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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@mdfriel

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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I am well past my last fractures, which were in April 2021. I have 7 total spinal fractures, some from trauma and some from osteoporosis. I declined kyphoplasty and my ortho doc was "less is more" in philosophy. I can walk 10 miles for each of two days but am almost always in pain, and have lost 2 1/2 inches. My doc said outcome would be the same with or without kyphoplasty so I was curious if this was true.

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I am so sorry you have so many of these. I have three and then two years ago I started developing a lot of pain, because a chiropractor even though I showed him, my MRI took his hands and press down hard on my thoracic.. my spinal surgeon did kyphoplasty, but did tell me it would not do much to alleviate the pain at all, but would help stop more fractures, so yes, he is being honest .

This might help, I hope, I am having myofascial release massage and it’s making a difference, she is a PT and is using lasers as well. Find a PT that works with Kyphosis if you can.

Hope this help,

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@leigh17

I am so sorry you have so many of these. I have three and then two years ago I started developing a lot of pain, because a chiropractor even though I showed him, my MRI took his hands and press down hard on my thoracic.. my spinal surgeon did kyphoplasty, but did tell me it would not do much to alleviate the pain at all, but would help stop more fractures, so yes, he is being honest .

This might help, I hope, I am having myofascial release massage and it’s making a difference, she is a PT and is using lasers as well. Find a PT that works with Kyphosis if you can.

Hope this help,

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I have been going to a PT who does ultrasound and massage, for 8 months now. I am doing fine. I do not have bad kyphosis at all. I was told that kyphoplasty could cause more fractures. It is hard to know what to believe but whatever research I was able to do, supported my decision not to have them.

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@windyshores

I have been going to a PT who does ultrasound and massage, for 8 months now. I am doing fine. I do not have bad kyphosis at all. I was told that kyphoplasty could cause more fractures. It is hard to know what to believe but whatever research I was able to do, supported my decision not to have them.

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I’ll just chime in to say my PT , who I feel is thoughtful and astute , told me that the research has not shown kyphoplasty to be a very effective treatment long term. I did my own research and found that was accurate from what I read.

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@lioness

@contentandwell Thanks JK . I talked to Dr. today she is ordering me an MRI ASAP She didn't see any fracture thinking it was my old fracture so I'm grateful for this but I don't know what it is . Also my dexa scan came back and showed only Osteopenia has decreased but no osteoporosis Who do you trust any more? I hope to see the light next week after MRI

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Glad to hear it!

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