As people grow older, they experience some degree of bone loss. The difference between bone loss between the natural aging process and bone loss due to other factors such as postmenopausal hormone depletion can be quite significant. Obviously, such a rate of loss can lead to significant reduction in bone strength and a high incidence of serious fractures. Osteoporosis is a disease that affects 20-25 million Americans, and by 2020, it is expected to affect 50 million of our population.
Osteoporosis is known as a silent disease because it is asymptomatic until a fracture occurs.
Fortunately today, there are a number of treatment modalities that can slow or alter the course of the disease and in many instances actually rebuild bone. It has been estimated that yearly over a million and a half women in the United States will suffer bony fractures related to postmenopausal osteoporosis. The most common fractures occur in the spine, wrist and hip. For women with significant osteoporosis, crushed fractures of the spine may occur during normal daily activities such as lifting, bending, getting up from a chair, coughing, or even aggressive hugging. Spinal fractures can be quite painful and of course lead to deformity of the spine and a significant loss of height.