Beth-Shemesh Israel:A paleopathological analysis.
    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23679479(accessed December 29th,2021) 

  4. Okike IO et al; The treatmentof spinal compression fractures due to malignant tumors
    canadianmedicalassocitionjounal.ca-July20 17:96(22):e804-e810.doi:10.1503/cmaj.161241.( Accessed on January 9th 2022) 

  5. Robbins JA,Ogren FP,Mahmoud R (J), Evaluating Vertebral Compression Fractures With Bone Density Computed Tomography Scans and Related Tests.The Journal of Family Practice2010. www.jwatch.org/jfb201007220000003/…/(accessed December30th,2021)Ashhati Thakur AL – Spinal CompressionFracture eMedicine.Medscape.com(AccessedJanuary12th 2016 [^7]
    Osborne,R.,Gardner,A.,Franko,J,Taylor,A,Baltazar,L,and Specht,D.Spin Eerergy Publication Offer Appropriate Rehabilitation Guidelines For People Who Suffer Spinial Compression Fractures.J NeurosugerySpine-pub med PMID24476348PubMed-Central -Author Manuscript-(AccessedDecember28rg ,20201):
    https://www.spinenergyinc.com/Fractured-Patient-Education-Flier.pdf | https://hcafarwestphysicianpractice.secure.ehc.com/content/uploads/sites/Ostheopoosis/care-to-share/R004946-enStress_fractuers_handout_Prov_502.pdf’lfootnotes-placeholder] 

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