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Symptoms of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is often referred to as ‘the silent epidemic’¹ as there are usually no symptoms of the disease until a fracture occurs. For this reason diagnosing osteoporosis in its early stages is difficult.

The onset of the condition usually begins when you’re in your thirties, and from this point on the progressive signs of osteoporosis can be grouped into three stages:⁷

• Stage 1: Osteopenia is when bone mineral density is between 1 and 2.5 standard deviations below that of young adults
• Stage 2: Osteoporosis is when bone mineral density falls below 2.5 standard deviations of young adults
• Stage 3: When osteoporosis is established, a fracture can happen as a result of the loss of bone mass, which means the bone is more brittle and less strong

Although there may not be outward signs and symptoms of osteoporosis between the ages of thirty-five and fifty-five, it may be possible to detect the presence of the disease via a bone density scan. It should be noted, however, that these scans can only detect the condition after 30% of bone mass is lost.⁷ Other methods for the diagnosis of osteoporosis include photo absorptiometry to measure bone mineral content, and computed tomography which generates three-dimensional images of the bones.

Osteoporosis Signs

Fractures
In most cases, the first outward osteoporosis symptoms are bone fractures. Although the location of fractures can vary, osteoporosis sufferers most often experience fractures in the hip, spine, or wrist.⁴ Hip and wrist fractures are usually the result of an accident, while spinal fractures can occur just through normal body movement.

Spinal deformities
In other patients, a stooped back (sometimes known as a ‘dowager’s hump’), spinal curvature, or a loss in height may be the only visible osteoporosis signs. In these cases the person may already have suffered spinal fractures without being aware of it, leading to deformities as the spine heals. A stooped back indicates that the disease is in an advanced stage and is typically not seen in patients under the age of fifty-five.⁷

Pain
Pain is typically experienced as spinal fractures heal and is often confused with other conditions, such as osteoarthritis. Most fractures caused by osteoporosis gradually heal by themselves, but if you suspect you might have fractured your spine you should see your doctor immediately. Osteoporosis prognosis outcomes vary depending on how well these fractures heal.

Disease Information

• Angina
• Depression
• Diabetes (Type 2)
• Heart Attacks
• Heart Failure
• High Blood Pressure
• Osteoporosis (Postmenopausal)
• Stroke