Compression Fracture Specialist
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Premier Pain Consultants
Pain Management Practice located in Fullerton, CA & Irvine, CA
Compression fractures can cause horrible back pain, limited movement, and trouble walking. For the 750,000 people with osteoporosis and others affected annually by compression fractures, going without treatment and pain management isn’t an option. Joseph Ho, MD, and Weiwah Rob Kwok, MD, offer innovative treatments like kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty procedures at Premier Pain Consultants in Fullerton, California, to improve the debilitating effects of compression fractures that develop over time. To find out how your compression fracture can be managed, call or schedule a consultation online at Premier Pain Consultants today.
Compression Fracture Q & A
What is a compression fracture?
A compression fracture occurs when the stacked bones of your vertebrae break and collapse. This causes your spine to become shorter while pieces of compressed bone can protrude into your spinal cord and nerves. Compression fractures can be incredibly painful. Because of this, finding a pain management specialist is essential to help you live your life.
What does a compression fracture look and feel like?
When a compression fracture first starts to develop, you may or may not feel any symptoms at all. In fact, some compression fractures are first noticed in X-rays for unrelated conditions. Once a compression fracture progresses, you begin to notice symptoms. They may include:
- Moderate to severe back pain
- Worsening pain especially with sitting, standing or walking
- Appearing shorter
- Stooped posture
- Limited back movement
- Numbness or tingling
- Problems walking
- Incontinence
It’s a good rule of thumb to visit a doctor if you have back pain that doesn’t go away. Severe, abrupt pain in your back may be due to a compression fracture that buckled under pressure.
How did I get a compression fracture?
Most patients with compression fractures have weakened bones from another condition, like osteoporosis, which makes your bones porous and more susceptible to breakage. While osteoporosis is the most common cause of compression fractures, they can also be caused by traumatic back injuries or tumors on your spine.
With osteoporosis, a compression fracture could be triggered by any amount of force. For example, your vertebrae can fracture while you attempt to lift a heavy object or even after you sneeze.
How can I manage the pain from my compression fracture?
At Premier Pain Consultants, Dr. Ho or Dr. Kwok can help you manage your back pain with up-to-date techniques as part of a personalized treatment plan. Popular, minimally invasive treatments for compression fractures are:
Kyphoplasty
During kyphoplasty, your doctor inserts a hollow needle into your broken vertebra. A balloon is inserted through the needle. It is then inflated to restore some of your bone’s original size. Cement is then injected into the cavity to keep its structure. This procedure relieves both pain and pressure in the fractured spine that causes pain.
Vertebroplasty
Vertebroplasty is similar to kyphoplasty in that a cement mixture is injected into your bone to retain its structure. The cement is injected without a balloon device to restore some of your bone’s structure.
Compression fractures in your spine aren’t just painful; they disrupt your ability to move properly and worsen over time. For expert treatment and pain management, call or schedule an appointment online at Premier Pain Consultants.
