Hello All,
My very significant other is presently having CT and MRI scans done to see if Kyphoplasty is an option. She was in so much pain that she would pass out from it multiple times during the day. They gave her radiation treatments at the spine to control her pain but two months out seemed not to work. To handle the pain, she is on Methadone, Lyrica, Robaxin, Oxy and some other drugs but she still has bad pain but not as bad as before. The pain runs down her legs. It appears the pinched nerves in the spine are those that control her legs and cause the problem. Her feet are swollen and her two toes look badly bruised. She is unable to walk and her left leg drags when I pick her up under the arms to go to the toilet. She cannot sit very long as it also is very painful. We are now waiting to finish up with the CT and MRI scans to see if they will do Kyphoplasty. I can add to this as my sister-in-law had Kyphoplasty 3 years ago after having stage 4 lung cancer with the exact same pain level as my wife and after she had Kyphoplasty, she was horseback riding that week. She lived 3 years pain free due to Kyphoplasty.
Hello All,
My very significant other is presently having CT and MRI scans done to see if Kyphoplasty is an option. She was in so much pain that she would pass out from it multiple times during the day. They gave her radiation treatments at the spine to control her pain but two months out seemed not to work. To handle the pain, she is on Methadone, Lyrica, Robaxin, Oxy and some other drugs but she still has bad pain but not as bad as before. The pain runs down her legs. It appears the pinched nerves in the spine are those that control her legs and cause the problem. Her feet are swollen and her two toes look badly bruised. She is unable to walk and her left leg drags when I pick her up under the arms to go to the toilet. She cannot sit very long as it also is very painful. We are now waiting to finish up with the CT and MRI scans to see if they will do Kyphoplasty. I can add to this as my sister-in-law had Kyphoplasty 3 years ago after having stage 4 lung cancer with the exact same pain level as my wife and after she had Kyphoplasty, she was horseback riding that week. She lived 3 years pain free due to Kyphoplasty.
My back collapsed on itself. I was just standing in line. I put salonpas on it thinking just a sprain. The pain was intense. I made it 4 days then went to see my ortho surgeon. He sent me for MRI and told me to bring back the results. The pain mgmt dr was in the next office. The dr said for best results you need the kryoplasty 7 days from injury. The next morning I was getting it injected from pain mgmt-he is a radiologist, too. It was supposed to provide almost immediate relief-it didn’t. 22yrs ago I was advised to have spinal fusion by an ortho and 2 neurologists-I didn’t. Instead I did pain mgmt. Mine is L5S1. Both doctors have treated me since the beginning. Hindsight says I should have had the surgery because I have other health problems preventing surgery.
I recently had a T11 compression fracture caused by lifting a 4 gallon, 35 lb bucket of paint. I felt a massive shift and significant pain, I felt like I got kicked in chest and had the air knocked out of me.
I had L5-S1 360 ALIF/PLIF Fusion 10 years ago and SI joint LINQ fusion 3 years ago. I typically have 2-3 piriformis treatments per year and 2 rhyzotomy's annually to keep me out of major pain and with good mobility. I didnt expect a compression fracture since ive been feeling fairly good.
I went to my pain management dr because the pain in my mid back was excruciating. I could not take a deep breath, going to the bathroom hurt my ribs, I couldn't roll over in bed or even reach to the nightstand for my water bottle without having the absolute worst spasms in the paraspinal muscles.
The MRI showed a complete fracture of my T11 and retrolythesis of L2& L3.
Insurance required me to give the compression fracture 4 weeks to heal naturally (sometimes they do) before the kyphoplasty could be approved. Ultimately I had to wait 12 weeks from the accident to get the kyphoplasty, so I had to wear the most uncomfortable brace to hold my back upright.
I had the kyphoplasty which was a complete success and 90 % of my pain is gone but I am now in PT to strengthen the core muscles because ther is no surgical fix for the L2-L3 retrolythesis.
Had I known about how successful the kyphoplasty would be, I would have pushed harder to get it done sooner. It was amazing!
I would like to hear the pros and cons of doing Kyphoplasty or Verteboplasty. I am scheduled for it next week but pain from compression fracture is so much better after four weeks.I am concerned about the bleeding factor and whether my back will be curved without it.It is T12 vertebrae.Thank you all.
I would like to hear the pros and cons of doing Kyphoplasty or Verteboplasty. I am scheduled for it next week but pain from compression fracture is so much better after four weeks.I am concerned about the bleeding factor and whether my back will be curved without it.It is T12 vertebrae.Thank you all.
@taylorbj Those questions should be addressed to your surgeon as no one here can tell you what your outcome will be after you heal. My elderly mom was not a candidate for kyphoplasty because of severe osteoporosis, and her back healed with a 43 degree curve added to her spine because of a similar compression fracture. That is possible to have permanent deformity following a compression fracture. I should add that she wasn't good about wearing the back brace they gave her and she argued about why she needed it. From what my physical therapist has said, those procedures can be beneficial.
My spine surgeon told me that the kyphoplasty was for pain relief and that the outcome would be the same if I did not have it. So I decided against. But I am a less is more kind of person and the doc said he was too.
I read about risks like leakage of cement into lungs, and also the fact that the glass-like substance could contribute to further breaks, abut my doc said no, they have gotten better at it.
I really don't know if having the kyphoplasty reduces disability. I have trouble lifting anything much at all, but the pain did resolve and my posture isn't bad so far, even with several fractures at this point. It's a tough decision!
I would like to hear the pros and cons of doing Kyphoplasty or Verteboplasty. I am scheduled for it next week but pain from compression fracture is so much better after four weeks.I am concerned about the bleeding factor and whether my back will be curved without it.It is T12 vertebrae.Thank you all.
I have severe osteoporosis and as a result have had many compression fractures. To date I have had 8 kyphoplasties and I have definitely benefited from them. There is no perfect solution so do your research. I had mine done in a hospital with an interventional radiologist. I think it’s important when giving consideration to this procedure but also that you give consideration to the place and dr that is doing the procedure.
I have severe osteoporosis and as a result have had many compression fractures. To date I have had 8 kyphoplasties and I have definitely benefited from them. There is no perfect solution so do your research. I had mine done in a hospital with an interventional radiologist. I think it’s important when giving consideration to this procedure but also that you give consideration to the place and dr that is doing the procedure.
Well worth it for me. Would not be where I am without them. That is not to say it is easy. The procedure is outpatient but does definitely require a good recovery time. I find full recovery to be about 4 weeks. I would only have it done in a hospital that offers this procedure by a dr who has done them many times. I don’t think I would be walking at all and in a tremendous amount of pain without them. There will always be limitations because I am 74 and I still have severe osteoporosis and I have had 8 kyphoplasties done. I do live with chronic pain but nothing like it was when I had the fractures. I always recommend do the research and find the best doctor for the procedure and then make an informed decision.
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Hello All,
My very significant other is presently having CT and MRI scans done to see if Kyphoplasty is an option. She was in so much pain that she would pass out from it multiple times during the day. They gave her radiation treatments at the spine to control her pain but two months out seemed not to work. To handle the pain, she is on Methadone, Lyrica, Robaxin, Oxy and some other drugs but she still has bad pain but not as bad as before. The pain runs down her legs. It appears the pinched nerves in the spine are those that control her legs and cause the problem. Her feet are swollen and her two toes look badly bruised. She is unable to walk and her left leg drags when I pick her up under the arms to go to the toilet. She cannot sit very long as it also is very painful. We are now waiting to finish up with the CT and MRI scans to see if they will do Kyphoplasty. I can add to this as my sister-in-law had Kyphoplasty 3 years ago after having stage 4 lung cancer with the exact same pain level as my wife and after she had Kyphoplasty, she was horseback riding that week. She lived 3 years pain free due to Kyphoplasty.
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1 ReactionMy back collapsed on itself. I was just standing in line. I put salonpas on it thinking just a sprain. The pain was intense. I made it 4 days then went to see my ortho surgeon. He sent me for MRI and told me to bring back the results. The pain mgmt dr was in the next office. The dr said for best results you need the kryoplasty 7 days from injury. The next morning I was getting it injected from pain mgmt-he is a radiologist, too. It was supposed to provide almost immediate relief-it didn’t. 22yrs ago I was advised to have spinal fusion by an ortho and 2 neurologists-I didn’t. Instead I did pain mgmt. Mine is L5S1. Both doctors have treated me since the beginning. Hindsight says I should have had the surgery because I have other health problems preventing surgery.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI recently had a T11 compression fracture caused by lifting a 4 gallon, 35 lb bucket of paint. I felt a massive shift and significant pain, I felt like I got kicked in chest and had the air knocked out of me.
I had L5-S1 360 ALIF/PLIF Fusion 10 years ago and SI joint LINQ fusion 3 years ago. I typically have 2-3 piriformis treatments per year and 2 rhyzotomy's annually to keep me out of major pain and with good mobility. I didnt expect a compression fracture since ive been feeling fairly good.
I went to my pain management dr because the pain in my mid back was excruciating. I could not take a deep breath, going to the bathroom hurt my ribs, I couldn't roll over in bed or even reach to the nightstand for my water bottle without having the absolute worst spasms in the paraspinal muscles.
The MRI showed a complete fracture of my T11 and retrolythesis of L2& L3.
Insurance required me to give the compression fracture 4 weeks to heal naturally (sometimes they do) before the kyphoplasty could be approved. Ultimately I had to wait 12 weeks from the accident to get the kyphoplasty, so I had to wear the most uncomfortable brace to hold my back upright.
I had the kyphoplasty which was a complete success and 90 % of my pain is gone but I am now in PT to strengthen the core muscles because ther is no surgical fix for the L2-L3 retrolythesis.
Had I known about how successful the kyphoplasty would be, I would have pushed harder to get it done sooner. It was amazing!
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Helpful -
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1 ReactionThank you. I am following in you footsteps and your post gave me a giant step forward.
Best of tomorrow to you!
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2 ReactionsI would like to hear the pros and cons of doing Kyphoplasty or Verteboplasty. I am scheduled for it next week but pain from compression fracture is so much better after four weeks.I am concerned about the bleeding factor and whether my back will be curved without it.It is T12 vertebrae.Thank you all.
@taylorbj Those questions should be addressed to your surgeon as no one here can tell you what your outcome will be after you heal. My elderly mom was not a candidate for kyphoplasty because of severe osteoporosis, and her back healed with a 43 degree curve added to her spine because of a similar compression fracture. That is possible to have permanent deformity following a compression fracture. I should add that she wasn't good about wearing the back brace they gave her and she argued about why she needed it. From what my physical therapist has said, those procedures can be beneficial.
My spine surgeon told me that the kyphoplasty was for pain relief and that the outcome would be the same if I did not have it. So I decided against. But I am a less is more kind of person and the doc said he was too.
I read about risks like leakage of cement into lungs, and also the fact that the glass-like substance could contribute to further breaks, abut my doc said no, they have gotten better at it.
I really don't know if having the kyphoplasty reduces disability. I have trouble lifting anything much at all, but the pain did resolve and my posture isn't bad so far, even with several fractures at this point. It's a tough decision!
I have severe osteoporosis and as a result have had many compression fractures. To date I have had 8 kyphoplasties and I have definitely benefited from them. There is no perfect solution so do your research. I had mine done in a hospital with an interventional radiologist. I think it’s important when giving consideration to this procedure but also that you give consideration to the place and dr that is doing the procedure.
@mdfriel how do you think you benefited?
Well worth it for me. Would not be where I am without them. That is not to say it is easy. The procedure is outpatient but does definitely require a good recovery time. I find full recovery to be about 4 weeks. I would only have it done in a hospital that offers this procedure by a dr who has done them many times. I don’t think I would be walking at all and in a tremendous amount of pain without them. There will always be limitations because I am 74 and I still have severe osteoporosis and I have had 8 kyphoplasties done. I do live with chronic pain but nothing like it was when I had the fractures. I always recommend do the research and find the best doctor for the procedure and then make an informed decision.