Osteoporosis is a degenerative condition connected with the bones. In this condition, the bones become absolutely brittle and hollow over a period of time. In normal scenarios, bones usually get broken down and repaired over time. They are known as the living tissue of the body. But when the old bone does not get removed due to the lack of new bone creation, this is known as osteoporosis. This disease can affect both men and women. Many women go through this condition after menopause. Let us find out more about the symptoms of this condition.

Causes: There are a variety of things that cause the painful symptoms of osteoporosis. Hormonal changes that affect the sex and thyroid hormones as well as adrenal and parathyroid glands are known to cause this condition. Also, low calcium intake over a prolonged period, especially after childbirth and during menopause can cause this condition in many women. Further, eating disorders where the patient practices severe restrictions when it comes to food intake, can also have a bearing on the person, which keeps the right nutrients from reaching the bones. Steroids and other kinds of medicines that have been used on a prolonged basis in order to treat cancer, gastric reflux, seizures and to cure transplant rejections, can also lead to this condition. Celiac disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel conditions and liver or kidney disease can also lead to osteoporosis.

Fracture: One of the most common symptoms of osteoporosis includes fragile bones that may lead to fractures. Even a minor movement or a fall can cause a fracture as the bones are brittle and hollow. Because the bones are more delicate than usual, these fractures can be triggered easily by an impactful action like a particularly loud sneeze or a persistent cough.
Neck and Back Pain: Compression fractures in the spine are a common occurrence for people who are suffering from osteoporosis. The vertebrae that have collapsed can pinch the nerves radiating from the spinal cord. This can be a very painful condition that goes from tender pain to debilitating sharp pain.
Height: One of the most noticeable symptoms of osteoporosis includes the visible loss of height. A patient suffering from this condition will appear to have shrunk suddenly, in a very mild way. It can cause a condition known as kyphosis, which is basically a stooped back. Owing to this condition, there may be severe pain in the neck and lumbar, or lower back region as well.
Emergency Situation: If you happen to be experiencing debilitating and sudden pain in the hip or wrists or other such areas, then it is recommended to see a doctor immediately as this could indicate a fracture.

Osteoporosis - 4 Common Signs!

Osteoporosis is a condition which usually results due to a decrease in bone density. In this condition, the bones become weak and brittle. Fractures are a common result of osteoporosis. Usually, symptoms or signs do not show up until the condition progresses to its advanced stages.

Since osteoporosis is usually irreversible and incurable, preventing the fractures is considered to be extremely important.

Who is at risk of osteoporosis?
All men and women have some risk of developing 'thinning' of the bones (osteoporosis) as they become older, particularly over the age of 60. As mentioned above, women are more at risk than men. The following situations may also lead to excessive bone loss and so increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. If you:

Are a woman who had the menopause before 45 years of age
Have already had a bone fracture after a minor fall or bump
Have a strong family history of osteoporosis.
Have a body mass index (BMI) of 19 or less (that is, you are very underweight)
Have irregular periods
Have taken, or are taking, a steroid medicine (such as prednisolone) for three months or more
Are a smoker
Have an alcohol intake of more than four units per day
Lack calcium and/or vitamin D (due to a poor diet and/or little exposure to sunlight).
Are mostly inactive
Ways To Treat Osteporosis

Osteoporosis in women can be treated using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). The therapy makes use of either a combination of progestin and oestrogen or simply, oestrogen. However, it is possible that certain combinations have side-effects that might give rise to other medical conditions. Therefore, proper consultation with an orthopedist is an essential pre-requisite so that the condition of osteoporosis as well the side effects may be addressed before proceeding with Hormone Replacement Therapy.

There are a number of medications that can be used which have long-term effects on osteoporosis. However, the schedule for intake of these medicines should be followed diligently. Failing to adhere to the schedule could lead to serious complications. For example, the intake of Risedronate medications (prevent bone loss) should be scheduled once every month, failing which can cause ulcers in the food pipe. Raloxifene has effects which are similar to oestrogen but does not exhibit any serious side effects. Teriparatide can be used to treat osteoporosis in people who have a high risk of suffering from bone fractures.

Don't rely entirely on medication as the only treatment for your osteoporosis. These practices also are important:

Exercise. Weight-bearing physical activity and exercises that improve balance and posture can strengthen bones and reduce the chance of a fracture. The more active and fit you are as you age, the less likely you are to fall and break a bone.
Good nutrition. Eat a healthy diet and make certain that you're getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Being underweight or losing a lot of weight unintentionally is associated with poorer bone health and a higher risk of fracture   even if you're taking a bisphosphonate.
Quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes speed up bone loss.
Limit alcohol. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger.

How To Cure Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones. It occurs when the mesh-like structures present inside the bones becomes thin. This is a condition in which the bones become extremely fragile and have a tendency of breaking easily. The broken bones cause extreme pain. There are artificial medicines available in the markets for treating this condition. However, treatment of osteoporosis can be best done by the naturally produced Parathyroid hormone (PTH). 

It is secreted by the parathyroid glands in our body. It is an 84-amino acid polypeptide. The most interesting thing about PTH treatment is that it actually builds new bones. Other medications for osteoporosis only reduce the rate of loss of bones. PTH helps in increasing the amount of calcium in body. It also prevents bone loss due to osteoporosis. It is often considered to be an anabolic agent. If an osteoporosis patient is given low doses of PTH, his or her bones get strengthened. It also helps in increasing the bone mass.

Why a doctor recommends PTH for osteoporosis? Is it better than other drugs?
Traditionally, bisphosphonates were used to treat osteoporosis. However, it has been observed in a number of cases that bisphosphonates only help in slowing down the loss of bone density. However, PTH increases bone mineral density. Therefore, it is a better option for the treatment of osteoporosis. It is usually given to patients who have extremely low bone mass. It has been found effective in cases where other medications failed to show results. Moreover, it also works for postmenopausal women. 

Doctors believe that it can also be used for treating men with osteoporosis who are at high risk for fracture. It improves the microarchitecture of the bone and can do wonders in altering the bone size. Moreover, it has lesser side-effects on the health of the patient. It is known to cause dizziness and nausea and no major discomfort. It has also been noticed that patients who are being treated with PTH develop less back pain. These are also cost-effective for the long term treatment of osteoporosis.

Parathyroid Hormones - Is It a Better Treatment For Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder, which causes fragility of bones. In the absence of proper prevention and treatment modalities, osteoporosis can cause a painless progression and subsequent fractures. Such fractures (broken bones) mostly occur in the hip, spine, or wrist. As per several past data-driven studies conducted in the United States of America, 1.5 million new fractures are witnessed in people with osteoporosis every year. Of these, spine fractures are seen in 700,000; hip fractures in 300,000; wrist fractures in 250,000; and fractures of other bones in 250,000 people.

Possible Causes of Osteoporosis

Hormonal imbalances Pregnancy
Metabolic diseases Cancer
Age beyond 60-65 years
Symptoms of Osteoporosis-Induced Compression Fractures 
Significant upper or lower back pain
Changes in posture
Difficulty with breathing and digestion 
Decreased ability to walk 
An overall decrease in the quality of life Increased tendency for fracture of adjacent vertebrae
Treatment

Compression fractures are usually managed with pain medications; narcotic pain medicines are administered for a few months until the pain decreases. Also, few available medications are known to increase the bone density. It is hoped that by building the bone density, future fractures can be prevented. Another method is immobilization of the spine with a brace that helps decrease pain from a broken vertebra; however, such braces are helpful only for the fractures of the lower back.

Role of Kyphoplasty in the Management of Osteoporosis

Kyphoplasty is a procedure that involves a new technology whereby an osteoporotic compression fracture can be treated with relief in pain, restoration of the lost bone height, and immediate stabilization of the fracture with the injection of bone cement. 

How is kyphoplasty done?

The procedure is carried out via two A  incisions on each side of the affected vertebra. The technique utilizes X-ray equipment to place working tools into the collapsed vertebra. This step is followed by an insertion of an inflatable bone tamp or expander into the fractured vertebra on each side, after which, the balloons are slowly inflated, lifting up the fractured portion of the vertebra to a more normal height. The balloons are then deflated, and cement is slowly injected. Excellent restoration of fractures, which are less than 4-6 months old and better than 90% success at reducing pain associated with the broken vertebra, is seen with kyphoplasty. 

Which patients can benefit from kyphoplasty? 

Patients with a recent vertebral compression fracture due to osteoporosis 
Patients with fractures which are less than 4 months old
Patients with fractures who are on chronic prednisone or steroids 
Complications from this procedure have been primarily related to patients who have been on blood thinner medications. 
Potential complications also include cement leaking out of the vertebra and into inappropriate areas. 

Kyphoplasty In The Management Of Osteporosis!

Osteoporosis is an age-related condition characterized by low bone density and fragile bones. Lack of calcium and vitamin D are the most common triggers of this condition. These are vital elements for healthy teeth as well. Osteoporosis has a direct relationship with oral health and can trigger a number of issues such as loss of teeth, gum and can cause periodontal disease. The effects of osteoporosis on oral health and affect more women. This risk increases when talking of menopausal women.

The jawbone is one of the areas that bear the brunt of osteoporosis. The loss of bone density in this area can cause tooth loss and make teeth lose. It can also affect the gum ridges that hold dentures in their place. This can result in ill-fitting dentures that need to be frequently changed.
Medication for osteoporosis is also linked to dental health. In rare cases, antiresorptive medicines that are prescribed to strengthen the bones can lead to a condition known as osteonecrosis. This refers to the death of a bone due to poor blood supply. Antiresorptive medication can be administered orally or intravenously with the latter having a higher risk of triggering osteonecrosis. Though it affects the hips and shoulder bones in most cases, it can also affect the jaw bone. It is marked by pain, swelling, infection and exposed bone. Loose teeth, gum infections and numbness or heaviness of the jaw are also symptoms of osteonecrosis of the jaw bone.
The risk of suffering from osteonecrosis cannot be determined beforehand. Hence it is a good idea to see your dentist before or just after starting antiresorptive treatment for osteoporosis and to schedule regular checkups for the duration of your treatment. Dental problems if any should be treated before starting medication for osteoporosis. Osteonecrosis of the jaw bone is most commonly seen after undergoing a dental procedure that affects the jawbone and associated tissues such as a tooth extraction. Ideally, invasive dental procedures should be avoided if you are taking antiresorptive medicines. However, it can also occur spontaneously.
Bisphosphonates are also commonly prescribed to treat osteoporosis. This type of medication slows down the breakdown of bone tissue. However, this can lead to the development of new bones. This is not a troublesome issue when it comes to bones like the hip, leg or arm bones but can be very disruptive if it affects the jawbone. This is because the jaw bone is constantly reforming and reshaping itself.

Osteoporosis - Can It Impact Your Oral Health?

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that happens when bone density decreases and the body stops producing as much bone as it did before. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps. It can affect both males and females but it is most likely to occur in women after menopause, because of a sudden decrease in estrogen, the hormone that usually protects against osteoporosis.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis-

The early stages of osteoporosis do not cause any symptoms or warning signs. In most cases, people with osteoporosis do not know that they have the condition until they have a fracture. If symptoms do appear, some of the earliest ones may include receding gums, weakened grip strength, weak and brittle nails, back pain, loss of height over time, a stooped posture, and a bone fracture that occurs much more easily than expected.

Causes of Osteoporosis-
Some of the leading reasons behind osteoporosis include the following:

Age: The biggest cause of osteoporosis is age. It mostly affects people aged above 50.
Menopause: Another primary cause of osteoporosis in women, which occurs around the age of 45 to 55 years. Due to the changes in hormone levels associated with it, menopause can cause a woman s body to lose bone even more quickly.
Reduced sex hormones: Lower estrogen levels appear to make it harder for the bone to reproduce.
Ethnicity: White people and Asians are more susceptible than other ethnic groups.
Bone structure: Being tall or slim increases the risk of osteoporosis.
Vitamin D deficiency: In case of vitamin D deficiency, the body cannot absorb adequate amounts of calcium from the diet to prevent osteoporosis.
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis-
A number of factors can increase the likelihood of osteoporosis, these may include your age, race, lifestyle choices, and medical condition and its associated treatment. Some of the risk factors for osteoporosis are out of your control, including sex, age, race, family history, and body frame size. Osteoporosis is more common in people who have too much or little of certain hormones in their bodies. Examples include sex hormones, thyroid hormones, and hormones released by the adrenal glands. Osteoporosis is more likely to occur in people who have low calcium intake, eating disorder, and gastrointestinal surgery. Osteoporosis has also been associated with medications used to combat or prevent seizures, gastric reflux, cancer, and transplant rejection. Even lifestyle choices such as sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption, and tobacco use can increase your risk of osteoporosis.

Prevention of Osteoporosis-
There are many risk factors for osteoporosis that you cannot control. These include being female, getting older, and having a family history of osteoporosis. There are some of the factors, however, that does fall within your control. Some of these ways to control osteoporosis include getting plenty of vitamin D and calcium, doing weight-bearing exercises, abstinence from smoking and for women, weighing the pros and cons of hormone therapy. If you are at an increased risk of osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about the best way to prevent it and do that as early as possible.

Osteoporosis - Symptoms You Must Not Ignore!

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