What are the Symptoms of Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis means ‘porous bone’. It is a disease, a metabolic disorder of the skeleton, that makes the bones more brittle and easy to break. Osteoporosis means that you have less bone mass and strength. This condition is estimated to occur in more than 200 million people throughout the world. It often starts unnoticed without any symptoms or pain, but it can be recognized at an early stage by a number of signals:
- Pain in the lower back from a weakened spine or vertebral damage
- Tender bones
- Change in posture (stooping or bending forward)
- Loss of height (getting shorter by an inch or more)
- Shortness of breath (smaller lung capacity due to compressed disks)
Usually, there are no symptoms of osteoporosis. That is why it is sometimes called a silent disease. Many people find out they have osteoporosis after they contract a sudden and unexpected bone fracture after a fall. Most of these are fractures of the hip, wrist and spine.
How do you know if you have Osteoporosis?
There are various tests. The diagnosis of osteoporosis can be made using bone density scan: an X-ray or DEXA scan. A spinal fracture can be visualized on an X-ray after a fall, for example. This photo can also show that one or more vertebrae have collapsed, which may indicate osteoporosis. Bone density can be measured with a DEXA scan.
What causes Osteoporosis?
Your bones are made of living, growing tissue. The inside of healthy bone looks like a sponge. The human body constantly breaks down and rebuilds bone. This process, called bone remodeling is regulated by hormones, vitamins and other substances. When osteoporosis occurs, the “holes” in the “sponge” grow larger and more numerous, which weakens the inside of the bone. Up to age 30, you normally build more bone than you lose. After age 35, bone breakdown occurs faster than bone buildup, which causes a gradual loss of bone mass. If you have osteoporosis, you lose bone mass at a greater rate.
Osteoporosis can develop spontaneously, for example due to family history. A number of risk factors increase your chance of developing osteoporosis:
- Women during and after the menopause; they produce less female hormone, which increases the breakdown of the bone.
- Inactive lifestyle; movement promotes the production of bone tissue.
- A calcium deficiency; foods low in calcium or phosphate, such as fast food, cola, sausage. Calcium is the main component of bone and plays an important role in bone production.
- Vitamin D deficiency; reduces the absorption of calcium from the blood.
- Smoking or excessive alcohol consumption; smoking and drinking (more than two units) alcohol (per day) negatively affect the quality of your bones.
- Chronic use of medicines; Corticosteroids (strong anti-inflammatory drugs to treat asthma and rheumatism such as prednisone or anti-epileptics) and high-dose thyroid hormones are known to have a negative effect on the balance between bone production and bone breakdown.
- Gastrointestinal and (thyroid) thyroid disorders; thyroid glands that work too quickly increase the risk of osteoporosis.
- Eating disorder at a young age like bulimia or anorexia; the effect of too little nutrition and underweight can cause bone loss in later life because the bones have been malnourished.
What should you do if you have Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a chronic condition that cannot be cured. However, proper treatment and lifestyle adjustments can help protect and strengthen your bones. There is safe and effective medicine to prevent the breakdown of the bone. You can also adjust your lifestyle by taking least 1 gram of calcium per day and providing sufficient vitamin D through sunlight or supplements. We advise you to quit smoking, to drink no more than two glasses of alcohol per day and to ensure sufficient exercise to improve bone quality. Also make sure that the risk of a fall in and around your house is minimized.
Your treatment with Osteoporosis
Since 20% of patients will have a another bone fracture within 12 months of the first, we recommend to act quickly and start treatment. Fysio Masters wants to help you to prevent a fracture and has developed a comprehensive program for patients with osteoporosis. During the intake and treatments we will discuss your questions and pain and provide information about osteoporosis and advice for your lifestyle. In addition, we teach you to exercise responsibly and sufficiently. Improving posture is also part of the treatment of osteoporosis and we give tips for a reduced risk of falling.
Fysio Masters physiotherapists have extensive experience in the detection and treatment of osteoporosis. They work diligently with you to regain the quality of your life. Common treatment methods for back problems due to osteoporosis are:
- Manual Therapy
- Dry Needling
- Back Brace
- Diet and lifestyle advice
- Homework Exercises
Schedule an Appointment
Do you suffer from osteoporosis symptoms? Fysio Masters is focused on you and your goals! With one-on-one personalized care, we will help protect and strengthen your bones. Take charge of your health and call us today.06-10343160 Whatsapp +31610343160 Book Online