I am 28 years old. On October 28,2005 I was in an accident that broke some lumbar vertebrate.?

Question

On the day of the accident, I had kyphoplasty. The other options I was given didn't seem to be good at the time. I was in severe pain and was told this would give me instant relief. Well a year and a half later now, I still have severe pain. After researching kyphoplasty I found it is not indicated for patients with compression fractures that was the result of an accident. Does anyone know why this would have been done? Can anyone tell me what I can do to get relief from the agonizing pain. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I would have to agree on the first part of the first answer GET A NEW DOCTOR! Find a good Neurologist.

There is no reason you should be suffering from severe pain.

I can not disagree more with the first answer that it is your fault you decided on Kyphoplasty.

Kyphoplasty is not appropriate for:

Patients who suffer from spinal stenosis or herniated discs with nerve or spinal cord compression and loss of neurological function not associated with a vertebral compression fracture.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=470&topcategory=Spine

This option should have never been presented to you as an option for surgery.

I would find and hire a malpratice attorney now. Most states has a two year statue of limitations.

Back problems are for life and you will need all the financial support you can find for the rest of your life.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

Hi there
I hope you don't mind me chiming in here, I don't have anymore to say than has already been said but just wanted to say I too disagree totally with the latter half of the first answer where they hold you responsible for the choice of operation you had.

All I can assume is they must be married to someone in the medical field or a hireling within that profession..................I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw what the person had written; That's absolute rubbish, I would do as Jeffrey suggests & change your Doctor as fast as possible & get yourself a good lawyer that can take this on for you......you were clearly in severe pain, not to mention the shock of the accident; which would obviously have had a huge impact on any choices having to be made at that time. You should never have even been offered that option anyhow & went solely on advice given you by a person[s] apparently knowledgeable in their field of chosen profession.

Kyphoplasty is not appropriate for:
"Patients with young, healthy bones or those who sustained a vertebral body fracture or collapse in a major accident"

I'm no professional but if you're continuing to experience pain at the level you are so long after your accident; your spinal cord or surrounding nerves are being irritated somehow..........I would hazzard a guess & it is only a guess that perhaps the cement used to fill the cavity has "leaked" out & may be irritating the spinal cord or nerves. This can cause a lot of pain. It's very rare for this to occur as the cement sets hard but it does occur in under 10% of patients having this procedure so that's one option to perhaps have looked into.

I'm not saying it will be but further surgery MAY be needed to stop the irritation of the nerves or spinal cord. If it is this that's happening then you should get it attended to as soon as possible, not just to relieve the pain you experience but to prevent any permanent damage that could be caused to the spinal cord.

I'm so sorry you're in such excruciating pain after so long & genuinely hope you can find adequate pain relief soon & start once again to be able to continue with your life.
Good luck & I wish you all the best
KB.

Answer 3

MAY I SUGGEST that you change yyour medical practioner and get some pain relief.
Perhaps the doctor at the time didnt know what was going on.
THEY ARE ONLY HUMAN and dont always get it right.
YOu made the dicision to have a certain operation therefore the onus is on you.
TRY ANOTHER Orthopaedic doctor and see what he advises you to do.