How do you know if you have osteoporosis?
To diagnose osteoporosis and assess your risk of fracture and determine your need for treatment, your doctor will most likely order a bone density scan. This exam is used to measure bone mineral density (BMD). It is most commonly performed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA) or bone densitometry.
Where do you get pain with osteoporosis?
Back or neck pain Osteoporosis can cause compression fractures of the spine. These fractures can be very painful because the collapsed vertebrae may pinch the nerves that radiate out from the spinal cord. The pain symptoms can range from minor tenderness to debilitating pain.
What are the warning signs of osteoporosis?
Given below are 6 early warning signs of osteoporosis are: Receding Gums: This is a process in which the margin of the gums that surrounds the teeth starts to wear away. Weak Fingernails: Brittle fingernails are yet another early warning sign of osteoporosis. Decreased Grip Strength: This is yet another early symptom of bone loss or osteoporosis.
What are the long-term effects of osteoporosis?
One of the major long term effects of Osteoporosis is acute pain felt by the patients in the muscles and the bones particularly in the back, the arms, the hips, the knees and the ribs. The level of pain might differ as per patient.
What are the dangers of osteoporosis?
The physical dangers of osteoporosis are obvious: once a bone breaks, it’s going to cause moderate to sever pain in the affected area, loss of mobility, and a lower quality of living.
When to treat osteoporosis?
Bisphosphonates are often the first type of medicine that doctors prescribe for confirmed osteoporosis in women who have been through menopause and men older than 50 years of age. Doctors usually recommend treatment with oral bisphosphonates for at least 5 years. Extended treatment may be recommended in some cases.