Such severe pain is caused by a compression fracture of one of the vertebrae, commonly in the mid-spine. Other bones, such as the hip, may fracture more easily than usual in the elderly. The cause is not precisely known. After about the age of 30, the body normally loses bone mass at a slow rate. In women, this rate of bone loss accelerates significantly after menopause.
Osteoporosis is usually asymptomatic.
Over many years a person may become shorter, with his or her back increasingly hunched forward. Ultimately, the person may experience severe back pain and require the use of a back brace for support. A diagnosis of osteoporosis is usually confirmed by the person's physical appearance, the use of X rays to reveal that the bones are less dense than normal, and photodensitometry. Unfortunately, by the time these changes are observed, the bones have already lost over one-third of their original density. Although the rate of bone loss can be dramatically slowed, there is no treatment at present that can reverse osteoporosis or increase bone strength.