A sharp, sudden pain (or a brief dull ache that won’t go away) has sent you to your doctor, and an X-ray confirms their suspicion: you have a vertebral Compression Fracture. Now what? Here are answers to nine of the most frequently asked questions about this condition.

1. What is a vertebral compression fracture?

A Vertebral Compression Fracture is crack or a break in any one of the 33 bones that make up your spine. There are three many types of vertebral compression fractures.

1. Wedge: The most common type of fracture, a wedge fracture occurs when the front of the vertebra cracks but the back remains intact.
2. Crush: When the vertebrae crashes down evenly, this is referred to as a crush compression fracture. As with the wedge, a crush fracture can still function well, if painfully.
3. Burst: In a burst fracture, the vertebra shatters and sends splinters of bone in all directions (including towards the spinal cord). This most often occurs in a traumatic injury.

Wedge fractures are technically stable fractures. This means that the spine can still function normally. But if left untreated, over time a wedge fracture can lead to permanent spinal issues (i.e., kyphosis). A crush fracture is also mechanically stable (but can cause excruciating pain).

Of the three types of vertebral compression fractures, the burst fracture is the most serious. This type of fracture is unstable and requires immediate emergency medical attention. Unstable fractures can cause permanent damage to your spinal cord.

2. What causes compression fractures?

Our spine is strong and designed for both movement and stability. In some cases, bones in the body thin and weaken with age. Osteoporosis (the name for this bone loss) is a primary cause of most vertebral compression fractures. This condition affects mostly women over 55, and there are varying stages of severity. If osteoporosis is severe or advanced, even a cough or a sneeze can cause a compression fracture.

For people without osteoporosis, it takes more force to cause a vertebral compression fracture. Injury that comes during full-contact sports or in other types of trauma (e.g., car accidents) is the next most common cause for people of any age.

Finally, in some people under age 55, vertebral compression fracture can be caused by cancerous tumors in the spine. This is rare but still possible.

3. What are the signs of a compression fracture?

Compression fracture symptoms can be deceptive. Some people have no pain (or just mild pain), and the fracture heals on its own. Others have a host of symptoms that range from mild and annoying to excruciating and debilitating.

If you have a vertebral compression fracture, you might experience some (or all) of the following symptoms:

• Sharp pain
• Dull ache that gradually gets worse
• Limited mobility
• Pain that is relieved when you lie down
• Radiating pain into the arms or legs
• Sciatica
• Spinal issues
• Loss of height
• Digestive issues
• Hip pain
• Difficulty breathing

One additional symptom warrants immediate medical attention. For burst vertebral compression fractures, you may experience a loss of bowel and bladder control. This is considered an emergency situation that requires immediate medical attention.

4. Are there any long-term effects of spinal compression fracture?

As noted above, some people experience no symptoms of spinal compression fracture. The crack or break heals itself without long-term effects.

Unfortunately, others are not so lucky. The most obvious long-term effect of spinal compression fracture is a spinal deformity. In the upper back and lower cervical spine, this may take the form of what is commonly called a “dowager’s hump.”

Other long-term effects of serious or intreated vertebral compression fractures include:

• Disability
• Loss of independence
• Increase in early mortality

We often think of hip fractures as being a serious risk for increased mortality, but vertebral fractures might be worse. Unlike hip fractures, just one-third of all vertebral compression fractures receive treatment. And compression fractures are linked to a significant increase in mortality among both men and women.

5. What’s the best way to sleep with compression fractures?

Although many people experience pain relief from vertebral compression fractures when they lie down, proper sleeping position is crucial. There are two good options.

• Sleep on your back with a pillow under your slightly bent knees
• Sleep on your side with a pillow between the knees

Both of these options take pressure off of your spine as it heals. It keeps the back straight and supported while you sleep. This can prevent further injury (or re-injury after healing).

6. How to get out of bed with a compression fracture?

It’s best to talk to your doctor about their specific instructions for movement. This is especially true when it comes to transitional movements like getting out of bed. In general, your goal is to keep the spine as straight and long as possible. Limit movement that involves twisting or bending.

To get out of bed, try the following.

• Move your body as close to the edge of the bed as possible
• Use your core muscles and your arms to push your torso upright
• As you lift your torso, swing both legs off the bed
• Keep your core engaged as you stand

If you need assistance to get out of bed, a walker can help, or place a chair close by for support. Using the muscles of your abdomen to keep your back straight and spine tall can reduce pain and protect your back.

7. What should I avoid with a compression fracture?

When treating a spinal compression fracture, most people think that they should limit all physical activity until the spine heals. While total, prolonged rest is not advised, there are some activities to avoid with a compression fracture. These include the following:

• Full-contact sports
• High-impact exercise (e.g., running or aerobics)
• Bending
• Twisting
• Lifting

You should also avoid and sharp or sudden movements in your body, or any motion that causes a sudden change in direction. Your doctor may suggest other specific activities for you to limit as well.

8. Can I use a back brace for compression fractures?

A back brace is an excellent, non-surgical way to manage spinal compression fractures. These can be custom-fitted to your body and are designed to hold the spine very upright. While you heal, this upright, braced posture maintains the space between the vertebrae to reduce pain and allow the bones to heal.

As with other types of support for fractures, this brace also reduces movement. This can reduce accidental twisting or re-injury to your spine.

Your doctor may advise you to wear a brace all the time or only during certain types of activity. Check in with them to see which treatment protocol is best for you.

9. What is the best treatment for a compression fracture?

As with many conditions, prevention is the best treatment. Eating a calcium-rich diet and getting plenty of bone-strengthening exercise is the best way to keep your spine healthy and strong.

If you do sustain a vertebral compression fracture, you have a variety of treatment options. While most compression fractures heal within a month, if your pain persists or symptoms worsen, talk to your doctor.

Your best treatment options will depend entirely upon your doctor’s recommendations and the underlying cause of your compression fracture. Even though many vertebral compression fractures heal on their own, check in with your doctor to get a proper diagnosis first. Following their directions for treatment exactly offers the best chance for a full recovery.

Pain medications

Many compression fractures are minor and only require over-the-counter pain medication to manage pain. Ibuprofen and naproxen sodium offer relief from pain and any associated inflammation. This does not heal the fracture but keeps you comfortable while your fracture heals.

Physical therapy

Physical therapists will design a tailored exercise program to help strengthen the muscles that support the spine. This is a good complement to other treatments.

Low-impact exercise

As noted above, staying still while your vertebral compression fracture heals can actually cause more problems than it solves. One of the first treatments for compression fractures is low-impact exercise. Activities like walking and tai chi strengthen your entire body, and also increase blood flow to the back, which can speed healing.

As with any injury, always check with your doctor before starting any new type of movement or exercise program beforehand.

Back bracing

A back brace offers support while your fracture heals and allows you to continue to participate in modified physical activity. It’s especially helpful when added to a physical therapy regimen.

Treating the underlying cause

If your vertebral compression fracture is caused by osteoporosis, it’s important to begin treatment for that condition. Bone loss cannot always be reversed, but future bone loss can be prevented with supplements and other approaches.

Surgical treatments

For severe vertebral compression fractures, you may need surgery. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are the most common surgical treatment options.

Vertebroplasty uses medical cement, injected between the vertebrae, to add height and stability to the fractured bone. Kyphoplasty is a similar procedure for vertebral compression fractures. Instead of medical cement, a small balloon is inflated to restore the space between the vertebrae.

Another potential surgery, spinal fusion, is a traditional technique used for vertebral compression fracture. While many doctors are trained and comfortable with this procedure, the recovery time is often longer than either vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. Additionally, spinal fusion sometimes greatly reduces the natural curve of the lower back (lordosis) and has the potential to cause chronic radiating back pain.

If the vertebral compression fracture has caused a herniated disc, your doctor may also recommend spinal disc decompression. Spinal disc decompression either removes part of the vertebra, or it removes ruptured disc material (and sometimes both). Removing this material can relieve pressure on sensitive spinal nerves—relieving pain, too.

Get help with your compression fracture 

Back pain is some of the most debilitating (and common) pain in the U.S. At least 80% of adults will experience significant back pain in their life. Getting treatment for back pain in the acute stages is the best way to prevent it from becoming chronic.

If you are experiencing vertebral compression fracture symptoms, you don’t have to live with pain. Pain specialists can customize a treatment plan that helps you get your life back.

Find a pain specialist in Arizona or Texas by clicking the button below or look for one in your area by using the tips here: https://paindoctor.com/pain-management-doctors/.