If you're a woman over the age of 50, it's important that you don't make the mistake of ignoring your back pain.
Even mild pain can indicate a
spinal fracture
Spinal fracture
A fracture of any element of the spinal column.
—especially if you have osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
A disease that causes the bones to become weak or brittle, and more likely to break (fracture) than normal bones.
or other risk factors. Spinal fractures, if left untreated, can lead to a hunched back
Hunched back
A forward curving of the spine that causes a bowing of the back, due to osteoporosis and multiple spinal fractures.
. A hunched back can limit your ability to perform simple activities and rob you of your independence and quality of life.
The good news is, you don't have to endure back pain—or the consequences of a spinal fracture. When caught early, spinal fractures can be repaired. The first step is to find out if you have any of the
risk factors
Risk factor
A condition or action that may increase the chance of developing a disease.
that make a spinal fracture more likely.
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