r/kyphosis

Hello everyone, figured I’d try to see what everyone’s experience has been like with this condition and if physical therapy has helped?
I’m 5’7, weigh 150 pounds and have been running for years. I also go to the gym and would consider myself healthy overall.
Two weeks ago I had this severe sudden pain that occurred on my mid / lower back after bending down to play with my doggo, went to the ER and orthopedic for MRI and was told I had this condition.
I was prescribed Diclofenac 75mg, advised to take twice a day. Pain has improved a lot with meds and I’m ITCHING to go out and run but my orthopedic suggested I wait until after physical therapy is finished.
Does physical therapy really help? Should I seek a second opinion with a different specialist?

29 fm I’m 7 days post op i had 88 degree curve from SK, my t6-t12 was naturally fused so they had to remove my t10 along with 2 corresponding ribs, shave down my t9 and and crest wedges in other vertebrae for flex ability.

I know this is going to be a very long an mentally/ physically challenging recovery so I can use all the words of encouragements.

Started gym 2 months ago, im 185cm (6’1”) x 70kg (154 lbs). I don’t have any pain. I also have scoliosis, its really noticeable looking at chest, I feel really bad about this when I watch my back in the mirror. Do you have any suggestions to improve ?

Hi

Has anyone had experience (either professional or personal) experience of dealing with thoracic kyphosis caused by thoracic compression fractures?

I’m 46 yo male and had multiple fractures back in October 2022.

Life has been hell trying to recover and I’m left with:

- pain at t10/11 (endplates/disc/facet joints)
- pain at t5-8 (facet joints)
- everyday/every movement clicking and clunking
- muscle guarding all down my back.

An image from a recent spect scan attached (the t9/10 should be labelled t10/11…) and report extract below.

I’m desperate to find people who have had a similar journey or have experience of similar stories.

I’m due to see a pain management specialist next week but I’m at the end of my positive spirit and no one seems to have seen similar things before.

Thanks for your time.

—-

From spect report:

Reference made to the previous MRI (31 March 2026) and SPECT CT (7 December 2023) studies.

Misregistration artefact noted.

As demonstrated on the previous MRI study, multilevel degenerative change and insufficiency
fractures centred on the lower thoracic spine are again noted with associated mild scoliosis and
exaggerated lower thoracic kyphosis in the imaged position.

Again, the established endplate fractures are most notable from T8-T12, and remain most
pronounced at T11.

Secondary intervening degenerative disc/endplate changes with persistent uptake from T8 to T11.

Interval reduction in uptake at T9-10 when compared to the previous study

Uptake is most prominent posteriorly at T10-11 corresponding to the apex of the kyphotic deformity,
which has progressed when compared to the previous SPECT-CT study.

Prominent tracer avid facet arthropathy on the right at T4-5 and T5-6, which was not evident on the
previous SPECT-CT study. Elsewhere, there remains only low-grade facetal uptake.

At T10-11, the penumbra of posterior endplate uptake extends to encompass the adjacent T10-11
facets however, the epicentre remains centred on the adjacent vertebral endplates.

No significant tracer avid disc/endplate degeneration or facet arthropathy elsewhere.