What is a compression fracture of the spine A compression fracture of the spine is a type of bone injury that leads to the collapse of the lumbar vertebrae and their shortening. This fracture usually occurs in the front parts of the vertebrae and causes the body to bend forward over time. (A disease that causes weakness It is more common and can be seen in older men as well. According to doctors' estimates, at least 1 in every 5 years of age in women suffers from compression. Fracture... Half of the people are over 80 years old. Facing this problem for years... Symptoms of spinal compression fracture In the case of multiple fractures, the spine is also deformed.... a part of the vertebrae collapses due to cracking and cannot bear the weight of the spine.... This issue also affects the way the body functions.... The symptoms of a compression fracture of the spine are: - **Height decrease:** In case of fracture, the spine becomes a little shorter and finally after the collapse of a few vertebrae, it looks significantly shorter.... - **Kyphosis (back bending):** The vertebrae become wedge-shaped (geometric) after collapsing and cause the spine to bend forward in this position, finally when you experience pain backwards... - ** Stomach problems: ** Shortening of the spine to the stomach It puts pressure and will bring many digestive problems such as constipation, anorexia and weight loss.... - **Respiratory problems:** If the spine is compressed too much, the lungs will not work properly and breathing will be disturbed.... Read more: Bone fracture treatment in Shiraz + symptoms, diagnosis and treatment Cause of spinal compression fracture Osteoporosis is a disease that leads to thinning of bone tissue and a decrease in bone density. This condition is the most common cause of spinal compression fractures.. The following are other possible causes of vertebral compression fractures: Physical injury to the back - The presence of a tumor in the spine or a tumor spread to this area (relatively rare) - Congenital diseases such as incomplete ossification - Bone infection (osteomyelitis) - Osteoporosis and bone weakness in postmenopausal women and elderly men - Injuries and injuries Treatment of spinal compression fractures The treatment of this disease is focused on relieving pain, stabilizing the bones and preventing other fractures. The treatment methods will include the following according to the severity of the fracture and the overall health of the person: - **Analgesic drugs:** The doctor prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without a prescription or muscle relaxants.... These drugs must be taken according to the doctor's order.... - **Braces:** There are special braces that support the vertebrae of the spine and relieve the pain of the spine by reducing the amount of movement.. Bone loss, keep the bone stable and prevent fractures... - **Vertebroplasty or Kyphoplasty:** these minimally invasive methods are used to relieve pain, stabilize bones and improve mobility.... during vertebroplasty, the doctor injects bone cement into the vertebrae using a needle.... In kyphoplasty, an inflatable device is used and then these two methods of air are injected into the vertebrae... you can return home the same day.... read more: Spine stretching in Shiraz Diagnosing a compression fracture of the spine The doctor first examines the patient to check the curvature of the spine and hunchback.... Then a CT scan, MRI, X-ray or bone densitometry test is prescribed to check for osteoporosis.. These tests, except the bone densitometry test, help to diagnose compression fractures... Some tumors also cause compression injuries.. Diagnostic imaging tests... Prevention of spinal compression fractures.. You can reduce your risk of a stress fracture by taking some important steps to prevent osteoporosis, such as: - Getting enough vitamin D and calcium through foods such as milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, sardines and broccoli - Do a bone density test if you are in the high risk group of osteoporosis - Taking drugs to prevent bone loss or stimulate bone growth as prescribed by the doctor (the probability of fracture recurrence is high in patients who have already experienced this problem) - Quit smoking to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and some types of cancer Avoid drinking too much alcohol Long-term outlook for vertebral compression fractures Many people with osteoporosis can live with less back pain by resting and taking painkillers if needed. Osteoporosis injuries cannot be cured, but by using calcium supplements, quitting smoking, and taking strengthening medications, bones can be protected from future fractures. If the tumor is the cause of the fracture, the underlying cause of the tumor fracture has been resolved (the underlying cause of the cancer treatment and resolution... outlook depends on the type of tumor that caused the problem...