Osteoporosis is often thought of as a women's disease. However, men are at risk as well. It is important to take steps to manage this condition as it makes a person more susceptible to breaking a bone. A broken bone can land you in a nursing home and rob you of your independence. It is important to learn to recognize the warning signs of this condition so you can start treatment as soon as possible.
Back Pain
Changes to your hips and spine may cause pain that can be felt in the back. Your pain may occur suddenly and be a sharp pain or it may be an achy pain that gets progressively worse over time. Without treatment your back pain may become chronic. The back pain associated with osteoporosis in men is usually the result of a fracture.
Additional Symptoms
Men need to also be on the lookout for osteoporosis-related changes in the spine. This can cause a loss of height of an inch or more along with a change in your posture. You may develop a dowager's hump or rounded upper back and have a tendency to stoop forward.
Fractures
In the case of men and women, the National Institutes of Health claims that "Osteoporosis is called a 'silent disease' because it progresses without symptoms until a fracture occurs." The first indication that a man has this condition may be a fracture in the hip, spine or wrist. In addition, men tend to get fractures from osteoporosis at a much later age then women. Men also have a higher mortality rate from fractures than women. This is why it is important to talk to your doctor about getting a bone density test, as this may be the only way you know if you have osteoporosis or low bone density.
