Is a vertebral compression fracture serious?

Sure can be: Any vertebral fracture has the potential to be bad. Compression fractures, depending on the cause, can create lots of problems. Among them are pinched nerves with associated pain syndromes, loss of mobility and others. Depending on the situation, compression fractures can be heralds for more ominous things. You should be seeing a doctor for this, if you haven't already.

Compression fracture: This has been treated with activity modification or bracinging for wedges under 30% the bone heals in 6 weeks the pain improves at 3 months check the underlying disease osteoporosis and aggressively treat it to prevent the next one. Watch your saggital plain alignment(progressive )alignment these are usually low energy fallsi n weak bne without neurologic complications, heal on their own not serio.

Depends on degree: Location, severity and associated symptoms determine how serious a compression fracture is. Cervical and thoracic compression fractures threaten your spinal cord function. Lumbar compression fractures can cause leg weakness or bowel/ bladder problems. Sometimes pain is the only symptom and this can be treated with a brace or bone cement, kyphoplasty. Usually you should be followed for symptoms.

It depends: Some patients have pretty minimal pain with compression fractures. There is one study that as many as one third of women over 65 will have have a compression fracture on a chest xray. Some patients, however have severe pain and can be bedridden. Thankfully, there are good surgical options for those in severe pain. Thank you for your question.