What should I expect as I recover?
People often report greater ease with daily activities within a week after vertebroplasty. Pain also decreases rapidly, and most people require less pain medication within two weeks. Despite these quick improvements, most orthopedists consider that it takes about three months for the bone to heal after vertebroplasty.
Patients are encouraged to walk and do moderate activity as they recover. However, patients should avoid strenuous activity until the surgeon approves it.
Patients who continue to have pain or who have lost muscle tone and strength may need to undergo physiotherapy. At Next Step Physio, our physiotherapists can design a personalized program to help speed your recovery. Although each individual recovers at their own pace, our vertebroplasty patients typically attend therapy sessions for four to six weeks.
When the original fracture was due to osteoporosis, our physiotherapist will suggest ways to prevent future problems. Patients may advised on dietary supplements (calcium and vitamin D) to maximize bone health and lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and starting an exercise program, may also be discussed.
The goal of our physiotherapy is to safely advance strength and function. Our physiotherapist may use treatments such as heat or ice, electrical stimulation, or massage to calm pain. Gentle exercise improves the strength of the spine and limbs. We can help you learn how to move safely using healthy postures to reduce strain on the healing back. Exercises for the heart and lungs improve stamina and help with pain control.
As your physiotherapy sessions at Next Step Physio come to an end, we will help you get back to the activities you enjoy. Ideally, our patients are able to resume normal activities. Our physiotherapist may councel you on which activities are safe or how to change the way you go about your activities.
When recovery is well under way, your regular visits to Next Step Physio will end. Although we will continue to be a resource, you will eventually be in charge of doing your exercises as part of an ongoing home program.
Next Step Physio provides services for physiotherapy in Edmonton.
Portions of this document copyright MMG, LLC.