Question
Dr Starbuck,
20 weeks ago I slipped on ice on my front cement porch. I went to the ER and had a ton of x-rays that showed I had a compression fracture at T5. I have since had a CT and MRI. The anterier side is 50% compressed and 2 fracture lines run through as well. I have been in great pain since. I live on endocet. I saw a spinal trauma surgeon and he said there is nothing he can do. I wanted to explore Kyphoplasty but he said you can't do it above T6 and the fracture is the wrong type. He said it would take 6 months to a year before I have no pain. I have been off work since the fall. The Ct and MRI show no spianl canal problems or nerve compression. My question is: Is what he said true with respect to the procedure and the time frame for healing? Also, if there is no nerve problem, where is all the pain coming from? Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks
Terry

Answer
I can't give you a time frame of healing, everyone heals at a different pace, worse case scenario you could have this lingering pain the rest of your life.  Pain can come from many different areas.  It could be coming from the muscles that have spasmed since the fall, like a "whiplash".  Just because the spinal cord is not damaged doesn't mean you can't have pain.  I would seek a chiropractic evaluation.  If the fracture site is not causing the pain, a chiropractor can get to the root of where the pain is coming from and attempt to correct it, more than a medical doctor will do (prescribe pain meds and PT).  If you have any other questions or concerns, please email me.

Dr. Starbuck