Osteoporosis history and symptoms
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Eiman Ghaffarpasand, M.D. [2]
Overview
Osteoporosis, actually has not any acute symptoms, until osteoporotic fracture happens. The hallmark of osteoporotic fracture is bone pain. Following osteoporotic fractures the major signs appeared, gradually; which include immobility, bed sores, shortness of height, and stooped posture.
History and symptoms
The majority of patients with osteoporosis are asymptomatic, especially in early stages. Gradually, when bone mineral density loss is intensified (i.e., postmenopausal or elderly), the main symptoms could be seen; which are usually consisted of bone pain and weakness. After a while, when osteoporosis become severed, the fractures happen. Then, the major signs of fractures appeared.
History
Patients with osteoporosis may have a positive history of:
- Menopause (females)
- Immobility
- Calcium deficiency
- Chronic corticosteroid use
- Chronic vitamin D deficiency
- Hyper/hypoparathyroidism
Common symptoms
osteoporosis has not any symptoms, until the patient encounters an osteoporotic fracture.The main symptom of osteoporotic fracture is bone pain.
Less common symptoms
Other symptoms occurring late in the osteoporotic fracture, may include:
- Bone pain with localized tenderness
- Shortening of height (as much as 6 inches) over time
- Low back pain due to vertebral bones fractures, often with radiculopathic pain (shooting pain due to compression or retraction of a nerve); rarely, with spinal cord compression or cauda equina syndrome[1]
- Neck pain due to fractures of the cervical spinal bones
- Stooped posture or kyphosis, also called a dowager's hump
- Fractures of the long bones acutely impair mobility and may require surgery.
- Hip fracture, in particular, usually requires prompt surgery; as there are serious complications associated with a hip fracture, such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and increased mortality.
- The increased risk of falling is related to aging; can lead to fractures of the wrist, spine, and hip. The risk of falling, in turn, is increased by impaired eyesight (due to any cause such as glaucoma, macular degeneration), balance disorder, movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease), dementia, and sarcopenia (age-related loss of skeletal muscle). A Collapse (i.e., transient loss of postural tone, with or without loss of consciousness) leads to a significant risk of falling.
- Causes of syncope are manifold but may include cardiac arrhythmias, vasovagal syncope, orthostatic hypotension, and seizures. Removal of obstacles and loose carpets in the living environment may substantially reduce falls. Those with previous falls, as well as those with a gait or balance disorder, are at higher risk.[2]
References
- ↑ Kim DH, Vaccaro AR (2006). "Osteoporotic compression fractures of the spine; current options and considerations for treatment". The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society. 6 (5): 479–87. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2006.04.013. PMID 16934715.
- ↑ Ganz DA, Bao Y, Shekelle PG, Rubenstein LZ (2007). "Will my patient fall?". JAMA. 297 (1): 77–86. doi:10.1001/jama.297.1.77. PMID 17200478.