When is Back Pain a Fracture?

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Osteoporosis and back pain

Spinal fractures that occur as a result of osteoporosis are actually quite common, occurring in approximately 750,000 people in the U.S. each year.

The problem is that the fracture is not always diagnosed—instead, the problem is often just thought of as general back pain, such as from a muscle strain or other soft tissue injury, or as a common part of aging. Because of this, approximately two thirds—or 500,000—of the vertebral fractures that occur each year are not diagnosed and therefore not treated.

Spinal fractures due to osteoporosis often occur while doing something that causes relatively minor trauma to the spine, such as opening a window, an insignificant fall, or twisting while lifting. Advanced cases of osteoporosis can even lead to a vertebral fracture with routine activities that would normally not cause any trauma, such as sneezing, coughing or turning over in bed.

Vertebral fractures are usually followed by acute back pain, and may lead to chronic pain, deformity (thoracic kyphosis, commonly referred to as a dowager's hump), loss of height, crowding of internal organs, and loss of muscle and aerobic conditioning due to lack of activities and exercise. A combination of the above problems from vertebral fractures can also lead to changes in the individual’s self-image, which in turn can adversely affect self esteem and ability to carry on the activities of daily living.

It’s important to note that fractures from osteoporosis don’t just occur in the elderly, they can also occur in people as young as 40 or 50 years old.

Because osteoporosis is a “silent” disease, meaning that there are typically no symptoms until a fracture occurs, it is not uncommon for someone with back pain to be unaware of the fact that she has actually fractured a vertebra (or multiple vertebrae) in her spine.

This article provides an overview of vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis, including symptoms and diagnosis.

• Article written By:
• Scott Boden, MD

May 11, 2005

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