When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn't know what I was going to do. After the devastation subsided, I decided to take a very standard, western approach to my healing. Although initial efforts were successful, my cancer recurred a few months later. I endured many additional months of treatment before I started focusing on myself. I decided it was time to incorporate complimentary alternative treatments into my healing regimen, including massage therapy. I can't even begin to tell you how much it changed my life. My healing became a process, instead of something I simply had to endure. I hope that the articles on my website can inspire you to stay open-minded about your own healthcare.
Some elderly people develop osteoporosis of the spine, which causes extreme pain. This condition can worsen and cause you to suffer a fracture of vertebral bones in your spine that thereafter collapse. When your vertebrae collapses, it affects your posture. You assume a stooped stance, which causes you to lose height. Your pain level then becomes increasingly unbearable. Kyphoplasty surgical procedure can offer you relief from this painful condition.
What Is Kyphoplasty?
Kyphoplasty is a slightly invasive procedure that you undergo to relieve the pain of any fractured vertebrae in your spine, but no major surgical incision is involved in the operation. Kyphoplasty is designed to prevent any additional collapse of your fractured vertebral spine, which is brought about by your worsening osteoporosis condition. Bone loss results when you suffer from osteoporosis.
You can expect that the procedure will eliminate your back pain or at the very least reduce the level of pain you experience. You will also regain the height loss you suffered when the vertebrae collapsed. Regaining your original height will improve your posture.
The Procedure
Kyphoplasty is performed as an inpatient procedure. The procedure reportedly lasts for approximately 30 to 45 minutes, according to a website article. The article notes that you will receive either general anesthesia that puts you to sleep for that length of time or administered local anesthesia that only sedates you.
After you are placed to lie on your stomach, the surgeon will make two small skin openings in your back in order to locate the vertebra. Special tubes will lead through the skin openings into your fractured vertebra while guided by X-ray imaging equipment. Your surgeon inserts a special balloon into your collapsed vertebra by way of the tubes.
Liquid solution is inflated into the balloon to return the compromised vertebra back to its original height. Thereafter, the balloon is deflated, and the cavity left behind is expanded. Bone cement is then fed through the tubes into your vertebra, and the cement hardens in a short space of time.
Brief Hospital Stay And Discharge Instructions
Your hospital stay will be brief, according to the article. It advises that discharge will take place the next day. The article also notes that you may not need strong pain medications after 3 to 4 days following surgery. You will be told whether you may need physical therapy to strengthen your spinal muscles about two weeks following the procedure, and you'll get that information from your surgeon during a follow-up visit.
Always Have Your Bone Density Test Performed
It is important for you as an elderly person to have your bone density test done as instructed by a primary care physician (such as one from Southwest Florida Neurosurgical Associates). Early signs of bone loss, when identified, will require you to take calcium supplements that strengthen your bones.
Share29 September 2015
