Life After a Compression Fracture

What families should know about the outlook, recovery and preventing the next fracture, from Dr. Michael Erdman in Fort Lauderdale

Many people recover from a spine compression fracture and get back to most of their usual activities. But the fracture is also a warning sign. It often means the bones are weak, and it raises the chance of another fracture.

Dr. Michael Erdman at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale helps patients and families manage pain, stay active and protect the bones after a fracture. This guide answers the questions families ask most, including the hard ones.

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$Care and recovery after a spine compression fracture at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale$

Important Notice from IROSM: This guide is general education, and every person’s outlook is different. Dr. Michael Erdman at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale can review the imaging and health history and explain what it means for you or your parent.

Does a Compression Fracture Shorten Life Expectancy?

A spine compression fracture is linked with a higher risk of death in the following years, especially in older adults. This does not mean every fracture shortens a person’s life. The fracture is often a sign of weak bones and frailty, and some of the risks behind it can be improved.

In a large study of older women, those with spine fractures had a somewhat higher death rate than those without. The risk rose with the number of fractures. In another study of older adults, the higher risk was linked with older age, weak thigh muscles and having another fracture. The details are in the research below.

That points to what families can do: treat the weak bones, build strength, stay active and prevent falls and further fractures.

Long-Term Effects of a Spinal Compression Fracture

Many people heal well. Some have lasting effects, especially after more than one fracture:

Ongoing back pain for some people, from the fracture, tight muscles or nearby joints
Loss of height
A more rounded upper back, sometimes called a hunched back
Less room in the chest and belly after several upper-back fractures, which can make breathing harder or make you feel full sooner
Less activity and fear of falling, which can weaken muscles further
Feeling down or worried about pain and independence

Ongoing pain can often be treated. See low back pain treatment or, for pain in the middle of the back, mid-back pain treatment.

Preventing the Next Fracture

After one spine fracture, the chance of another one is much higher, especially in the first year. Preventing the next fracture is one of the most important parts of care.

Check bone health: a compression fracture should lead to a bone density test and osteoporosis care. Dr. Erdman works with the primary care doctor or an osteoporosis specialist on this.
Treat osteoporosis: bone medicines can lower the risk of another spine fracture.
Prevent falls: remove loose rugs, add night lights and grab bars, wear shoes with good grip, and get eyes checked.
Review medicines: ask the doctor about any that cause dizziness or sleepiness.

Exercise After a Compression Fracture: What Helps and What to Avoid

Staying active is good for bones, muscles and balance. Experts recommend exercise for people with spine fractures, planned around the person’s pain and fracture risk. Ask Dr. Erdman or a physical therapist for a plan that fits you.

What often helps:

Walking at a comfortable, moderate pace
Balance exercises every day
Exercises that strengthen the back muscles that hold you upright
Strength training guided by a therapist

What to avoid or change:

Bending forward from the waist, such as toe touches, sit-ups and crunches
Twisting the spine, especially while bending or lifting
Lifting heavy things
Jumping and other jarring, high-impact activities
Activities with a high chance of falling

For everyday tasks, bend at the hips and knees and keep the back straight, instead of rounding the back. A physical therapist can teach this safely.

How to Sleep With a Compression Fracture

On your back: with a pillow under your knees to take pressure off the lower back
On your side: with your knees slightly bent and a pillow between them
In a recliner: some people find this easier while the pain is worst
Getting out of bed: roll onto your side as one piece, let your legs come off the edge, and push up with your arms

Pain that keeps waking you at night, or new pain, is worth telling your doctor about.

Helping a Parent at Home

Set up daily life on one floor if stairs are hard, with everyday things within easy reach
Help with lifting, such as groceries, laundry and trash
Keep an up-to-date list of medicines and bring it to visits
Go to appointments, or join by phone, and bring your questions
Watch for the warning signs below

Family members can call us at (954) 751-6990 to ask about scheduling and how the evaluation works, even from another state. To discuss private medical information, we need your parent’s permission, or you need the right legal authority. Dr. Erdman speaks English and Spanish.

When to See a Doctor

Go to the emergency room after a serious fall, or for back pain with new weakness or numbness in the legs or trouble controlling the bladder or bowels. Chest pain or trouble breathing also needs emergency care.

Call the doctor soon for sudden new back pain, which can mean a new fracture, pain that is not easing, or fever with back pain.

For how fractures are diagnosed and treated, see spinal compression fracture treatment in Fort Lauderdale. When pain from a fracture that has not healed stays severe, kyphoplasty in Fort Lauderdale may be an option.

What the Research Says About Life After a Spine Fracture

Spine fractures and life expectancy in older women: A study followed 9,575 women aged 65 and older for about eight years. Women with one or more spine fractures had a death rate about 1.2 times higher than women without. The rate rose with the number of fractures. Kado DM, et al. Vertebral fractures and mortality in older women: a prospective study. Arch Intern Med. 1999;159(11):1215-1220. View the study.
What is linked to the higher risk: A study of older women and men in Australia found death rates were higher than expected for about five years after a spine fracture. Older age, weak thigh muscles and having another fracture were linked with higher risk. Bliuc D, et al. Mortality risk associated with low-trauma osteoporotic fracture and subsequent fracture in men and women. JAMA. 2009;301(5):513-521. View the study.
Risk of another fracture: In women with osteoporosis, those who already had a spine fracture were about five times more likely to have another one within a year. Lindsay R, et al. Risk of new vertebral fracture in the year following a fracture. JAMA. 2001;285(3):320-323. View the study.
Exercise after a spine fracture: An international expert panel recommends exercise for older adults with osteoporosis or a spine fracture. It should include strength and balance training, not only walking or other aerobic exercise. The panel noted that few studies have tested exercise in people with spine fractures. Giangregorio LM, et al. Too Fit To Fracture: exercise recommendations for individuals with osteoporosis or osteoporotic vertebral fracture. Osteoporos Int. 2014;25(3):821-835. View the study.
Bone medicines: A task force of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research found that bone medicines lower the risk of another spine fracture by 40% to 70%. Ebeling PR, et al. The Efficacy and Safety of Vertebral Augmentation: A Second ASBMR Task Force Report. J Bone Miner Res. 2019;34(1):3-21. View the study.

Care After a Compression Fracture in Fort Lauderdale

Dr. Michael Erdman sees patients with spine compression fractures at our Fort Lauderdale office, for patients from across Broward County. Dr. Erdman speaks English and Spanish.

Institute of Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (IROSM)
3333 West Commercial Blvd, Suite 101
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Phone: (954) 751-6990

Frequently Asked Questions About Life After a Compression Fracture

What is the life expectancy after a compression fracture?

There is no single number. Studies link spine fractures with a higher risk of death in the following years, especially in older adults. The fracture is often a sign of weak bones and frailty. Treating bone health, building strength and preventing falls can help.

Can you live a normal life after a compression fracture?

Many people get back to most of their usual activities. Some have ongoing pain, loss of height or a more rounded back. Staying active, treating bone health and preventing falls give you a better chance of doing well.

What are the long-term effects of a spinal compression fracture?

Some people have ongoing back pain, loss of height or a rounded upper back, especially after several fractures. Several upper-back fractures can also make breathing harder. The chance of another fracture is higher.

How should you sleep with a compression fracture?

Many people are most comfortable on their back with a pillow under the knees, or on their side with a pillow between the knees. Some find a recliner easier while the pain is worst. Roll onto your side as one piece to get out of bed.

What exercises should you avoid with a compression fracture?

Avoid bending forward from the waist, such as sit-ups and toe touches, twisting while lifting, heavy lifting and jarring activities like jumping. Walking, balance exercises and back-strengthening exercises often help. Ask for a plan that fits you.

How can you prevent another compression fracture?

Get a bone density test and osteoporosis treatment, stay active with strength and balance exercise, and make the home safer to prevent falls. Dr. Erdman works with the primary care doctor or an osteoporosis specialist on bone health.

When should you see a doctor after a compression fracture?

Go to the emergency room for leg weakness or numbness, trouble controlling the bladder or bowels, chest pain or trouble breathing. Call the doctor soon for sudden new back pain, which can mean a new fracture, or pain that is not easing.

Do I need a referral to be seen at IROSM?

It depends on your insurance. Many HMO, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans need a referral from your primary care doctor before you see a specialist. Please check with your plan, or call us at (954) 751-6990 before your visit to confirm.

Get Help After a Compression Fracture

Board-certified in family medicine · Fellowship-trained in interventional spine and pain medicine · Fort Lauderdale & Hialeah

Call (954) 751-6990 to ask about a visit with Dr. Michael Erdman at our Fort Lauderdale office. Family members are welcome to call about scheduling. Same-week appointments are usually available.