Prolotherapy for Compression Fracture |
Recently we received the following email:
Dear
Dr. Hauser,
My name is Karen. I have heard so many wonderful things about you and I
am wondering if you could let me know if you could possible help me with
my medical problem. I suffered a compression fracture of my T12
Vertebrae from a snow tubing accident.
It’s a 20% compression fracture (anterior wedge). Unfortunately after it
happened I very, very stupidly didn’t go to the ER and didn’t find out
if was a fracture until a month later. So after the fracture I tried to
work through the pain even went to the gym three days after the
fracture, which I’m sure was the worst thing for it.
Anyway, it’s now been about 5 months and
I’m in agony every single second of everyday. I feel like a pinching
sensation on the right side of my T12. I have seen four different
neurosurgeons who tell me my nerve doesn’t look pinched. They don’t know
why I’m in so much pain and only offer
narcotic medications. The pain is
just getting worse and worse…I wear a TENS unit all the time. NO
pain medications
have helped AT ALL. They just had me on everything. The muscles from my
T12 area are so sore and it feels like there are big knots in the area,
the pain wraps around my abdomen and it’s now even spreading to my hip.
No doctors have any ideas how to help me. I feel squished on my right
side; that’s the best way I can describe it. The bone is healing fine
according to my
MRI
and CT scan but I’m in constant agony and so so so sore, never mind the
constant pinching feeling. It also hurts when I extend my back on the
right side, it feels so weak.
At first just the fracture site hurt, but
now it’s my entire right side of the abdomen and back area. Do you think
you might be able to help me or any ideas. I’m worried my life may be
over and I’m only 35 years old. Before this I was in perfect health. I
saw a
pain management specialist who offered me steroid shot into the
intravertebral foramina on the right side of T12, but I’m not sure if
that will do more harm in the long run. It feels to me like my joint, I
think it’s the facet joint, that is the source. I am hoping you can help
me and hopefully get my life back. If you don’t think you can help me an
ideas would be hugely appreciated.
Sincerely,
Karen
from Massachusetts
What Karen Massachusetts needs is
Prolotherapy.
A compression fracture of the spine is common. It typically occurs when
an external force is applied to the spine, such as from a fall or
carrying of a sudden heavy weight, the forces may exceed the ability of
the bone within the vertebral body to support the load. This may cause
the front part of the vertebral body to crush forming a wedge shape.
This is known as a compression fracture. Even if the fracture heals it
still can be extremely painful. Why?
I am so happy you asked that question. Do
you suppose that the traumatic force that was of such magnitude that it
caused a fracture may have injured some other structures as well? You
bet it did! It probably injured the
spinal ligaments. These
are the structures that provide the stability for the various vertebral
bodies, so they don’t move too much. If they are injured and the spinal
bones have no stability, guess what is going to happen? Massive muscles
spasms – and boy are those painful! All you have to do is read Karen’s
email and know she is suffering! What is Karen to do?
You ask another great question. What I
believe she needs is
Prolotherapy.
Prolotherapy to the painful area
typically will cause her symptoms to subside in three to six visits.
The average patient gets pain relief even with the first treatment, but
needs three to six visits to get the condition completely resolved.
Karen is only 35 years old, but
compression fractures can happen at any age. Remember that when you
have any fracture you probably injured a lot of other structures in the
vicinity of the fracture. These structures could be ligaments,
tendons,
cartilage or menisci. So if you have continued pain after a compression
fracture or another fracture even though the fracture is healed consider
that the pain is coming from a different spot. It is helpful to
realize that one of the worst treatments for ligaments is rest or
immobility. Guess what happens when you have a fracture? Yes, you
typically immobilize the arm or spine (wear a brace). This lack of
movement makes it even more likely that your ligament or other
soft tissues are not going to heal. Even more reason to go see a
Prolotherapy doctor quickly!
Prolotherapy to the injured ligaments, tendons,
cartilage and menisci is what the person needs. Generally the person is
seen every month until resolution of their pain is reached. On average
this takes between three and six visits. I hope Karen sees a
Prolotherapy
doctor soon!
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