You bend to tie your shoes, and something pulls. The ache shoots across your mid-back, sharp enough to stop your hands halfway. You stand slowly, press your palm into the spot, and chalk it up to age or overuse. Maybe it eases up after a day or two. Maybe it doesn’t. Either way, you don’t get it checked because it doesn’t seem serious enough to warrant major concern.

Pain meds, back braces, and vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty all help with pain and function, but even these minimally invasive surgical options often leave patients with long-term challenges. Those can include chronic pain and ongoing mobility struggles that impact every aspect of daily life. They also include reduced height, spinal misalignment, and a permanently heightened risk of future spinal fractures.