Osteoporosis is a medical condition which is characterized by a decrease in the density of bones. As a result of osteoporosis, the bones become fragile and bone strength considerably consistently decreases in the person. In osteoporosis, bones become abnormally porous such that it can be compressed like a sponge. Needless to say osteoporosis weakens the bones, and as a result of it frequent fractures are experienced by the individual. Osteoporosis is mainly a disorder of the skeleton.
Osteopenia is a condition of bone that is a bit less denser than normal bone but not to the degree of bone in osteoporosis. Normal bone is classically composed of protein, collagen fibres and calcium, all of which consecutively provide strength to the bones. The bones which are targeted by osteoporosis can break or fracture with a relatively minor injury, that normally would not cause a bone to break. Osteoporosis can result after a bone marrow transplant. If you compare bone marrow transplant in India cost with that in other countries you will surely be benefitted by your medical tourism in India. The fracture lead by osteoporosis can be either in the form of cracking as in hip fracture, or collapsing as in compression fracture of the vertebrae of the spinal cord.
The spine, hips, ribs and wrists are common areas of bone fractures from osteoporosis. Although osteoporosis related fractures can occur in almost any skeleton bone of the body. So to be brief, osteoporosis is actually a disease of bones that can lead to an increased risk of fracture. Osteoporosis can be present in a person without any symptoms for decades, because osteoporosis does not cause symptoms until there is a fracture in the bone. Some osteoporotic fracture may escape detection for years when they do not cause symptoms. Therefore patients may not be aware of their osteoporosis until they suffer a painful fracture. The symptom associated with osteoporotic fracture is usually extreme and writhing pain in the particular location. The intensity of the pain depends upon the location of the fracture.
The symptoms of osteoporosis in men are similar to the symptoms of osteoporosis in women. This means that there is no significant difference in the symptoms or pain sensation with respect to the gender of the person. Fractures of the spine or the vertebrate can result in severe band like pain sensation. Pain, that radiates from the back to the sides of the body. Over the years repeated spinal fractures can lead to chronic lower back pain as well as a loss of height or even bending of the spine, due to collapse of the vertebrae. This collapse gives individuals a hunched-back appearance of the upper back portion. This it commonly is seen in elderly women.
A fracture that occurs during the course of normal activity is known as a minimal trauma or stress fracture. For example, some patients with osteoporosis are at an increased risk of developing stress fractures in their feet, while walking or stepping off an edge.