Stage An 80-year-old man with degenerative arthritis of the hip and spine began to have midthoracic back pain and worsening pain in his left hip. The pain began suddenly, was not preceded by trauma, did not radiate, and was not relieved in any position. The back pain persisted for two weeks despite rest and treatment with ibuprofen. The patient took no other medications. Response In an 80-year-old with back pain, I would worry about osteoporosis, either primary or secondary. The midthoracic area is a common site of compression fractures. Although osteoporosis is more common in women than men, at this . . .