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Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is often referred to as a silent disease. The associated bone loss usually occurs without symptoms. Since many people mistakenly believe that all medical conditions cause symptoms. As a result, they do not see a doctor until the condition is far advanced.

Kyphosis

In the early stages of osteoporosis, there is usually no pain or other symptoms. Once the bones have been weakened, you may have the following symptoms:

Collapsed vertebra, which may initially be felt or seen in the form of:

Severe back pain

Loss of height over time, with stooped posture (kyphosis). With normal aging, everyone has some loss of height. However, a loss of one inch or more is significant and may indicate osteoporosis.

Fracture of a bone, such as the wrist or hip, due to the bones becoming over-brittle. This is sometimes the first symptom of osteoporosis.

References:

National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.nih.gov/ .

National Osteoporosis Foundation website. Available at: http://www.nof.org/ .

Last reviewed September 2011 by Marcin Chwistek, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.