Signs and Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Typically with weight bearing the pain may be worse than in resting positions such as lying down. If there are compression fractures in the lower back, they typically occur from the 8th thoracic spine vertebral body downwards, but rarely higher up. If there is a compression fracture higher than the 8th thoracic spine vertebral body, there should be a high suspicion for a possible cancer causing this.

Typically a compression fracture leads to a localized pain at the fracture site. The pain would be most severe for about one week, but then often lingers on for another 3 months or longer. With a series of compression fractures in the lower thoracic spine and lumbar spine, the spine appears to be forward bent permanently, which is called a "kyphosis".

It is another sign that osteoporosis likely is the reason behind this. Commonly this can be seen in the aged population, particularly when bio-identical hormone replacement was not done. However, it can occur in postmenopausal women who were on HRT with estrogen and Provera. As mentioned above, the osteoporosis with multiple thoracic spine compression fractures can be so pronounced that lower end of the front rib cage is rubbing on the upper rim of the pelvic bone. Often there is also a higher incidence of pneumonia in the lung bases because of poor lung expansion. In addition the heart reserve is used up to a considerable extent and this puts the kyphotic patient at a higher risk for a heart attack. There might be other symptoms in the case of a secondary osteoporosis. The symptoms of the underlying disease would be present as well as the symptoms described above.

Disclaimer:

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you

References:

1. ABC of rheumatology, second edition, edited by Michael L. Snaith M.D., BMJ Books, 1999.

2. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 57.

3. B. Sears: "The age-free zone".Regan Books, Harper Collins, 2000.

4. B. Sears: "Zone perfect meals in minutes". Regan Books, Harper Collins, 1997.

5. Goldman: Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 21st ed.(©2000)W.B.Saunders

6. Ferri: Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc.

7. Rakel: Conn's Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier

Last Modified: May 9, 2010