My Spine - Lumbar
What are the symptoms?
Bone loss occurs without symptoms. People can lose bone mass over a long
period of time without being aware of it. The first indication of osteoporosis
is frequently a fracture of the spine, hip or wrist following a simple fall. When
bone loss is severe and osteoporosis is advanced, the following symptoms can
occur:
Pain in the lower back
Neck pain
Leg cramps at night
General bone pain and tenderness
Abdominal pain
Rib pain
Broken vertebrae
Brittle fingernails
Loss of height of the vertebrae and a stooped posture are the main effects of
osteoporotic spinal fractures.
How is it diagnosed?
Osteoporosis is diagnosed with spinal X-rays, a spinal CT scan or a bone den-
sity scan (Dexa scan). A suspicion of osteoporosis is usually present when a
spinal fracture occurs where there has been only a small amount of force pres-
ent, such as a simple fall.
How is it treated?
The best treatment is prevention. Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake and
exercise are important preventative aids against osteoporosis. Avoiding
smoking and excessive alcohol intake are other important factors. There are
a number of drugs that may help to increase bone density. The antiresorptive
medications, biphosphonates (alendronate, ibandronate and risedronate), cal-
citonin, oestrogens and raloxifene affect the bone remodeling cycle.
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