Osteoporosis and Spine Fracture Risk

Spinal fractures happen when vertebrae, the bones that make up your spine, break. About 1.5 million spinal fractures occur each year in the United States, and many of them are attributed to osteoporosis. 

Bones naturally weaken with age, but some people develop a condition, causing them to become much more brittle. This is osteoporosis, a condition that doesn’t usually cause symptoms but can lead to frequent broken bones. 

As an expert in pain management, Haddis Hagos, MD, is no stranger to spinal fractures from osteoporosis. Most occur in the lower back, but they can happen anywhere along the spine. They can lead to back pain, radiating nerve pain, or even a change in your posture. 

At Pain Management Associates LLC in Greenbelt, Maryland, Dr. Hagos treats severe spinal fractures with kyphoplasty. This is a minimally invasive procedure that restores a broken vertebra’s height and shape using a balloon-like device. 

How common are spinal fractures with osteoporosis? 

Osteoporosis weakens bones, and with it, you’re more likely to break bones near joints like your wrists or hips. However, spinal fractures are the most common type of fracture in osteoporosis. They’re more than twice as common as other broken bones commonly associated with osteoporosis. 

Vertebrae can fracture when too much pressure is placed on them. When a spinal fracture happens, the affected vertebra cracks and can become shorter or more compressed. This is why they’re also called vertebral compression fractures. 

Spinal fractures can happen easily in people with osteoporosis, even with simple reaching or twisting movements. You might fracture your spine just by coughing, sneezing, or laughing too hard. 

Who gets osteoporosis

Osteoporosis can happen to anyone, but it’s especially common in women compared to men. Women’s bones can weaken as they approach menopause. Hormone changes in menopause, specifically the decline of estrogen, make it harder for bones to replace old cells with new material. This results in brittle bones that are more likely to break. 

Other risk factors for osteoporosis include:

• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol drinking
• Age
• Low testosterone in men
• Taking certain cancer medications
• Taking steroid medications
• Undergoing bariatric surgery

Dr. Hagos can discuss your risk factors with you at Pain Management Associates LLC. He may recommend bone density testing if you’re at risk or if you’ve had a recent vertebral fracture. 

Preventing spinal fractures with osteoporosis

You can take steps to prevent future spinal fractures if you have osteoporosis, such as:

• Never bending your spine: Bend at the hips or knees if you must
• Moving your feet instead of twisting your back or neck
• Maintaining great posture
• Exercising regularly
• Eating a nutritious diet

Talk to Dr. Hagos about your spine health for more tips. 

To learn more about spinal fractures and how osteoporosis causes them, call Pain Management Associates LLC or request an appointment online.