Osteophytes
Osteophytes, also referred to as bone spurs, a build-up of bone on the vertebrae, are blamed for pinched nerves and for the narrowing of the spinal canal called spinal stenosis, among other things. Very common, and increasing in number and size with age, they are just as likely to appear in the pain-free back as in the back that aches.
Osteoporosis
The rheumatologic disorder of osteoporosis, or "porous bone," is the major cause of bone fractures in the elderly, especially postmenopausal women. Marked by a decrease in bone mass and strength, its most predictable medical cause in women is menopause, when estrogen levels drop, but a variety of factors can cause the appearance of osteoporosis at a younger age. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the disease "is a major public health threat for more than 28 million Americans, 80 percent of whom are women."
One in two women and one in eight men over age fifty will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime, and the disease is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually, including approximately 700,000 of the vertebrae.
The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. The more bone mass you have, the more strength you have, and the lower the risk of fracture. And it's never too late to "bone up." A three year study of men and women over age sixty-five found that those who took calcium and vitamin D supplements daily had less than half as many broken bones as the placebo group.
To ward off the effects of osteoporosis, we're advised to eat a healthy diet that fulfills requirements of calcium and vitamins and limits or eliminates alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. It also helps to take part in lower-extremity exercises such as walking and back extension exercises to stabilize or slightly increase bone mass, improve balance, and strengthen muscles. Estrogen replacement therapies have also been found helpful in preventing postmenopausal bone loss.
Pinched Nerves
Compressive or neurogenic pain caused by a "pinched" or compressed nerve can occur as the result of many factors - the narrowing of the spinal canal called spinal stenosis, herniated disks, or osteophytes. If the compression lasts long enough, the result can be the absence of pain when the doctor tests for it (called objective numbness).
Sacroiliac Joint Problems
On each side of the sacrum, the arrowhead-shaped bone between the moveable vertebrae and the coccyx, are ligaments attaching it to the ilia, the two large bones of the pelvis, or hip bones. And what joins them are the sacroiliac joints. Straining of those ligaments can cause a very specific, localized pain that usually becomes worse when sitting and is usually relieved by walking. It is very common during pregnancy, when hormones allow more movement in the joints than normally occurs. Physical manipulation of the joints by a health care professional will often provide relief.
Osteophytes, also referred to as bone spurs, a build-up of bone on the vertebrae, are blamed for pinched nerves and for the narrowing of the spinal canal called spinal stenosis, among other things. Very common, and increasing in number and size with age, they are just as likely to appear in the pain-free back as in the back that aches.
Osteoporosis
The rheumatologic disorder of osteoporosis, or "porous bone," is the major cause of bone fractures in the elderly, especially postmenopausal women. Marked by a decrease in bone mass and strength, its most predictable medical cause in women is menopause, when estrogen levels drop, but a variety of factors can cause the appearance of osteoporosis at a younger age. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the disease "is a major public health threat for more than 28 million Americans, 80 percent of whom are women."
One in two women and one in eight men over age fifty will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime, and the disease is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually, including approximately 700,000 of the vertebrae.
The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. The more bone mass you have, the more strength you have, and the lower the risk of fracture. And it's never too late to "bone up." A three year study of men and women over age sixty-five found that those who took calcium and vitamin D supplements daily had less than half as many broken bones as the placebo group.
To ward off the effects of osteoporosis, we're advised to eat a healthy diet that fulfills requirements of calcium and vitamins and limits or eliminates alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. It also helps to take part in lower-extremity exercises such as walking and back extension exercises to stabilize or slightly increase bone mass, improve balance, and strengthen muscles. Estrogen replacement therapies have also been found helpful in preventing postmenopausal bone loss.
Pinched Nerves
Compressive or neurogenic pain caused by a "pinched" or compressed nerve can occur as the result of many factors - the narrowing of the spinal canal called spinal stenosis, herniated disks, or osteophytes. If the compression lasts long enough, the result can be the absence of pain when the doctor tests for it (called objective numbness).
Sacroiliac Joint Problems
On each side of the sacrum, the arrowhead-shaped bone between the moveable vertebrae and the coccyx, are ligaments attaching it to the ilia, the two large bones of the pelvis, or hip bones. And what joins them are the sacroiliac joints. Straining of those ligaments can cause a very specific, localized pain that usually becomes worse when sitting and is usually relieved by walking. It is very common during pregnancy, when hormones allow more movement in the joints than normally occurs. Physical manipulation of the joints by a health care professional will often provide relief.
