Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones weaken and are subject to breaking with greater ease. If not treated, this condition can become so severe that even mundane tasks such as bending at the waist or lifting a small piece of furniture can cause a bone to snap. While osteoporosis symptoms rarely appear early on, there are several that begin to manifest as the disease progresses.
One of the first osteoporosis symptoms to appear is recurrent pain in the back or legs. An individual may experience this pain as a dull ache after walking or standing in the same position for a period of time. At first, the pain comes and goes; after a time, the dull ache that seems to originate in the bone rather than the muscles settles in and is constant.
Changes in posture and height are also among the more common osteoporosis symptoms. As the calcium deficiency worsens, the bones may begin to lose firmness. This results in a loss of an inch or two (2.5 - 5 cm) of overall height, as well as creating a curved upper back as the bones in the upper body region begin to weaken.
As the spinal compression continues and the bone density decreases, the individual is likely to experience osteoporosis symptoms like hairline fractures in the wrists or hips. The brittle bones are no longer able to support the weight they did in the past. As this happens, actions like swinging a hammer or beating cake batter by hand become impossible to accomplish without injury.
While many people think that women over forty are the only group that must be concerned about osteoporosis risk, the fact is that anyone of either gender can develop this disease at any time in life. For this reason, it is often a good idea to eat a balanced diet, making sure to include foods rich in calcium at each meal. Osteoporosis screening for adults over the age of forty is also a good idea, since the disease usually does not exhibit any symptoms during the early stages. Detecting the presence of osteoporosis early makes it possible to begin treating the condition and minimize the potential for sustaining bone fractures while engaged in normal activities.
There are several oral medications on the market today that can help slow the progress of various osteoporosis symptoms. While there are alternative medicines and herbal remedies available over the counter, many prefer to make use of prescription only medications to deal with the loss of bone density. When taken according to the doctor’s instructions and used in conjunction with a sensible diet and exercise program, osteoporosis sufferers can look forward to many years of living without constant pain or frequent bone fractures.
