Yes unfortunately spondylitis is wearing down of bone & Cartledge. Two of my lumber bones have fused together so instead of being 5’5” I’m now 5’3” 😞

I am on HRT to protect me from oestioporosis, as being small and slight I know that I am at greater risk of this. I suffered for many years from very severe PMT which often left me feeling suicidal for a week every month so when I started on the change I did a lot of research on HRT and hormones etc. I have just received my MRI scan results and because its all in doctor speak I am still none the wiser as to what is wrong with me, will have to see the GP and hopefully she will explain it to me. I have been referred to a consultant orthopaedic spinal surgeon for an assessment, have to see what he thinks although I don't want surgery unless it's a last resort, really don't fancy letting some doctor loose on my spine, not going to worry about that at the moment though, each day as it comes is all I can cope with. I'm pretty sure the loss of height is to do with the spondylitis as it's severe in my neck and lower back from what I can make out and I have several bulging discs in both places where it is bad, there are changes all the way up my spine but neck and lower back seems to be where its worse.

Any type of degeneration of the spine will shorten the disc spaces.

Just aging makes the body shrink.Issues such as spine degeneration with spine issues also shrink the body.weight issues also contribute too.35 yrs ago i was 6'3",now im 6'1".Dont be so hard on yourself happens to us all☺

Barbara Floyd, sorry to hear about your height loss but at least you did start out fairly tall for a woman, I always wanted to be 5ft 4,it's a nice average height and you have an easier time getting clothes to fit your height. I have not grown since I was 14 and am still the same size as I was at school, suppose I shouldn't complain about that but I would love to be just a little taller especially now when people all around me are so much bigger than me,even my 9 years old grandson is already as tall as I am. (4ft11ins) Nothing can be done about it so we just have to accept it and make the most of it, there are some good things about being smaller than average and when I was a bit younger and fitter I loved being able to play with my granddaughter on the park and fit in the swings and other play equipment designed for kids, she is grown up now but I have 8 years old twin grandaughters and still like to play on the park with them, most of the other adults can't easily fit on the play items. It was a real shock to me to loose height, something I'd never considered but my grandmother was a tiny lady who always made me feel tall at 5ft so I will probably be like her and that's not a bad thing at all. X