Can you have a compression fracture and not experience any pain? i was in a car accident and didn't experience any pain until about 2 weeks after. when i went to the doctor they did an mri and said that i had an old compression fracture. could i have had

Vertebral : Vertebral compresion fractures are very common in post menopausal women especially caucasians. The fracture may or may have not been related to the accident. Two ways to see if the fracture is new or old are to either do a bone scan or an mri. If the bone scan is hot the fracture is new. The MRI may show blood around the fracture site and associated swelling if it is a fresh fracture.

Yes: Absolutely. One study showed that in chest stays on women over 65, fully one third of them had a compression fracture. Many of them did not know it. Thanks for the question.

Yes, but not at 30: While compression fractures do become more common in post-menopausal women, even without pain or obvious inciting events, it is unusual for a young woman to have a compression fracture unless the accident was severe. You may want to see a bone health specialist to make sure you have normal bone density, to reduce the risk of additional fractures in the future.

Unlikely from MVA : Fractures that are 2 weeks old from your car accident would have a different appearance than an "old" compression fracture. Agree than bone mineral density testing is in order.