Let Orange County Pain Clinics help with Vertebral Compression Fractures.
Vertebral compression fractures are a common cause of pain. They become more common with age, due to a lack of bone density. The fracture occurs when a bone in the spine collapses due to increased pressure, which causes significant pain. Outside factors, such as a tumor or a fall, can cause the fracture.
The most frequent symptoms of vertebral compression fracture include severe back pain and increased pain from walking or standing.
- Numbness or weakness can sometimes occur in the arms and legs.
- The pain that you experience varies according to the number of vertebrae involved.
How is it treated?
Vertebral compression fractures can be treated through procedures that correct a collapsed bone. One of these procedures is called kyphoplasty and involves the use of a probe placed into the spine near the site of the fracture. A balloon is inserted into each side of the vertebra and then inflated until the desired height is reached. The balloons are then removed and the empty space is filled with a special cement.