How serious is a compressed vertebrae?

A spine compression fracture happens when too much stress is placed on one or more vertebra, causing it to collapse. Spine compression fractures are serious, and they can cause painful or debilitating symptoms that interfere with your quality of life.

How long does it take for a l3 compression fracture to heal?

Compression fractures usually heal on their own in about 3 months. While that happens, your doctor may suggest you try some things at home that can make you feel better, such as pain medicines, rest, physical therapy, or a back brace.

Can a compressed vertebrae be fixed?

Surgical Treatment Vertebroplasty is a new surgical procedure that may be used to treat compression fractures. In this procedure, the surgeon inserts a catheter into the compressed vertebra. The catheter is used to inject the fractured vertebrae with bone cement, which hardens, stabilizing the vertebral column.

Is walking good for compression fractures?

However, this does not mean you should stay sedentary until the fracture heals. Low impact activities, such as walking or tai chi, are good for your heart, and a healthy circulatory system can increase blood flow to the fracture and help your bones heal faster.

Do you need surgery for a compression fracture?

Most of the time, compression fractures in your back — small breaks in bones caused by osteoporosis — heal on their own in about 3 months. But you might need surgery if you’re in a lot of pain and can’t get relief from medicine, a back brace, or rest.

Is a compression fracture a broken back?

A compression fracture occurs when the front of a vertebra breaks and loses a little of its height, but the back of that vertebra remains intact. Symptoms include pain in the back and sometimes in the arms or legs.

What is the best pain medication for a compression fracture?

Medication. Over the counter medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and NSAIDS (anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen) can help to relieve your pain. But if your pain persists despite the use of these medications, you may require a stronger prescription pain reliever from your doctor.

What happens if a compression fracture goes untreated?

If left untreated, the fractured vertebra can eventually collapse causing pain, limited mobility, and deformity. These fractures are most common in the thoracic spine, which is below the upper body and centered in the middle of the back.

How painful is a l1 compression fracture?

Symptoms. If the fracture is caused by a sudden, forceful injury, you will probably feel severe pain in your back, legs, and arms. You might also feel weakness or numbness in these areas if the fracture injures the nerves of the spine.

Can you fully recover from a compression fracture?

Many spine compression fractures heal in two or three months. If you have osteoporosis, a full recovery may take as long as a year. Regular follow-up visits during this time allow your doctor to evaluate the fractured vertebra and the way your spine is responding to the injury.