Osteoporosis can lead to dowagers humps

Dowagers humps: some frequently asked questions:

1. What is a dowagers hump? Where did the term originate?

In advanced Osteoporosis, a person sometimes develops fratures of their vertebrae. This causes Kyphosis or a Spinal hump.

Kyphosis and its resultant bent-over posture is often associated with older women (although men get them also). The word dowager is a term meaning a "dignified elderly woman". Since many older women developed this sort of hump on the back people began to call the back disfigurement a dowager's hump - even if the person with the kyphosis was not an elderly woman.

2. What is the process in developing Kyphosis or dowagers hump?

Spinal vertebrae lose so much bone that they become so porous that they weaken and often fractures spontaneously.

NOTE: There are 3 types of spinal fractures that can occur in advanced osteoporosis.

1. Wedge fracture - with this fracture the front of the vertebra collapses.
2. Bioncave fracture - the midsection of the vertebra collapses.
3. Crush fracture - the entire vertebra collapses. This type of fracture leads to lessening in overall height. You may notice that your health care provider measures your height at least once a year. They do this because a decrease in height can be an indication that your spine has had a crush fracture.

Dowagers humps (Kyphosis) are usually caused by wedge fractures. In this kind of fracture the front of a vertebra collapses. Since the back of the vertebra remains intact, the vertebra 'tips' forward and the spine becomes slightly misaligned and the section above the fracture tips forward making the back curve slightly.

As the vertebrae above your wedge fracture 'tip forward' they put stress on other vertebrae. This stress often causes another vertebra to develop a 'wedge fracture'. As more and more vertebrae collapse in wedge fractures, your back becomes more and more bowed. In very advanced cases of kyphosis a person can become severely bent over.

3. Where in the spine do these fractures occur?

Spinal fractures, the kind that leads to dowagers humps, usually occur in the thoracic spine(in the area of your lungs) or upper half of your lumbar spine. These two areas extend from the middle of your shoulder blades through your lower back behind your abdomen.

No. If you have advanced osteoporosis of the spine these fractures can occur when lifting something or even when sneezing or coughing.

Many people have one of these fractures when they come to an upright position after leaning forward. This is one reason why you should not do certain exercises if you have Osteoporosis of the spine. See: Osteoporosis exercise warning Daily activities, exercises to avoid if you have spinal osteoporosis or any degree of dowagers humps

4. How will I know if I have a 'wedge fracture'? Are they painful?

• Often a wedge fractures are 'silent'. They do not cause pain and so we do not notice them at all. Those that do cause pain are sometimes ignored since we are all used to 'back pains' and can dismiss the pain as another symptom of 'getting older'. If you notice a slight rounding of your upper back, or in that of a relative or friend, you may be seeing the beginnings of kyphosis or dowagers hump.
• Sometimes a wedge fracture can lead to a loss of height. Again, this is one reason why your health care provider continues to measure your height during your annual examination.
• Some spinal fractures do cause pain. So, if you have osteopenia or osteoporosis, pay attention to any pain that starts unexpectedly - especially pain that radiates forward towards your abdomen. It may be a sign of a vertebral fracture. Often the pain is worse is you cough or sneeze. It is sometimes relieved when lying down. Some say that they have a feeling of 'fullness' or that lose their appetite after they have had a vertebral fracture.

  Sometimes the pain can be severe. If so see your health care provider. S/he may prescribe a pain reliever. The good news is that your pain will begin to subside after a few weeks and it often disappears entirely.

5. What is it like to live with Kyphosis ( dowagers humps) ?

As Kyphosis develops, you may experiences muscle fatigue and pain in your neck and shoulders because of needing to stretch your neck muscles in order to look 'the world in the face'. Also since you chin gets closer to your rib cage, you are using new muscles to balance you head. This is fatiguing.

If Kyphosis advances to there is a more of a hump, it often becomes more difficult to breath deeply since dowagers hump reduces how far your lungs expand.

And the posture of the upper spine changes, your abdomen may begin to protrude. This distresses some people. Also the changed posture makes it difficult to get clothes to fit well. Some women begin to avoid social occasions because they do not like the way they look. (You may want to check our some clothing tips for those with back hump.

Finally , as the dowagers hump becomes more pronounced, some women become fearful of falling and they begin to limit their activities.

6. Is there any thing you can do about a dowagers hump?

Yes. Of course there is.
• First and best intervention is to prevent spinal fractures from occurring in the first place. Bone loss can be reversed. If your dexa scans shows that you have bone loss, I hope you will read Osteopenia and Osteoporosis treatments that work
• Second, here is a page about what NOT to do, if you want to prevent more spinal fractures. Exercises and activities to avoid

• Third, if you are having trouble sleeping, you may want to read about Mattresses and Osteoporosis or Osteopenia. See: Choosing a mattress
• Fourth, you can read about the Medical treatments for back humps

Keep up with the latest research about Osteoporosis and Osteopenia by subscribing to our free monthly newsletter Osteopenia Updates .

Click here to read some Natural treatments you can use to increase your bone density and avoid further fractures of you spine.

Osteopenia Glossary

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Page revised: Jan 2013