5 Ways to Boost Your Recovery from a Spine Fracture

It can take up to four months for a spinal fracture to heal, depending on the severity of the fracture and whether surgery was necessary. Most people assume that spinal injuries require nothing but bedrest, but you’ll need to do more than just lie down to rehabilitate your back. Here are five ways to boost your recovery. 

At Apex Endovascular, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, Dr. Shawn Ahmed and his team can provide forward thinking care when it comes to spinal fractures, helping you recover as swiftly and completely as possible.    

A brief overview of spinal fractures 

Your back consists of 33 vertebrae stacked one on top of another to form the curvature of the spine. You can experience a fracture in any section of your spine: cervical (starting at the base of the skull and continuing down the neck), thoracic (the center of your spine), and lumbar (your lower back down to your tailbone). 

The most common kind of spine fracture results from compression over time, often exacerbated by degenerative conditions like osteoporosis. This weakens the structure of your bones, causing cracks and fissures to form in the vertebrae. Over time, you can lose height and develop a hunched posture, known as kyphosis. 

There are also chance fractures and burst fractures, which are caused by a strong force pushing your vertebrae together, or pulling them apart. These are more common in younger people who have experienced falls or car accidents.

Depending on the severity of the fracture and whether surgery was necessary to correct significant damage, your recovery can last a few weeks or a few months. Here are five ways to make the most of that time. 

1. Make sure you have proper back support

You should be wearing the correct back brace following a spinal fracture. It should fit snugly and provide support where you need it most. If you’re not sure what kind of brace to buy, ask Dr. Ahmed for recommendations. 

2. Balance bedrest with light activity 

You’d think back injuries call for nothing but bedrest, but you shouldn’t allow yourself to stagnate and grow stiff. Gentle stretching and light activity can prevent stiffness and increase blood flow throughout the body. 

3. Seek treatment for osteoporosis 

Vertebral compression fractures often occur due to osteoporosis, which causes the bones to become brittle and prone to breakage. Many people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they have a fracture. Diagnostic scans should start at age 70 if you’re a man, and at age 65 if you’re a woman — earlier if you’re menopausal or have a family history of osteoporosis.

4. Practice physical therapy 

Physical therapy uses hands-on techniques and supervised exercises to help you regain mobility and strength following an injury. Many people underestimate the importance of physical therapy, but it’s especially important following a spinal fracture.

5. Consider kyphoplasty

If you’re experiencing moderate-to-severe pain due to a spinal fracture, you need further treatment. While bed rest and physical therapy might get you moving again, you might have an unstable fracture that could result in re-injury. This is when Dr. Ahmed might recommend kyphoplasty. 

About kyphoplasty

This procedure is designed to treat vertebral compression fractures, and has the added benefit of being minimally invasive. It’s also safer for older patients; kyphoplasty only takes an hour, so general sedation isn’t necessary, and the risk of hospitalization is lower. 

During the surgery, Dr. Ahmed makes a small incision and uses a thin tube to reinforce the broken vertebrae with bone cement. This not only restores height and function, but dramatically and immediately reduces pain. 

Struggling with back pain following a spine fracture? Get in touch with the team at Apex Endovascular by calling 970-508-8439, or book an appointment online.