Osteoporosis, characterized by weak and brittle bones, affects the skeletal system. It occurs most often in elderly women, but it can affect men and younger women as well. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, risk factors include being Caucasian or Asian, having a small body frame and having a low calcium or Vitamin D intake. Tests are available to look at bone density and to determine whether an individual has osteoporosis, but for many it is a silent disease, showing no symptoms or effects on the body until it has progressed for a long time.
Fractures
Fractures and broken bones are the most common effect of osteoporosis on the body. Because osteoporosis causes a decrease in bone density, the bones become more likely to be broken. Fractures often occur in the spine, hip and wrists, generally after a fall. Sometimes, fractures can occur from something as simple as a small bump or just from the weight of the body as it puts pressure on the spine. For many people, a fracture is the first indication that they have osteoporosis. Individuals with osteoporosis who have sustained a fracture should be extremely careful and take precautions not to fracture any more bones.
Height Loss
The deterioration of the spinal bones can cause a forward bend in the spine and lead to a stooped posture that makes the individual look shorter. A severe case of stooped posture is referred to as "kyphosis." It can contribute to a hunchbacked look in afflicted individuals. The surgery to correct this stooped posture is called kyphoplasty. For some individuals with osteoporosis, the bones themselves can fracture and then completely compress or collapse, leading to an actual loss of height. This fracture and the resulting collapse of bone is called a vertebral compression fracture (VCF), explains the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Back braces can be used as a solution for mild stooping and compression of the spine, but surgery is the only thing that can fix the problem completely.
Back Pain
When the bones of the spine compress and become crushed due to a compression fracture, this can lead to severe back pain. Back pain is mitigated with pain medications while the underlying source of the pain is being treated. For severe cases of crushed vertebrae, a procedure called percutaneous vertebroplasty is used in which an injectable bone cement shores up the collapsing bone, as described on the Family Doctor website created by the American Academy of Family Physicians. After a vertebroplasty, pain usually dissipates within 48 hours.
