What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis occurs when the struts which make up the mesh-like structure within bones become thin causing them to become fragile and break easily, often following a minor bump or fall. Although fractures can occur in different parts of the body, the wrists, hips and spine are most commonly affected. It is these fractures, and not osteoporosis by itself, which are painful. Spinal fractures (vertebral compression fractures) can also cause loss of height and curvature of the spine.
Bone is continuously being broken down and replaced by other cells. Each cycle of bone “turnover” takes about 200 days. Excess thyroid hormone hastens the rate of bone turnover. If this process is happening too rapidly the bone-building cells may not be able to replace bone fast enough, thus the overall rate of bone loss is increased. If the level of thyroid hormone stays too high for too long, there may be an increased risk of developing osteoporosis. But treatment with thyroid hormone itself is not responsible for osteoporosis, as had been described in the past.