Has anyone ever had a Kyphoplasty?

Yes, I had one 5yrs ago due to a fracture to my L5. I had tenderness to site for about 24hrs. I definitely recommend ice packs for 1st 24hrs. After that, very minimal tenderness. A fractured vertebrae is very painful, as you know. The kyphoplasty stopped the pain. And recovery was short.

My grandmother had horrible pain from a compression fracture. She lived in Appalachia with just the minimum of medical resources. She resisted staying with me as she didn’t think she could withstand the 6 hour car ride. When she finally acquiesced, I had a hospital bed put on the first floor and had already researched the best interventional radiology groups. They did kyphoplasties many times a day. I was in the waiting room, the procedure did not take long at all (I remember being surprised but not how long it actually took). Grandma was immediately better and by dinner was asking to go home!

Thank you for sharing that. I love the positive feed back. I still am seeing a spine doc. I think I will try and get a neurosurgeon referral for advice.

Thank you. I am just afraid they will go into my back and it will just crumble. I will try to get an appointment with a Neurosurgeon to discuss it and hopefully decrease my fears. Thank you for your feedback.

Most neurosurgeon don't do kyphoplasty or vertbroplasty. They are usually done out patient by a Radiology interventionist.

You do need a referral tho. But even a primary care doc can do this

I was told by a neurosurgeon and an orthopedist that if I received Kyphoplasty, the vertebrae underneath would crack. Both felt very strongly that a person with severe osteoporosis should not undergo this procedure. The orthopedist routinely performs it. In fact, I went to see him with a referral for Kyphoplasty.

Harryboy7, your osteoporosis is not as bad as mine. You may be a candidate. If not, ask your doc if you can have the procedure after you’ve increased your bone density a bit.

When my compression fractures happened I went to the ED (ER). I had an Orthopedic doc evaluate me. CT scan was done. Later on I also had an MRI. Anyway in the ER the Ortho doc said I wasn't a candidate for surgery. The PA doctor mentioned a Kyphoplasty. I am afraid.
I have heard some positive report.
I do want to see a Neurosurgeon first. Someone said that is the wrong road to take. It has been 4 months now, and I still am in a lot of pain. I just don't know what road I should take.
Thank you sharing your experience.

Did your grandmother have severe osteoporosis. May i ask where the procedure was done.

Yes she definitely had osteoporosis but I don’t know what her T score was. The procedure was done at the university of Virginia hospital. At the time I lived in charlottesville Virginia