kyphoplasty adverse effects

[gerrirose]

has anyone else on this forum experienced further vertebral fractures due to having kyphoplasty done?

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strwebstgmedia.blob.core.wi... Here is the info on this if you copy and paste it the link should work. It is on our website theros.org.uk

[Valerie0106]

I am in the UK and was told by doctors that it is not normally performed due to the risk to adjoining vertebae…

[gerrirose in reply to Valerie0106]

I wish I had known that

[uncountable3 in reply to Valerie0106]

That's wild. I though the primary purpose of kyphoplasty was to reduce the risk of further fractures. When a vertebra is wedged it puts more strain on the neighboring vertebrae.

[gerrirose in reply to uncountable3]

have you had the kyphoplasty procedure yourself? Or are you considering it?

[uncountable3 in reply to gerrirose]

I declined the procedure four years ago and came to regret the decision once I understood that compression fractured vertebrae never recover their shape if left to heal naturally. I've been struggling to correct my posture ever since and I can't help but think my efforts would have been more successful if I had opted for kyphoplasty.

[Valerie0106 in reply to uncountable3]

That’s the decision of the NHS in the UK as I understand it. Our system may be more inclined to non intervention (costs vs benefits) as I suppose the US system may be inclined the other way. I suspect the research can show either result.

[Southerngirl2787]

It is a risk of the procedure. I had my first one, T7, it was a major fracture, didn't heal at all in 2 months, so my surgeon did kypho. I have had MRIs every month since last Sept 2022, so it seems likely per their "story" that T6 and T8 could have fractured due to the "hammering" of the procedure itself. But I also had T11, T12, L1 at the same time as T6 & 8....so it's hard to prove. The kypho cut the pain from level 10, totally intolerable, to level 5 pain within a day of the procedure, and I was able to be more active.

[gerrirose in reply to Southerngirl2787]

you have had mri’s every month to confirm new fractures?

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to gerrirose]

Yes, and each time there's a new one, or one is worse. Today I have another MRI, and its getting old, I hope there's less edema in the vertebrae this round, and maybe not another new one. You can see the swelling through the skin, my doc didn't poke me this last visit, he said he could see it.

[gerrirose in reply to Southerngirl2787]

how do you handle pain management?

[gerrirose in reply to Southerngirl2787]

the reason I ask is I’m dealing with trying to manage pain

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to gerrirose]

Pain mgt is an hour by hour thing. I go to a pain mgt doctor, which makes me angry and frustrated at times. I'm over the drug testing thing, it's what you have to do these days. I cannot take NSAIDS, steroids, anything but tylenol over the counter...they are very bad for bones. I take Norco every 6 hours, as I've learned to stay on the schedule or bad pain can get you when you think you are "fine". I also take two lie down breaks during the day, on a flat surface, with a neck support for proper form. Then there's the rotation of sitting, standing, and stretches to help keep one position from getting too angry. I get out and walk every morning, using hiking poles, it's about a mile walk, 30 minutes. I also require of myself working in the garden for a bit in the morning, as I've found the sun and being outside relaxes me and makes me feel better. I pray for relief, sometimes I'm loud! I meditate, and find a little relief, but if the pain is too far on the awful chart, I can't concentrate. But I've learned not to plan too much, or do more than one major chore daily...by 2pm, the pain can get overwhelming. I am not yet cleared for weight bearing exercises, since last October! Know that we understand the pain, and it's overwhelming when others do not.

[gerrirose in reply to Southerngirl2787]

what is Norco? I’m not familiar with it.

Well you are certainly a lot more active than I am. Since this last vertebral fracture I mostly have to lie flat in bed. On ice. Except for when I’ve got pain medicine still working I can be up for a few minutes. Used to walk a mile or two daily. Fast. Hoping to eventually recover and get back to that.

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to gerrirose]

Norco contains a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is an opioid pain medication. Acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever that increases the effects of hydrocodone. I have 5 that are awful pain right now, 3 that are down to tolerable. I get an ACE bandage, very long one, like 6-8 feet, and wrap it tightly around my torso, I mean, tight. It helps me stay in place when doing outside things...I have two braces, but the old ACE works as well. I force myself to get out and walk, some days are just step by step crushing pain. My husband says it just my stubborn personality! I know I have to keep the ab muscles, buttock too strong.

[gerrirose in reply to Southerngirl2787]

also I am a bit unhappy about not being told more about the risk of adjacent fractures to the kyphoplasty level. Never should have had it done.

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to gerrirose]

In hindsight, I would not have had it done. It did reduce the pain for a short time, but the other two fractured, on either side. Healing these things takes a long long time.

[gerrirose in reply to Southerngirl2787]

mg surgeon told me , AFTER the fact, and only when I asked , that this happened to about 25% of his patients. That got kyphoplasty. I should have been warned. Simple google searches had not revealed that.

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to gerrirose]

I saw it in the risk section of consent for treatment...but you never think this will happen to you! In the last year of surgeries, I've been a slow healer, could be the Lupus...but all the Google searches say we heal in 3 months...but everyone I talk to say it takes up to a year.

[gerrirose in reply to Southerngirl2787]

When I had a thoracic fracture 4 years ago I healed naturally in 3 or 4 months. But this time it’s taking longer. Driving me nuts.

I am also taking hydrocodone. Does help but only for an hour or so.

Just sent you a private chat.