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DESCRIPTION:
A vertebral compression fracture, also called a vertebral crush fracture, is a collapse or breakdown of one or more of the bones in the spine (the vertebrae). An estimated 700,000 vertebral compression fractures occur in the United States each year, with as many as one third of them becoming chronically painful. Eighty-five percent of these fractures are due to primary osteoporosis. These fractures can lead to progressive spinal deformity, causing changes in spine biomechanics contributing to increased risk of further fracture at adjacent levels or progressive mal-alignment, deformity and pain. Mortality may be increased as much as 30 percent in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
How does a vertebral compression fracture develop?
This type of fracture typically results when osteoporosis, the "brittle bone" disease, weakens the bones in the spine. Lack of calcium or other nutritional as well as hormonal defficiencies, as well as sustained use of some medicines can also lead to weaker bones. Although a fall or a jump may cause the fracture, the bones sometimes collapse from the body's own weight. This type of fracture happens most often in the thoracic region, or middle section, of the spine. A simple movement, such as bending or lifting, may cause the fracture. Over a period of time, multiple fractures of the fronts of the vertebrae may collapse and wedge together. This will cause what is commonly called a dowager's hump, or kyphotic deformity, in some women as their spines bend forward and they develop a rounded back. Lax or injured ligaments in the spine may also be involved.
What are the symptoms of a vertebral compression fracture?
If the injury occurs suddenly, severe pain or weakness will be experienced in the back, arms or legs. If the collapse happens more slowly, the pain may be much milder. Individuals may also experience problems with urination and bowel movements. In addition to severe pain, vertebral compression fractures frequently cause mal-alignment of the spine. This can lead to further mal-alignment of the entire spine, which puts unusual stress on muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones throughout the spine. Complications of vertebral fractures include loss of height, back pain and a stooped posture. With multiple vertebral fractures, bending, lifting, reaching, climbing and walking become difficult. Patients may become anxious and depressed as they try to cope with pain, lifestyle changes and the physical limitations of daily living. Loss of self-esteem may also result from the disfigurement caused by the deformity.
Conentional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of a vertebral compression fracture, but they do not address the root of the problem. By strengthening structural weaknesses in the body, as natural medicine treatments like Prolotherapy do, pain associated with a vertebral compression fracture may be alleviated permanently.
Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat a vertebral compression fracture.
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