|
 Osteoporosis
is a disorder caused by a decrease in the amount
of calcium in your bones, which can cause the
bones in your spine to break because they are
too weak to support the weight of the body. When
this happens, people usually suffer from sharp
back pain, and they often become shorter or have
a "hunched over" posture. If you have these symptoms
you could be suffering from osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis
is a disease that affects more than eight million
women and two million men in the USA. Itıs characterized
by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue
which can lead to fragile bones and increased
risk in fractures of the spine, hip and wrist.
In the USA, more than 700,000 vertebral fractures
every year are caused by osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis
is some times called the "silent disease" because
bone loss has no symptoms, and the disease usually
remains painless until a bone breaks. Although
the disease can affect any bone, spinal or vertebral
compression fractures can have serious consequences
including loss of height, severe back pain, and
deformity, a curving of the shoulders and back,
and a thickening waistline. Women in particular
reach their maximum bone mass at about the age
of 20. After that, they will gradually lose bone
mass. In the 5-7 years immediately following menopause,
women will lose up to 20% of their bone mass.
When osteoporosis affects the spine, there is
a gradual collapse of the vertebrae producing
back pain, loss of overall height, and a stooped
posture. The back pain at vertebral collapse may
be severe at times.
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