

Your surgeon may prescribe physical therapy to help you learn the correct and safe way to move throughout your day, so be sure to keep all of your physical therapy appointments and perform the recommended activities and exercises they ask you to do as well.Īnytime you move, remember that the goal is to keep the spine as straight and lengthened as possible, to avoid placing unnecessary strain on the back. That means that you will have to change the way that you do a lot of your normal activities of daily life, such as getting out of bed. With surgery for a compression fracture, you will not be able to twist or bend your back for as much as 6 weeks following the surgery.

If you have surgery, you should always follow any instructions given by your surgeon and avoid any lifting or exercise for at least several weeks. One of the most important aspects of healing from a compression fracture is preventing re-injury. Tips for Getting Out of Bed with a Compression Fracture If rest is indicated, your doctor may also use additional things to support your healing, such as a back brace, muscle relaxants, and pain medication.įor more severe fractures, or for people who meet the qualifications, surgery, such as a minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion, may also be done to correct the fracture. In some cases, a compression fracture is treated only through rest and natural healing of the body. The treatment for a spinal compression fracture will depend on where exactly the fracture occurs, how severe the injury is, and if you have any other accompanying medical conditions, such as severe osteoporosis or cancer. The symptoms of a compression fracture include back pain that gets worse over time (especially with standing), not being able to bend or move like normal, a decrease in height (your vertebrae will compress, making you shorter), stooped posture, trouble walking, and pain or tingling down the legs. Compression fractures usually occur in the middle, lower part of the spine. Your vertebrae are what allow you to do everything from stand upright, bend over, and lift objects, so any injury that occurs in your spine can affect your ability to move and cause significant pain.Ĭompression fractures in the spine can be caused by osteoporosis, especially in women and men as they age, as well as through severe trauma or injury, like a car accident or sudden fall, in younger, healthy individuals. Here is more information about compression fractures and tips for how you can get out of bed with a compression fracture safely.Ī compression fracture in your spine, officially called a vertebral compression fracture, is a serious injury that happens when part of the vertebrae in your spine collapses. Although it may seem like a small thing, even something as simple as how you get out of bed in the morning could impact your healing.Ĭompression fractures can take time to heal, and may require surgery to correct, so it’s crucial to make sure that you are doing everything you can to help your body recover and prevent injury again.
BACK BRACE FOR COMPRESSION FRACTURE HOW TO
If you’ve been diagnosed with a compression fracture in your spine, it’s important that you take time to learn how to move correctly during your recovery. Here’s how to protect your spine if you have a compression fracture.
