A vertebral compression fracture can cause sudden or progressive back pain that makes it difficult to stand, walk, sleep, or complete everyday activities. Cancer involving the spine or other bones may also lead to persistent pain, instability, or reduced mobility.
Our pain management team helps evaluate the source and severity of your symptoms and recommend treatment options based on your diagnosis, imaging, medical history, and goals.
Click on the tiles below to jump to the common compression fracture and cancer-related bone pain conditions we treat:
A vertebral compression fracture occurs when part of a spinal bone weakens and collapses. These fractures may develop after a fall or injury, but they can also occur during routine activities when the bone has already been weakened.
Patients may experience sudden, localized back pain that worsens with standing, walking, bending, coughing, or changing positions. Some people notice a gradual increase in pain rather than one specific moment of injury.
Treatment options may include:
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that may be considered for selected thoracic and lumbar compression fractures. The procedure is designed to stabilize the affected vertebra and may help reduce pain related to movement at the fracture site.
A thoracolumbosacral orthosis, commonly called a TLSO brace, may also be coordinated to support the spine while the fracture heals. When imaging or medical history raises concern for cancer or multiple myeloma, a biopsy may be performed during kyphoplasty to help clarify the cause of the fracture.
Osteoporosis weakens the bones and increases the risk of vertebral compression fractures. These fractures can occur after a minor fall, lifting, bending, or sometimes without a clearly remembered injury.
Osteoporotic compression fractures may cause:
Treatment options may include:
The treatment plan will depend on the location and age of the fracture, imaging findings, the severity of your symptoms, and whether the fracture appears to be actively contributing to your pain.
In addition to addressing the painful fracture, coordinating osteoporosis care may help reduce the risk of future fractures. This may involve working with the appropriate medical providers to evaluate bone health and ongoing treatment needs.
Cancer that spreads to the spine or other bones can cause significant pain and may weaken the affected area. Symptoms can result from the tumor itself, inflammation, a pathologic fracture, or instability within the bone.
Patients may experience deep, persistent pain that worsens with movement or at night. Symptoms can vary based on the location of the affected bone and the extent of the disease.
Treatment options may include:
OsteoCool tumor ablation may be considered in selected cases to target painful metastatic lesions within the bone. The procedure uses radiofrequency energy to treat tumor tissue and may be combined with stabilization when the affected vertebra has weakened or fractured.
Kyphoplasty or another stabilization approach may also be evaluated when metastatic disease has contributed to vertebral collapse or mechanical pain.
Because cancer-related bone pain often requires coordinated care, treatment planning may involve communication with oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, primary care, or other members of the patient’s medical team.
Kyphoplasty may be considered when a vertebral compression fracture is causing significant pain and the patient meets the appropriate clinical and imaging criteria.
During the procedure, a small pathway is created into the fractured vertebra. The affected area is then stabilized with bone cement. In selected cases, a biopsy may be collected during the same procedure.
OsteoCool is a targeted radiofrequency ablation procedure used in selected cases of painful metastatic bone disease. The treatment is designed to apply controlled energy to tumor tissue within the affected bone.
Your evaluation may include a physical exam, a review of your symptoms and medical history, and a discussion of whether imaging, prior records, or additional diagnostic steps are needed to understand your condition and recommend appropriate next steps.
We may ask about:
Your provider may also review MRI, CT, X-ray, or other imaging to determine the location, age, and severity of the fracture or bone lesion.
From there, we can discuss which treatment options may be appropriate for your specific diagnosis and goals.
Not all vertebral or bone pain comes from the same source. An osteoporotic fracture, metastatic lesion, unstable vertebra, or fracture related to malignancy may require a different treatment strategy.
Our approach focuses on:
