(Branson, MO) - Mary Rainey from Branson West, was getting out of bed one morning when she suddenly found herself suffering from severe back pain. The 82-year-old didn’t realize it at the time, but she had just experienced a compression fracture, which occurs when one of the bones in the spinal column weakens and collapses. Rainey says, “I was in such severe pain, any movement I made was painful.”
Rainey’s primary physician referred her to Dr. Chris Reeves, Orthopedic Surgeon at Skaggs Regional Medical Center. Rainey says, “He took one look at my X-ray and said that’s the problem, pointing right to the compression fracture.” Reeves decided Rainey was a good candidate for the minimally invasive procedure, balloon kyphoplasty.
A month later, Rainey still cannot believe how quick the procedure was completed and how immediately she felt the effects of balloon kyphoplasty. She says, “I was done in 20 to 30 minutes. I was in such severe pain before the procedure. Suddenly I had no pain; it was a miracle.” Rainey was not alone in finding relief. Her daughter, Marty Schmitt says, “When mom hurts, my sister and I hurt. When the balloon kyphoplasty took away mom’s pain, it allowed us to stop hurting for mom.”
During Rainey’s balloon kyphoplasty, Dr. Reeves made a one centimeter incision. Next, a small balloon was guided into the vertebra and inflated. Then, the balloon was deflated and removed. The empty cavity was filled with special cement to support the surrounding bone and prevent further collapse.
Balloon kyphoplasty has been around since 2000. Benefits of the procedure include improved quality of life, reduction in back pain, increased mobility, and improved ability to perform daily activities.
You are invited to find out more about lumbar spinal stenosis from Dr. Chris Reeves, Monday, March 30, at 6 p.m. in the Magnolia, Dogwood, and Redbud Rooms at Skaggs Regional Medical Center. The presentation is free to attend.
Ron says ...
On Thursday, Mar 12 at 2:58 PM
that sound great. I have a spinal stenosis problem and wonder if that can help me