Simply stated, osteoporosis is a thinning and weakening of the bones that happens to all of us as we get older. Although the process of bone loss begins gradually when we are in our mid to late thirties, it is so slow that it may take many years before we become aware of it. Women, generally, are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis than men. This is because, following the menopause, women experience a rapid loss of bone from the skeleton due to the decrease in estrogen production.
Bone loss is usually a painless process until a fracture occurs.
Thus, women often are unaware that they have osteoporosis until it is brought to their attention, suddenly, with an unexpected and painful fracture, when they are in their fifties, sixties, or seventies. The most common way that a woman may discover that she has osteoporosis is when she breaks her wrist or hip following a minor fall. This, too, can be extremely painful. Osteoporotic fractures, particularly those of the hip and spine, often lead to significant pain and disability. Although a fracture of the wrist often will heal with little residual deformity, a patient may not make a complete recovery from a fractured hip or spine.