Compression fractures

(603) 577-3003

Compression fractures, cracks in the vertebrae that make up your spine, are a common complication of osteoporosis. About 700,000 Americans develop compression fractures every year. Pain management specialists James Mirazita, MD, and PK Suchdev, MD, understand how painful compression fractures can be. At Pain Solutions in Nashua, and Concord, New Hampshire, they offer advanced treatment solutions to help you overcome pain without major surgery. Call the office nearest you or use the online scheduler to get help now.

A compression fracture is a break in one of the vertebrae in your spinal column. This type of fracture leads to partial or total vertebral collapse. The most common type of compression fracture is called a wedge. In this fracture, the front part of the vertebrae collapses but the back part remains intact.

When your vertebrae collapse, shards of bone can pressure your spinal cord and cause serious pain and other potentially debilitating symptoms.

The most common cause of compression fractures is osteoporosis. When you have osteoporosis, your bones grow significantly weaker and that makes them quite vulnerable to compression fractures. Women are most vulnerable to compression fractures due to their higher rates of osteoporosis, but they can occur in men, too.

You can also develop compression fractures in other ways, including trauma to the spine and spinal tumors.

Compression fractures might not trigger any symptoms in the beginning, but they tend to worsen over time. Then, you may notice worsening symptoms, such as:

Steady increase in back pain
Losing height
Range-of-motion issues, like difficulty twisting at the waist Hunched posture
Tingling in your spine
Numbness in your spine
Bladder and/or bowel control issues

If you’re dealing with these symptoms, it’s best to seek help sooner rather than later. Compression fractures can get much worse, potentially even becoming disabling without treatment.

The Pain Solutions team designs a personalized pain management plan for you. In most cases, your treatment includes a variety of approaches. You may wear a back brace, modify activity levels, and participate in physical therapy to heal as efficiently as possible.

Many compression fracture sufferers have procedures like balloon vertebroplasty (kyphoplasty). In this minimally invasive procedure, your pain management physician creates a small incision, then uses a needle to insert an expanding balloon device into your vertebral body.

Your physician injects bone cement to restore the vertebrae. The cement hardens inside your vertebrae and keeps it stable. For many patients, this procedure can greatly reduce pain and other symptoms associated with a compression fracture.

For the best in compression fracture pain management, call Pain Solutions or click the online appointment scheduler anytime.

To find relief from lower back pain, call Pain Solutions or book an appointment online today.

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Pain Solutions, Nashua, NH

Pain Solutions, Concord, NH

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(603) 577-3003
(603) 577-3003