Osteoporosis and Spinal Fusion Baltimore MD

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become very brittle and break easily.  There are a number of factors that put people at risk for this disease, including poor lifestyle choices around diet and exercise, age, smoking, a history of taking certain medications and being female.  Bone fractures from osteoporosis can be large and dramatic, like breaking a hip, or they can be tiny hairline fractures that are not even noticed, though they may accumulate over time, causing eventual pain and/or disability.  One specific injury that can happen as a result of osteoporosis is a compression fracture of the spine.  It occurs when the vertebrae break down.  A compression fracture may or may not be painful, though it is likely to cause some pain eventually.  The individual or their family may notice a stooped posture or a loss of height first.

Spinal Fusion Baltimore and Other Compression Fracture Treatments

When a compression fracture is very severe and painful, a spinal fusion Baltimore MD surgery may be desired to fuse together two or more remaining vertebrae in order to create a stable spine and reduce the pain of the condition.  Surgery is not always a desirable treatment, particularly for those individuals who may be elders who already have multiple other health conditions that may put them at risk from general anesthesia or other parts of the surgery process.  While spinal fusion surgery Baltimore  may be almost unavoidable for some patients, alternative treatments may be sufficient for others.  Here are a few things that can help with osteoporosis and compression fractures:

• Increasing exercise can improve bone health for all individuals, including those who have a diagnosis of osteoporosis.  Being sedentary can cause bones to become even more extremely fragile.  A good program of walking, gentle yoga, dancing, or even weight lifting, with the help of a physical therapist or sports medicine trainer, can increase strength and build muscle that can take the weight off of stressed bones.
• Certain medications can increase bone density.  Pain medications can sometimes be used to relieve the worst symptoms of a compression fracture.  Supplementation of certain nutrients, especially vitamin D, is recommended.