5 Causes of Leg Swelling
You should never ignore leg swelling. While some causes can resolve on their own, others require medical care — and the sooner, the better. Here are five possible reasons behind leg swelling that you should be aware of.
Vertebroplasty or Kyphoplasty: Which Treatment Is Best for a Vertebral Compression Fracture?
Because of problems like aging, cancer, and osteoporosis, the pressure on your vertebrae — the bones in your spine — can become too much for them to bear. When one collapses, doctors call that a vertebral compression fracture.
Unsurprisingly, this type of fracture can result in significant pain, sometimes paired with mobility loss, numbness, and muscle spasms.
The good news is that treatments are available to help your spine when you suffer from this kind of broken bone. At Vascular & Interventional Associates, serving northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati, Ohio, area, our providers help people who experience a vertebral compression fracture.
Your treatment might involve a minimally invasive procedure such as kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty, and our team can help you determine which treatment is best in your case.
Stabilizing your spine: How vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty work
Some vertebral compression fractures heal on their own. But waiting around might not be the right course. If you’re older or if you’re dealing with a condition like osteoporosis or cancer that’s affected your spine, you may benefit from targeted treatment.
Specifically, our team might recommend a minimally invasive procedure that uses a specialized medical cement to stabilize your spine. By injecting that cement into the area where your vertebra collapsed, we can restore structural integrity to your spinal column. This gives you fast, significant pain relief.
Both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty work this way. But there’s one difference that might lead our team to recommend one over the other.
The main difference: Restoring vertebral height
During vertebroplasty, we inject surgical cement into the collapsed vertebra. This prevents the broken pieces from rubbing together and causing pain.
Kyphoplasty works a lot like vertebroplasty, but it requires an additional step. Before we inject the specialized cement, we first inject and inflate a tiny balloon. That balloon adds height to the collapsed vertebra. When we inject the cement into that space the balloon creates, the material maintains the height.
If you’re dealing with a spinal deformity because of the vertebral compression fracture, kyphoplasty may be your best option.
Our team first helps you decide if you should wait to see if your compression fracture will heal on its own or if you should consider vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. If we determine that you’re a good candidate for one of these procedures, we explore both options in detail with you. Our goal is to help you choose the right treatment for your spine and your specific fracture.
A vertebral compression fracture makes life painful, but you don’t have to live with that persistent discomfort. To explore kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty for yourself, make an appointment with the team at Vascular & Interventional Associates in Crestview Hills, Kentucky. Call the office or request an appointment online today.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Love Your Legs: The Connection Between Vein and Artery Disease and Heart Health
If you want to take care of your heart, pay attention to your legs. Conditions that affect the veins and arteries there increase your risk for cardiovascular problems. This month, show your legs some love!
Is Leg Cramping During Exercise a Sign of a Vascular Issue?
You’re working out, but then you feel that familiar cramping in your leg. You may be wondering what’s behind these recurring cramps, and we’re here to help you find out.
Holiday Travel Plans? How to Reduce Your Risk of DVT on the Go
If you plan to spend four or more hours traveling, you increase your risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or blood clots in the deep veins of your legs. Some proactive steps can lower the dangers this holiday season.
The Unspoken Link: How Diabetes Can Lead to Peripheral Artery Disease
It’s National Diabetes Month, and we’re highlighting how a diabetes diagnosis increases your risk for another health condition: peripheral artery disease. Just as important, we explain what you can do to maintain your vascular health.
What Are the Signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. Learn about the risk factors and warning signs to watch for so you can protect your health.