Osteoporosis Symtoms

Arthritis and osteoporosis are two distinct conditions that are very common, especially in older individuals. While osteoporosis generally affects older women who are of postmenopausal age, arthritis can affect any individual at any time. In some cases, the conditions can be combined into a disease which is known as arthritis osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. Arthritis osteoporosis is a disease that attacks the bone joints as well as bone mass.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that attacks bone density. It is very common in older women and causes a loss of bone density that can cause the following symptoms:

Back pain
Height loss
Compression fractures
Brittle bones and breakage

There are various treatments for osteoporosis that are on the market that include new medications that can, in some cases, reverse this condition or at least prevent it from becoming worse. Unlike osteoarthritis, osteoporosis affects the bone density, however and not the joints.

Diet and exercise can also play a part in the treatment for osteoporosis. Those who suffer from this condition should make sure that they eat foods with plenty of calcium, take Vitamin D supplements so that they can absorb the calcium into the bloodstream and also exercise. A doctor will usually treat someone who has osteoporosis by testing for bone density and then recommending medication, supplements as well as dietary changes. Exercise is also recommended in a diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Symptoms of Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints and the tissue that surround the bones. It can occur anywhere in the body, although it primarily affects the knees, elbows and in some cases, the back. The symptoms of arthritis include the following:

Joint pain that is intermittent
Back pain
Stiffness in joints

Treatment for arthritis usually consists of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, often referred to as NSAIDs. It is important to realize that while osteoporosis affects the bones, arthritis affects the joints.

There is a condition that can combine both osteoporosis and arthritis that is also a completely different disease from osteoporosis. This is known as osteoarthritis or arthritis osteoporosis.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis or arthritis osteoporosis is a degenerative disease of the joints. It affects not only the joint but also the bones. This is a painful condition that can affect anyone at any age. In addition to affecting joints and bones, arthritis osteoporosis also attacks the ligaments as well as the muscles in the area. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, but should not be confused with osteoporosis.

While most people who get osteoporosis are women over the age of 65, those who get osteoarthritis can be of any age. One of the main causes of arthritis osteoporosis is a sports related injury. Other causes of osteoarthritis include the following:

Diabetes
Obesity
Inflammatory disease
Pregnancy
Hormonal disorders

The symptoms of osteoarthritis include the following:

Acute pain
Loss of motion in certain areas
Atrophy of muscles
Stiffness

Although those who have arthritis osteoporosis generally get it through trauma to a joint, as is the case with osteoporosis, heredity factors may also come into play. Those who have a first degree relative who has arthritis osteoporosis may also be susceptible to the condition as well.

Treatment For Arthritis Osteoporosis

Those who have the condition of both arthritis and osteoporosis have a more difficult time when it comes to treatment. Because the arthritis condition can make it painful for the individual to exercise, having both of these conditions can make it difficult for the patient to exercise, which is one of the key components in treatment for osteoporosis. There are, however, exercises that are available for those who suffer from arthritis osteoporosis.

Two exercises that are recommended for anybody suffering from arthritis osteoporosis are walking and swimming. Both of these are low impact exercises that can relieve atrophy as well as provide comfort for the joints as well as build up the bones. In addition to these exercises, other treatments for those who have osteoarthritis include the following:

Weight loss
Dietary changes similar to those with osteoporosis
Physical therapy
Braces, such as knee braces
NSAIDS
Steroids
Pain medication
Topical treatments

It is important for those who are suffering from symptoms of osteoarthritis to discover as much as hey can about their condition as possible, including whether or not they are also suffering from arthritis. When these conditions combine, it can cause addition problems for patients as they may not be able to function as they once did. While the medications that can help with osteoporosis can help with bone density, they will not work when it comes to arthritis.

It is very common for older individuals who suffer from osteoporosis to also suffer from arthritis. This does not mean that they have the condition of osteoarthritis, although osteoarthritis is the most common form of the disease of arthritis. This is why it is important for anyone who is concerned about osteoporosis understand as much as they can about their condition as well as get a proper diagnosis from a doctor who is trained in this field.

While arthritis and osteoporosis may be hereditary diseases, there is something that people can do to both treat these conditions as well as prevent them. By making dietary changes that include less red meat, alcohol, caffeine and phosphates and adding foods that are high in calcium as well as continuing with a regular exercise routine and maintaining a healthy weight, a person can not only help themselves alleviate the pain from arthritis osteoporosis but may also be able to prevent the condition altogether.

A doctor who treats patients with arthritis osteoporosis will prescribe a treatment based upon the general health of the patient as well as their ability to perform certain exercises. Most doctors will prescribe medication for both osteoporosis and may recommend NSAIDs for the pain associated with arthritis to be taken when needed.

Only doctors can diagnose conditions such as osteoarthritis. Those who have symptoms of arthritis osteoporosis or osteoarthritis should talk to their doctor about a diagnosis as well as a treatment plan that will alleviate their pain and also improve the quality of their life.

Osteoporosis Causes

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most common form of osteoporosis and usually affects women over the age of 60. Postmenopausal osteoporosis leads to bone loss as well as brittle bones that lead to breakage. Women should have a bone scan by the age of 65 in order to discover if they are on the verge of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The bone scan can be done to ascertain if there is any bone loss.

What are the Risk Factors for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis?

Not all cases of osteoporosis are postmenopausal osteoporosis, although the vast majority of them are those women who are past the child bearing years. There are certain risk factors that can lead to osteoporosis in women. These include both heredity factors as well as dietary factors that have been part of their life. Women who have a first degree relative who suffers or did suffer from postmenopausal osteoporosis are at greater risk for bone loss as compared to those who do not have this condition run in their families.

Symptoms of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Many women who have postmenopausal osteoporosis have very little symptoms and little pain. As a result, they may not even realize that they are experiencing bone loss. There are several symptoms of postmenopausal osteoporosis that need to be considered:

Back pain
Frequent breaks or fractures of bones
Decrease in height

The decrease in height is one way that someone can tell if they are suffering from bone loss due to osteoporosis. Women who have postmenopausal osteoporosis will experience compression fractures in the spine that lead to a decrease in height. At this time, they may or may not experience back pain. Most of the back pain that is associated with osteoporosis is acute, but may not be severe enough to seek medical treatment. Some women will put this pain down to aging pains.

Frequent breaks and fractures are another indication of osteoporosis. Many women do not discover that they have this disease until they experience a broken bone. Because the condition leads to bone loss, it is very important for those who are suffering from osteoporosis to prevent themselves from falling. The bone density in someone who has this condition is less than someone who is not suffering from osteoporosis. As a result, those who fall and have this condition are much more likely to break a bone than someone who has stronger bones.

The guidelines for osteoporosis with regard to detection as well as treatment is that every woman should have a bone scan by the age of 65 to determine if she is experiencing lower levels of bone mineral density. This is usually the sign that a woman may be in the throes of the disease or may even be on the verge of having osteoporosis. Fortunately, if discovered in time the condition can be treated with a variety of different drugs that are on the market, including bisphosphonates. These drugs have proven to be effective at treating women with this condition and can reverse bone loss, allowing for stronger bones, a better quality of life and a reduction of bone breaks and fractures in postmenopausal women.