Are vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) difficult to diagnose?
If a compression fracture is suspected during a physical exam, diagnosis can be easily confirmed with radiographic studies. Compression fractures, however, tend to be under-recognized by physicians and patients alike. The difficulty with diagnosis arises when the discomfort from a compression fracture is mistakenly regarded as simply “back pain” or a “normal” part of aging. Sometimes, a person can have a compression fracture and not have any symptoms at all; this too, can be an obstacle to diagnose. Over time, the stooped posture and chronic pain associated with multiple compression fractures contribute to an overall poor quality of life. If compression fractures are not diagnosed and consequently, left untreated, the physiological and psychological consequences can be devastating. It is important to have the reason for back pain investigated. Only a complete physical exam, together with an x-ray and MRI, can help your physician determine whether back pain is from a compression fractur
