The Daily Spine
Tips for Living Well With Back Pain
If you have osteoporosis you are at risk for a spinal fracture, even with minor trauma. In severe disease cases, even a sneeze could be associated with fracture. You cannot feel your bones get weaker. Many people don't know they have this disease until they actually break a bone.
In 2005, about a quarter (547,000) of the 2 million fractures due to osteoporosis were in the spine. This is more than the number of hip fractures (297,000) in the same year.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundations (NOF), risk factors for osteoporosis include being female, advancing age, being small and thin, of Asian, white or Latino ethnicity, having a family history of osteoporosis, or having had a number broken bones in the past.
If you are at risk, you should be aware that the signs of a spinal fracture include severe back pain, height loss, and stooped posture or kyphosis. Spinal fractures can also sometimes occur without any pain at all.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor, especially if you also have osteoporosis or osteopenia.
More information on Osteoporosis and Spinal Fracture
- Yoga for Osteoporosis-Book Review
- The Daily Spine-Falls are not Inevitable for Seniors
- What is a Broken Neck?
- Compression Fracture
- Heel Test for Predicting Osteoporosis Risk
- Fablyn for Osteoporosis? It may be more business than bone building.
Source:
Fast Facts on Osteoporosis. National Foundation on Osteoporosis. Accessed March 29, 2010. http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm
