Bone Loss In Your Spine

You probably already know that osteoporosis can weaken your bones and cause them to fracture. What you may not know is that the bones in your spine are often the first to break.

Clue #1: Back Pain

All bone isn't the same. The bones in your spine (vertebrae) aren't as dense, for example, as the bones in your legs. While this structural difference helps with movements like bending over or twisting side to side, it also makes your spine inherently more susceptible to fracture. If you have a compression fracture, it means that one of the bones in your spinal column has broken or collapsed, quite possibly as a result of bone loss. Primary osteoporosis and menopause aren't the only culprits when it comes to bone loss. Chemotherapy, hyperthyroidism, and long-term use of corticosteroids can also cause you to lose bone mass and increase your risk for fracture.

Although you can't feel yourself losing bone, you might feel a spinal fracture when it occurs. Sudden back pain, often out of proportion to activity, is a hallmark sign of a spinal fracture. It may be difficult to imagine breaking a bone in your back while doing something simple like carrying groceries or bending over to pick something up, but for thousands of women with significant bone loss, this is precisely what happens. Further complicating the issue is the fact that spinal fractures aren't always exceedingly painful; sometimes there's only minimal pain. If you're a woman over age fifty, don't be tempted self-diagnose new or unusual back pain. Although an occasional backache is not unusual, pain out of proportion to activity or that persists for more than a week should be reported to a physician. Your "backache" could be a spinal fracture.

Clue #2: Change In Posture

Progressive bone loss affects the framework of your skeleton, making it fragile and unable to withstand normal rigors and stresses. Over time, multiple spinal fractures can occur and your spine may begin to shorten and tilt forward. Just like dominoes, one compression fracture can change the alignment of your spine, and other vertebrae may fracture as a result. If several vertebrae collapse, you could lose inches in height or develop a dowager's hump.

In medical terms, a dowager's hump is called kyphosis. Not only is kyphosis aesthetically displeasing, but in some cases, it can be medically dangerous. Kyphosis in your upper back can alter your posture, changing the alignment of your head and neck and affecting your balance. Over time, kyphosis can cause your back to hunch over to the extent that the space in your chest cavity is reduced, making it hard to breathe, eat, or even sleep comfortably. It may be hard to believe, but studies have shown that your risk for death increases if you have severe kyphosis. Unfortunately, you can develop a dowager's hump or suffer height loss before ever realizing that you are losing bone.

Don't let spinal fractures rob you of your vitality and independence! If you're a 50+ woman, talk with your physician about your risk for fracture. Ask to have your height measured and your posture assessed.