Severe back pain can indicate more than simply fatigue or soreness – in some cases, you may have actually fractured a vertebrae in your back. The culprit may be a compression fracture, which is what occurs when a fracture occurs across the front of a vertebrae, causing it to collapse inward and lose height. The following are signs that you may have a compression fracture as opposed to just standard back pain.
#1: You have been diagnosed with osteoporosis
Osteoporosis or any other type of bone degenerative disease in the spine are the usual causes of spinal compression fractures. This is because the weakening of the spine makes them more prone to this sort of damage. If you already have an osteoporosis diagnosis and you feel sharp and ongoing pain, then you need to be checked for fractures.
#2: The pain is mainly in the upper back
Compression fractures happen almost exclusively in the upper back, so you aren't likely to feel the pain in the lower back. If the source of the pain is in the upper lumbar region or above, then you may have a compression fracture.
#3: You've recently done a back straining activity
It's important to know that the types of activities that lead to these fractures are straining on the back, but they aren't always straining overall. Common things that can lead to a compression fracture include picking up a heavy suitcase, box, or bag of groceries; slipping or falling; lifting something with minor weight, such as a mattress or laundry basket; or even bending or hunching down to get into a car. The pain would have initially started when doing the activity and then continued thereafter if a compression fracture had occurred.
#4: Your spine is curving
Not everyone feels sharp pain. In some cases, you may notice that your spine is beginning to curve and that there is a low chronic pain in the area surrounding the curve. In this case, you have at least one compression fracture, if not more, and you need to seek treatment.
#5: Height loss is occurring
As the problem worsens, either from further compression of the fracture or multiple fractures, height is lost. This can come along with other chronic pain issues beyond the back, including hip pain, breathing issues, and digestion problems. These are all caused by the shortening of the spine and the resulting compression of the torso.
If you suspect that you have a compression fracture, contact a doctor in your area to find out your treatment options. Contact a clinic like Southwest Florida Neurosurgical & Rehab Associates for more info.
Share26 September 2016
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