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Spinal Fractures
Spinal instability is the excessive motion between vertebrae caused by stretched or torn ligaments and broken bone. Abnormal slipping and rubbing motions can cause pain and damage the spinal nerves or spinal cord. Stable fractures can usually be treated with bracing and rest. Unstable fractures usually require surgery to realign the bones and prevent spinal cord compression.
Conditions like osteoporosis weaken your bones. Sometimes when the bones in your spine, also known as your vertebrae, get so weak that they fracture and collapse. Spinal fractures can happen from something as dramatic as a fall, or from a simple movement like coughing or sneezing or reaching for something in a cupboard.
Unlike the pain from a broken arm or hip, the pain from a spinal fracture is not always severe, sometimes it is quite mild.
Most women think that backaches are just part of getting older. But if that backache has been caused by a spinal fracture, it can set the stage for more fractures, resulting in a hunched, or deformed spine.
Once this happens, it can become more difficult to function day to day. You have more difficulty moving as easily, clothing doesn't fit properly, and it becomes difficult to perform simple activities such as driving, bathing, cooking, and even sleeping. As time goes on, you may have difficulty breathing and getting adequate amounts of food into your stomach. There can also be a great deal of pain and other medical problems. If you are experiencing these symptoms, call Dr. Moza, a Ventura County spine surgeon, for a consultation.