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Episode 21: Vertebral Compression Fractures: Pain Management and Treatment Options

Join Claire Gill, CEO of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, as she hosts Dr. Eric Wise and Karen Lake in this episode of Bone Talk. Dr. Wise is an expert in minimally invasive spine care and interventional pain management, as well as a board-certified Diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiology. Dr. Wise currently practices at Northeast Pain Management in Bangor, Maine. Karen is a patient of Northeast Pain Management and resident of Maine. 

Vertebral compression fractures are all too common among sufferers of osteoporosis. In fact, it is the presence of these fractures that often leads to diagnosis. Claire and Karen discuss how Karen was injured, what led her to Northeast Pain Management, and the treatment she eventually received, balloon kyphoplasty. 

It is fairly typical for patients to initially receive medication and rest orders before finding their way to Dr. Wise and Northeast Pain Management. Dr. Wise explains how patients are categorized and treated before Karen talks us through the balloon kyphoplasty procedure and her speedy recovery.

Like all invasive procedures, balloon kyphoplasty does have some controversy around it. Dr. Wise explains the possibilities of increased adjacent vertebral fractures and the studies that have supported and disproved this.

It is important to be an advocate for yourself and your health. If you believe what you are experiencing is unusual or not being treated accordingly, research and enquire about alternate treatments. We hear from Dr. Wise about when to be concerned about pain and when to seek treatment. Finally, Claire asks about telemedicine options for Dr. Wise’s practice during the pandemic.

Learn more about Dr. Wise and Northeast Pain Management: https://northeastpainmanagement.com

Find free resources from the National Osteoporosis Foundation: https://www.nof.org

Dr. Eric Wise is an expert in the field of interventional pain management, and is the medical director of Northeast Pain Management in Bangor, Maine. He specializes in minimally invasive spine care and interventional pain management and is a board certified Diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiology in both the practice of Anesthesiology and the Subspecialty of Pain Medicine. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed his residency training in anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He went on to complete a specialized Interventional Pain Medicine Fellowship at the West Penn Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh.

Dr. Wise’s clinical interests include ultrasound and fluoroscopy guided injection therapies for a wide array of painful muscle, joint, and spine conditions. He is one of the leading practitioners of balloon kyphoplasty in the state of Maine and New England.  He also has a unique interest in spinal cord stimulation therapy that can be used to treat a variety of painful conditions including failed back surgery syndrome and complex regional pain syndrome. Dr. Wise focuses on developing individualized treatment programs for each of his patients.

Dr. Wise is an active member of the American Society for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the North American Neuromodulation Society, and several other medical organizations. Dr. Wise has settled in Bangor, where he lives with his Victoria, who is a nurse at the local hospital. He enjoys exploring the outdoors with his Golden Retrievers, Levi and Porter, and is an avid fisherman and backpacker.