Spinal Fracture

Approximately 1 million Americans suffer a spinal compression fracture every year, but many don’t realize it until they have debilitating back pain or experience new spinal curvature. At Innovative Pain Medicine, Usman Saleem, MD, MSPT, is both a physician and physical therapist. He uses the most advanced nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatments to help heal spinal fractures and prevent their recurrence. There are four offices in New York, including locations in Williston Park in Nassau County, Bellerose in Queens, Midwood in Brooklyn, and Port Jefferson Station. Click the online booking tool or call the office nearest you for help today.

What is a spinal fracture?

A spinal fracture is a crack or break in one of the vertebrae in your spinal column. There are two main reasons for spinal fractures: 

Weak bones

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the bones to thin, weaken, and become more vulnerable to fracture. Its effects are most obvious in the vertebrae, hips, wrists, and forearms. 

When you have osteoporosis, it doesn’t necessarily require a dramatic fall to break a bone. Vertebral compression fractures, in which pressure over time causes a break, are common in people with osteoporosis.

Injuries

Injuries like auto accidents, sports injuries, and falls can cause spinal fractures. While osteoporotic compression fractures are most common in older adults, traumatic spinal fractures can happen at any age. 

How are spinal fractures diagnosed?

Many people aren’t aware they have vertebral compression fractures and discover them when they seek treatment for chronic back pain. Some other signs that may prompt an imaging analysis of the spine include:

• Decreased ability to move normally, including walking
• Kyphosis: a hunched appearance, indicating vertebral collapse after a fracture 
• Shrinking height 
• Tingling sensations in the spine
• Numbness in the spine

Another warning sign of an untreated vertebral compression fracture is difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels. Spinal fractures are often diagnosed in an emergency room setting after a traumatic accident, such as a car crash. 

Are spinal fractures treatable?

Spinal fractures are treatable. The earlier you undergo treatment, the better you can preserve your spine’s function and prevent long-term pain. 

For early-stage treatment, some of the most common options include anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, bracing, and taking bisphosphonates. These prescription drugs slow the progression of osteoporosis, stabilize your bones, and reduce the risk of future fractures.

Innovative Pain Medicine offers a leading-edge procedure called kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive outpatient treatment to restore the height of fractured and collapsed vertebrae. 

This procedure involves precisely inflating the collapsed vertebrae and injecting bone cement to return the vertebrae to its proper height. Kyphoplasty relieves back pain and prevents that vertebra from collapsing again. 

Treating spinal fractures now can help you avoid the pain, disability, and spinal changes associated with severe spine damage. To learn more about how Innovative Pain Medicine can help, call the nearest office or book your consultation using the convenient online feature now.