An Overview of Symptoms of Osteoporosis
People with
osteoporosis often don't know they have it, simply because there are no symptoms of osteoporosis in its early stages. That is what led specialists to label osteoporosis as the "silent disease."
As osteoporosis progresses, you may develop symptoms related to weakened bones, including:
- Back pain
- Loss of height and stooped posture
- A curved backbone (known as a dowager's hump)
- Fractures that may occur with a minor injury, especially of the hip, spine, or wrist.
Making a Diagnosis Before Osteoporosis Symptoms Develop
Specialized tests called
bone density tests can measure bone density in various sites of the body, thereby predicting those who are at greater risk of developing symptoms of osteoporosis. A
bone density test can:
- Detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs
- Predict your chances of fracturing in the future
- Determine the rate of bone loss
- Monitor the effects of treatment if the test is conducted at intervals of a year or more.
The most common bone mineral density test is dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The results of the DEXA test are scored in comparison to the bone mineral density (BMD) of young, healthy individuals, resulting in a measurement called a T-score. If your T-score is -2.5 or lower, you are considered to have osteoporosis and, therefore, are at high risk for a fracture. T-scores between -1.0 and -2.5 are generally considered to show
osteopenia (a reduction in bone mass that is not as severe as with osteoporosis). The risk of fractures is generally lower in people with osteopenia when compared to those with osteoporosis. However, if bone loss continues in a person with osteopenia, the risk for fracture increases, too.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all women age 65 or older routinely have a bone mineral density test to screen for osteoporosis. If you have a higher risk for fractures, routine screening should begin at age 60.
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