Symptoms of osteoporosis

Early osteoporosis usually causes no symptoms. This is why it is called a silent disease.

Signs that may appear later

• A fracture from a minor fall or even a cough or bend, most often in the wrist, hip or spine
• Sudden back pain from a spinal compression fracture
• Loss of height over time, often more than 3 to 4 cm
• A stooped or rounded upper back (kyphosis)
• Persistent low back or neck pain
• Reduced mobility and fear of falling

Things that are not caused by osteoporosis

General joint aches, cramps and tiredness are common and are often due to other causes such as vitamin D deficiency or arthritis. They do not by themselves mean you have osteoporosis.

Ayurvedic view

Traditional descriptions mention bone pain, brittleness, dryness and tooth or nail weakness as signs of Asthi-kshaya. This is an interpretive description and not a diagnostic method.

Who should be tested

Women over 65, postmenopausal women with risk factors, men over 70 or earlier with risk factors, and anyone with a fragility fracture.

Emergency signs

Severe sudden back pain, inability to stand after a fall, a deformed limb, or leg weakness or loss of bladder control need urgent care.

See a doctor if you notice height loss, a new stooped posture or back pain that does not settle.

When to get help

Speak with your doctor or an orthopaedic, endocrinology or rheumatology clinic if you have had a fracture from a minor fall, lose height, or develop a stooped back. Checking bone health early, with a DEXA scan where advised, lets you start the right plan before a break happens.

Remember

Do not wait for symptoms. A bone density test finds the problem before a fracture does.