What are the pros and cons for Kyphoplasty?

Posted by mila @mila, Aug 13, 2019

Has anyone in the board had Kyphoplasty surgery? If so, what are the pros/cons?
Thanks

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@contentandwell

@lioness Good luck with this, Linda. You were a nurse so you are ahead of the game more than I am. I seem to have an aversion to medical jargon.
Let us know how the MRI turns out. I have gotten so used to my yearly MRIs that they don't bother me at all anymore. They take my hearing aids out so I can barely hear the commands but I know what they are out of habit. I think having poor hearing makes the MRI noises more tolerable.
JK

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@contentandwell I will let you know They do the same with me I take my hearing aids out and it is much more quieter At least I know its not a new fracture as I was afraid of. One hurdle crossed one more to go .

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@denni

<p>Hello, all. I am wondering if anyone has had kyphoplasty done; and if so, what were the results?? <br />My husband is scheduled for surgery this month, but I would like to know if there are any alternatives; also if anyone has tried a back brace or physical therapy for the condition, and if that was successful. <br />Any replies or advice appreciated.</p>

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Hello...What is Kyphoplasty?

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<p>Hello, all. I am wondering if anyone has had kyphoplasty done; and if so, what were the results?? <br />My husband is scheduled for surgery this month, but I would like to know if there are any alternatives; also if anyone has tried a back brace or physical therapy for the condition, and if that was successful. <br />Any replies or advice appreciated.</p>

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@denni

<p>Hello, all. I am wondering if anyone has had kyphoplasty done; and if so, what were the results?? <br />My husband is scheduled for surgery this month, but I would like to know if there are any alternatives; also if anyone has tried a back brace or physical therapy for the condition, and if that was successful. <br />Any replies or advice appreciated.</p>

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hi my name is kathy. i have a compression fracture on my T12. going for MRI. i was wanting to know if anyone had Kyphoplasty surgery and did it help or not. on the fence about having it. it has been 3 and 1/2 months since i fell. still having pain. wanting to hear from anybody. thanks

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@martinkda

hi my name is kathy. i have a compression fracture on my T12. going for MRI. i was wanting to know if anyone had Kyphoplasty surgery and did it help or not. on the fence about having it. it has been 3 and 1/2 months since i fell. still having pain. wanting to hear from anybody. thanks

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Hi Kathy @martinkda, Welcome to Connect. @contentandwell, @hosta, and @kandc317 and mentioned having Kyphoplasty surgery. @jenniferhunter may also have some thoughts to share on the topic. Here's some information on the procedure that may be helpful.

Kyphoplasty: Recovery: https://www.verywellhealth.com/kyphoplasty-recovery-5084121

Is your doctor recommending Kyphoplasty surgery?

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@johnbishop

Hi Kathy @martinkda, Welcome to Connect. @contentandwell, @hosta, and @kandc317 and mentioned having Kyphoplasty surgery. @jenniferhunter may also have some thoughts to share on the topic. Here's some information on the procedure that may be helpful.

Kyphoplasty: Recovery: https://www.verywellhealth.com/kyphoplasty-recovery-5084121

Is your doctor recommending Kyphoplasty surgery?

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@martinkda @johnbishop I had my kyphoplasty in 2004. I had a bad fall onto my back on a concrete stairway. I was away when it happened and when I got home and had an appointment with my PCP she suggested kyphoplasty. I didn't really know much so I allowed her to contact the radiologist who does them - he's an expert on it and trains other doctors - and I met with him and had it done. I felt immediate relief but about two weeks later I slipped and I twisted to try to catch myself and it was never quite the same after that. Interestingly it was assumed that I must have osteoporosis but I coincidentally had a DEXA set up right around the same time and my bones were great! It was just a very hard fall.

Due to the way it was set up I had no doctor to turn to. My PCP was not schooled in kyphoplasty and radiologists do not see patients so I was out on a limb. What I know now is that she should have referred me to a different doctor who could have managed things. I don't know if that would be an orthopedic doctor or a neurologist. I think that when I twisted I dislodged the cement. Now I have two lumps sticking out along my spine that look like noses! 😉 I would definitely do it again but I would make sure that I went through more helpful channels. I was just too dumb back then to know better. I realize that my PCP was trying to help but I would have liked to have been able to speak to a knowledgeable doctor about it afterward.
JK

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@martinkda

hi my name is kathy. i have a compression fracture on my T12. going for MRI. i was wanting to know if anyone had Kyphoplasty surgery and did it help or not. on the fence about having it. it has been 3 and 1/2 months since i fell. still having pain. wanting to hear from anybody. thanks

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I had Kyphoplasty in June 2020. This was done by Southeast Orthopedics' Dr. Moore and it was a great success.

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@contentandwell

@martinkda @johnbishop I had my kyphoplasty in 2004. I had a bad fall onto my back on a concrete stairway. I was away when it happened and when I got home and had an appointment with my PCP she suggested kyphoplasty. I didn't really know much so I allowed her to contact the radiologist who does them - he's an expert on it and trains other doctors - and I met with him and had it done. I felt immediate relief but about two weeks later I slipped and I twisted to try to catch myself and it was never quite the same after that. Interestingly it was assumed that I must have osteoporosis but I coincidentally had a DEXA set up right around the same time and my bones were great! It was just a very hard fall.

Due to the way it was set up I had no doctor to turn to. My PCP was not schooled in kyphoplasty and radiologists do not see patients so I was out on a limb. What I know now is that she should have referred me to a different doctor who could have managed things. I don't know if that would be an orthopedic doctor or a neurologist. I think that when I twisted I dislodged the cement. Now I have two lumps sticking out along my spine that look like noses! 😉 I would definitely do it again but I would make sure that I went through more helpful channels. I was just too dumb back then to know better. I realize that my PCP was trying to help but I would have liked to have been able to speak to a knowledgeable doctor about it afterward.
JK

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I would like to invite @kjs1964 into this discussion on kyphoplasty also known as vertebroplasty. Here you may connect with several others who are talking about their experiences with kyphoplasty.

I also wanted to let you know that if you use the search box at the top of the Connect screen, you can find other discussions where kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty are mentioned. My elderly mom was considered for kyphoplasty after a spinal compression fracture, but was not a candidate because of her severe osteoporosis. Instead, she was given a back brace and sent to rehab. After 3 months, the spine specialist (spine surgeon) said the brace was no longer necessary because the bones had healed and they did heal with a curvature of 43 degrees which was a bit worse than the curve at the time of the fracture. This was because my mom wasn't wearing the brace as much as she was supposed to do.

It is of note that the specialist who was consulted for this procedure was a spine surgeon who would be an expert on spine alignment and functional issues.

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Developed Kyphosis following a fall. It developed slowly and was not treated. Is it too late for Kyphoplasty now? I lost 3 inches of height and am still
walking a mile a day but my posture is poor. Physical therapy was not effective. Will Kyphoplasty help?

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