Understanding New and Severe Abdominal Pain

It is common for pain from the vertebrae in your spine to extend around your flank. This phenomenon is called "referred pain," since the structure causing the pain is not located in the immediate vicinity of the most obvious discomfort. The spine problem that most typically causes pain in the flank is a vertebral fracture. We should know if you are at high risk for a vertebral fracture.

Have you had recent trauma to your back, do you have thin bones (osteoporosis), or are you a woman who is older than 65?

Yes, this describes me.

No, this does not describe my situation.