Oklahoma Pain Physicians, Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma Pain Physicians, Norman, OK

Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00, Sat-Sun CLOSED

Oklahoma Pain Physicians Purcell, OK Office

Mon-Thu 08:00-17:00, Fri-Sat-Sun CLOSED



Compression Fracture Specialist

Oklahoma Pain Physicians, Oklahoma City, OK
Pain Management located in Oklahoma City, Norman, & Purcell, OK

Compression fractures in your vertebrae are most likely to happen if you have osteoporosis, a degenerative bone disease. If you’re experiencing the pain and disability compression fractures can cause, Rafael Justiz, MD, and Alina Justiz, MD, at Oklahoma Pain Physicians offer a range of treatments that can help with compression fractures. If you live in or near Oklahoma City, Purcell, or Norman, Oklahoma, you can benefit from their expertise. Call today to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online.



Compression Fracture Q & A

What is a compression fracture?


Compression fractures affect the vertebrae in your spine. This type of fracture occurs when a vertebra loses 15% or more of its height and is most often due to the effects of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a disease that often affects women after menopause. Men can get osteoporosis, and it can affect younger people, but it’s mainly women over 60 who have the most problems.

Osteoporosis leads to a loss of bone density, which leaves the bones weak and more vulnerable to fracturing. When the disease reaches an advanced stage, bones can fracture under the slightest pressure, and a fall is almost certain to cause fracturing.

Osteoporosis can develop when levels of the female sex hormone estrogen drop, which is what happens during menopause. Other significant risk factors for developing osteoporosis include a lack of calcium and vitamin D in your diet, and smoking.

What types of compression fractures are there?


There are several types of compression fractures:

Wedge fractures


Fractures that cause the vertebrae to end up the shape of a wedge are the most frequently occurring type of compression fractures. With a wedge fracture, the damage is in the front of the vertebra, which compacts, but the back of the vertebrae stays the same height, producing the wedge shape.

Crush fractures


A crush fracture is one that affects the whole vertebra rather than the front alone.

Burst fracture


Burst fractures have slivers of bone sticking out of them and are likely to be unstable. They can lead to further complications, such as increasing spinal deformity and damage to the spinal cord.

What symptoms do compression fractures cause?


Like most fractures, compression fractures cause acute pain that can be severe. The acute pain subsides to become a chronic problem, and as the number of compression fractures increases, you start to develop what’s known as dowager’s hump.

The correct name for this common symptom of osteoporosis is thoracic kyphosis. It makes your back round and humped and can cause complications such as:
  • Loss of height
  • Crowding of internal organs
  • Loss of muscle
  • Loss of lung function
  • In addition to the acute and then chronic pain of compression fractures, developing thoracic kyphosis can be disabling, and could also have a damaging effect on your self-esteem.

    How are compression fractures treated?


    Treatment for compression fractures could involve:
  • Rest
  • Pain medication
  • Hot or cold therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • The team at Oklahoma Pain Physicians can also provide advanced surgery for some patients who have compression fractures. The two options are:

    Vertebroplasty


    Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure. Your provider at Oklahoma Pain Physicians injects acrylic cement into the vertebra that has a compression fracture. The cement helps stabilize the bone, which reduces your pain.

    Kyphoplasty


    Kyphoplasty is also minimally invasive. Your provider at Oklahoma Pain Physicians inserts a medical-grade balloon into the fractured vertebra. They then inflate the balloon to restore height to your vertebra.

    If you have osteoporosis or a compression fracture, call Oklahoma Pain Physicians today or request an appointment online.


    What we offer

    Services






    Oklahoma Pain Physicians, Oklahoma City, OK

    Phone (appointments):
    (405)-463-3380
    Phone (general inquiries):
    (405) 463-3380
    [email protected]
    L4117 NW 122nd Street
    Suite C, Oklahoma City, OK 73120

    Oklahoma Pain Physicians, Norman, OK

    Phone (appointments):
    (405)-310-2715
    Phone (general inquiries):
    (405) 310-2715
    [email protected]
    1215 Crossroads Boulevard
    Suite 100, Norman, OK 73072

    Oklahoma Pain Physicians, Purcell, OK

    Phone (appointments):
    (405)-527-0097
    Phone (general inquiries):
    (405)-527-0097
    [email protected]
    1401 North 4th Street
    Suite 106, Purcell, OK 73080

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