Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by a loss of bone density and is most common in women over age 50. Though the disease often shows no symptoms at the beginning, osteoporosis often results in pain in various parts of the body.
Back Pain
The most common type of pain experienced by osteoporosis patients is back pain that occurs because of compression fractures that form along the spine from everyday activities like bending over or tripping. Harvinder S. Sandhu, MD reports that compression fractures result in the collapse of spinal vertebrae, which exacerbates pain.
Neck Pain
UK-based Net Doctor reports that osteoporosis sometimes causes pain in the back of the neck that radiates down the shoulder into the arm or upward into the head, causing a headache.
Foot Pain
As the bones in the feet become more porous, supporting the weight of the body results in strain that can lead to a generalized sore feeling in the foot.
Hip Pain
As a result of falls, patients with osteoporosis easily fracture the bones of the hip. Often these fractures are minor enough to go unnoticed by patients, but create chronic pain in the hips over time.
Considerations
Pain caused by osteoporosis often limits mobility and contributes to falls, which only exacerbate the disease. Because of this, the Mayo Clinic encourages patients to discuss pain control options with their doctors to alleviate chronic pain due to osteoporosis.
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