Kyphoplasty Procedure with Dr. Wells Provides Immediate Pain Relief

My name is Carrol Hill, and I live at The Meadows Independent Living in Clarion. On January 30, 2017, I fell in my apartment when I got up to go to the kitchen. Immediately, I felt a shooting pain in my back.  I was not close to my pull cords or telephone. After about an hour, I was able to crawl to a chair and hoist myself up to reach the phone and call 911.

I was taken to the emergency room and admitted to the hospital.  Later that week I was given an MRI and it was determined that I had a compression fracture to L1 vertebra.  We were blessed to find out that one of the very best, Dr. Shelley Wells, is right here at Iowa Specialty Hospital.  When we met with Dr. Wells, she said that I might be a candidate for a Kyphoplasty procedure.  She explained this would lift my compression fracture and then they would stabilize the broken vertebrae with a cement-like substance.

Before the procedure, I was in the most pain I had ever experienced in my life.  Immediately after the procedure, I felt 100% relief. Now 2 weeks later, I am completely back to my regular activities.  It was a fantastic procedure with so little recovery time that I would do it again in a second; and anyone who has a back fracture should consider this option! Thank you Dr. Wells!

I also want to thank all of my care providers who were so encouraging, professional, and caring; and a special thanks to Jamie Lesher who worked so closely with my daughter each day.