Osteoporosis is a bone disease that weakens your bones. It develops when there’s a decrease in bone mineral density and bone mass such that it changes the structure and strength of a bone. This increases the risk of fractures.

The condition is more common in women than in their male counterparts.

Signs & Symptoms

As the condition develops, an individual may not experience any obvious signs or symptoms, probably that’s why osteoporosis is often called “the silent disease”. Infact, in most cases, the first sign is a fracture – it could be the hip, spine or wrist.Also, once your bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you might experience signs and symptoms that include:

1. Pain in the lower back
2. Loss of height over time
3. A stooped or change in posture
4. Bone fractures

Common Causes & Risk Factors

Among common causes, family history and some medical conditions such as overactive thyroid play a major role. Other than these, many risk factors increase your chance of developing osteoporosis, with two of the most significant being gender and age as women over 50 years are much more likely to develop the condition.

Diagnosis

To check for osteoporosis, your doctor will examine you and will review your medical history. Besides, they may also run some blood and urine tests to check for conditions that may cause bone loss.

Further, if your doctor suspects you of having osteoporosis or that you’re at risk of developing it, they’ll also suggest a bone density test for confirmation

Treatment

There’s no cure for osteoporosis, but proper treatment can help manage the associated pain as well as protect and strengthen your bones. Our treatment plan at Genesis Pain Clinic, Hyderabad will depend on the severity of your condition, the symptoms presented and your overall health condition.Conservative (nonsurgical) treatments include:

Medication: Anti-inflammatory and pain medications may help relieve your osteoarthritis symptoms.

Physical therapy: Physical therapy and exercises help in improving strength, range of motion and overall mobility of your joints.

Regenerative therapy: Regenerative medicine, such as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections and stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis, has shown great results as an alternative to surgery.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): This is extremely successful for short- and long-term pain relief. The treatment will work for almost a year, after which the nerve endings heal, and another dose will likely be necessary.