Shopping at Target and Meeting a Former Patient
Last week, I was shopping at Target for a birthday gift for my youngest daughter. My daughter was invited to a friend’s party and I wanted to find something nice for her to bring. As I was browsing the toy aisle, I was engrossed in deciding what Lego set to buy for the gift. I didn’t notice that someone was calling my name until my daughter nudged me and said, “Daddy, someone is calling you. Dr Hurst-Wicker, Dr Hurst-Wicker.” I turned around and saw a familiar face. It was one of my former patients, a young woman in her 50s who I had treated for a compression fracture a few years ago.
“Anne” gave me a big hug and thanked me for fixing her broken back and returning her to feeling normal. After I fixed her broken bone with a kyphoplasty procedure, we made sure her family doctor worked with her to treat her osteoporosis and prevent this happening again. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes the bones to become weak and brittle, and can lead to fractures in the spine, hip, or wrist. When I first met her, Anne was in extreme pain due to an acute vertebral compression fracture. This is when a bone in the spine collapses and causes the spine to curve forward. At the time she was afraid that she would not be able to see her son graduate from high school.
Fast forward a few years and that same son is doing well in college. Since we fixed the bone in Anne’s back, she feels great and has no pain or limitations in her daily activities. Thanks to her family doctor, her bones are stronger than before and the risk of her breaking another bone and needing to see me again has gone down a lot. Overall, she told me that kyphoplasty changed her life and she shares her story with any others who might be suffering from the same condition.
What is Kyphoplasty and How Does It Work?
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can repair a compression fracture and restore the height and shape of the spine. It can also relieve pain, improve posture, and prevent further complications from osteoporosis. Kyphoplasty is done under local anesthesia and IV sedation, and takes less than an hour. The procedure involves making a small cut in the back and inserting a thin tube with a balloon at the end. The balloon is inflated inside the fractured bone, creating a space and lifting the bone back to its normal position. Then, the balloon is deflated and removed, and the space is filled with a special cement that hardens quickly and stabilizes the bone. The cut is closed with a bandage and the patient can go home the same day.
Kyphoplasty has many benefits for patients with compression fractures. It can reduce or eliminate pain, improve mobility and function, restore height and alignment of the spine, prevent further fractures and deformity, and improve quality of life. Kyphoplasty is safe, effective, and minimally invasive. Most patients report significant improvement in their symptoms and satisfaction with the outcome of the procedure.
Why I Love Seeing My Patients Out and About
As a pain medicine physician, I specialize in treating pain caused by various conditions, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, nerve damage, and cancer. I have performed hundreds of kyphoplasty procedures for patients with compression fractures and osteoporosis. And over the years I’ve seen how this procedure can transform the lives of my patients and help them regain their health and happiness. I love seeing my patients out and about, living their best lives and knowing that I was able to help them make that happen. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job and my passion.
I hope that this story can inspire and inform others who might be suffering from compression fractures or osteoporosis and let them know that there is hope and help available. Kyphoplasty is a proven and effective treatment that can restore your spine and your life. If you or someone you know has a compression fracture or osteoporosis, I encourage you to contact me or my team at Red Butte Pain Solutions in Chandler, Arizona. We are here to help you and provide you with the best care possible. We serve patients from Sun Lakes, Chandler, Laveen, Tempe, Maricopa, Casa Grande, and other nearby areas. You can schedule a consultation or learn more about kyphoplasty and other services we offer. We look forward to hearing from you and helping restore quality to your life.