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Conditions like
osteoporosis
OsteoporosisA disease that causes the bones to become weak or brittle, and more likely to break (fracture) than normal bones.
weaken your bones. Sometimes the bones in your spine, also known as your
vertebrae
Vertebra (plural form: vertebrae)Small bones that join together in a line to form the backbone or spine. Any one of the 33 bones that form the spinal column.
, get so weak that they fracture and collapse.
 Spinal fractures can happen from something as dramatic as a fall, or from a simple movement like coughing or sneezing or reaching for something in a cupboard.
Unlike the pain from a broken arm or hip, the pain from a spinal fracture is not always severe—sometimes it is quite mild.
Most women think that backaches are just part of getting older. But if that backache has been caused by a spinal fracture, it can set the stage for more fractures, resulting in a hunched, deformed spine.
Once this happens, it can become harder to function day to day. You can't move as easily, clothing doesn't fit properly, and it becomes difficult to perform simple activities such as driving, bathing, cooking, and sleeping. As time goes on, you may have difficulty breathing and getting adequate amounts of food into your stomach. There can also be a great deal of pain and other medical problems.(Gold 2003)
You can find out your risk of having a spinal fracture by completing our Risk Assessment—a series of nine quick questions. It's important, because if you know your
risk factors
Risk factor
A condition or action that may increase the chance of developing a disease.
, you have a better chance of identifying pain in your back as a possible spinal fracture.
Next: Understand the Risk »
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