My story, Kyphoplasty advice

@gently my vertebrae is 75% collapsed - I don't care about height but I would want spine stabilization - so vertebroplasty is what I should get? I'm getting 3 rd opinion now.... I shall see what this Dr says. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

It is two years since I posted my story and I'm now 65. I still don't know if I should have done kyphoplasty, but didn't. I have had almost two years on anabolic bone medicine, first Tymlos and then Forteo. The switch was simply a matter of cost. My bones feel strong but my spine has a slight kink in it which makes my body want to curve forward. I have to work on posture to counter this. I am cautious but my bones feel great and I have worked up to being able to jump a little and run a little with no issues. I am bicycling a lot but notice breathing is easier if I really work on my posture. The curved spine makes breathing harder. In 2024 I worried my bones were so soft that kyphoplasty would've created too much of a difference in density to my bones and possibly create fractures. I will never know.

@bebagar, bone cement is more has a greater likelihood of leaking if the fracture is 70% or greater. If you can a skilled surgeon who is willing, it could be worthwhile.
The advantage of height restoration, (especially with wedge fractures) is that it restores some of the spinal configuration in fracture, which is the bent forward position.
It is really good that you are having a third opinion. Vertebroplasty might be a good option or fusion might advantage you more. I'm sorry to hear about that fracture. They can be so very painful. Best wishes.

@maggie25 thanks for sharing this.....I too am in a kyphoplasty conundrum - to have done it earlier? To try it now? Glad you're able to run and jump - I'm not a runner, but hope to someday be able to do at least a few jumping jacks without pain. I continue exercising 4 days per week as best I can (strength, chair yoga, drum fitness, cardio).....just gotta keep moving so I don't get depressed about my situation. Good luck to you too!

@bebagar good for you taking time to get several opinions. It is so difficult making choices like this. I wish you relief from pain and success in whatever you try.

I'm currently -4.8 (working on my bones... trust me!) and have had 4 spinal compression fractures. They were all pretty severe "intermittent" pain for 2-3 weeks... but then slowly subsiding (but still there occasionally ). I had a pain dr. who was VERY passionate (?why) about doing a verteoplasty (or kyphoplasty?) but I wanted a second opinion. I went to a SPINE surgeon at a well known hospital in Dallas who said "No we do not recommend any surgery on the spine unless your pain or injury is substantially interfering with your life." That was enough for me... My posture worries me... working on that as well. But be aware: I suffered a fracture while working out at Osteostrong when the back pad on the weight machine was too hard; also when working with a PhD PT after spending 3 days getting in and out of my sister's very high SUV... Im not blaming anyone just sharing we have to be our own advocate. Blessings to all...

I’ve not personally had experience with kyphoplasty, but I can tell you about a 95 year old veteran man that I look after who had it done.

I’m in this group because I have severe osteoporosis. The veteran guy I look after was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis last year after falling and breaking his ankle. He later broke his L1, L2 and L5 and had a compression fracture in his L4 from the ongoing weakening in his spine. He was on the highest dose of dilaudid (opioid drug) for months. The drug made him drowsy, constant constipation, all the side effects. They kept telling him a kyphoplasty would make life better…less pain, less side effects. He did the surgery in December 2025 and was able to get off dilaudid in April 2026. It took four months for his back to “heal” from the kyphoplasty. He’s had a couple more falls, but hasn’t broken any additional bones (knock on wood).

Good luck in your decision making.

@windyshores We have both consulted with Dr. McCormick in MA. I live in Texas, heard him on a podcast and was so impressed we flew to MA for a consultation. I did Tymlos for two years, then Evenity for one year (just finished in June). Not sure what is next. I don't like the idea of Prolia and may opt for a bisphosphonate. What was your sequence? Also, found it interesting that you have trigeminal neuralgia (TN), which I also have. Mine is post-herpetic neuralgia, following a case of shingles. The virus damaged the opthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve. While having shingles I began having excruciating pain in my eye, forehead and scalp. I was on gabapentin and increasing the dosage stopped the attacks. I would like to get off the gabapentin, but absolutely could not tolerate those attacks. TN is nicknamed the suicide disease and I understand that. Sites say it is the worst pain known to humanity and I understand that too. TN can be caused by compression on the nerve by a blood vessel and I would not hesitate to have the surgery for it (microvascular decompression surgery--MVD), but my TN was caused by the virus and not by a blood vessel, so the surgery would not help me. It's been 15 months and I keep hoping I will heal over time, but I have read posts from women who have had post-herpetic neuralgia from shingles for 3 years, 8 years and even 13 years. Depressing.

@suegsbfromtexas I don't often find women who have the level of osteoporosis that I do. My T-score was -4.7 and I have had several spinal compression fractures also. And I live in Texas too--Lucas in the Dallas area. And I also did Osteostrong for about 18 months. I stopped after consulting with Dr. Keith McCormick in MA who did not advise it. He also cautioned me about Silver Sneakers exercise classes. Some of the exercises in the class are not appropriate for those of us with severe osteoporosis. Dr. McCormick strongly suggesting Tymlos, so I took that for two years and had great gains in my spine. Can't remember the exact T-score, but around -3.8 a score which would freak out most women, but I was happy to be back in the -3 range. Have just finished a year of Evenity, so am hoping to have made even more gains. Next I would like to find someone who does the other bone test (REMS) which measures quality of bone. Echolight is the name of the machine. It is difficult to find, but hoping the DFW metroplex will have someone who offers it. I'm learning that the T-score is only one measurement and REMS is radiation-free and gives a better picture of the status of one's bones.

@kathleenintexas wow... would love to share (hopefully) successes! Our t scores match - haha. email me at alchemycreative@aol.com. I found someone who did that test - it is Echolight. I did it at a themography center in Dallas. It shared that the inside of my bone - trabecular - is only osteopenia... and the outside is what is disintegrating slowly . I had to have someone in the center "decipher" it for me... she also recommended some minerals, etc I am taking. All that said, my rheumatologist said to probably keep moving forward with my plan. I start Teriparatide monday and am prayerful and hopeful... yet somewhat nervous as that step seems like you are committing to bone meds the rest of your life. ugh. My cardiologist said Evenity probably not great for me with my scores and family history of CV events unfortunately. PS - I had my 3rd SC fracture at Osteostrong unfortunately... pushing too hard against the padded back of the weight machine (only it wasnt padded enough!) I am now doing PT covered by medicare and they are helping and being very careful. I, too, would love to be back in the -3 range! Forteo did that for my friend.