Spine osteoporosis: what is, symptoms and treatment

Osteoporosis in the spine is a loss of bone mass in spine vertebrae, and it is common to occur in postmenopausal, but may also arise due to other health conditions such as hyperthyroidism, trauma or tumors, or even using corticosteroid drugs or low calcium-rich food intake.

Osteoporosis in the spine is a silent disease that leaves bones more fragile, and symptoms may arise gradually, being more intense when there is fracture in the vertebra of the spine, with symptoms such as sudden back pain, pain that radiates to the legs or tingling or tingling in the legs. See other symptoms of osteoporosis.

Treatment for spine osteoporosis aims to delay bone mineral loss, reduce the risk of fractures, relieve pain and improve quality of life. For this, treatment should be guided by the orthopedist, which may indicate the use of medicines, proper nutrition, changes in lifestyle and physiotherapy.

Symptoms of osteoporosis in the spine

The main symptoms of osteoporosis in the spine are:

• Sudden or chronic back pain;
• Back pain that gets worse when walking, standing, coughing or sneezing;
• Back pain that improves to lie on your back or sit;
• Posture problems;
• Column deformity, such as kyphosis;
• Pain in the back of the back that radiates to the legs;
• Sensation of numbness or tingling in the legs;
• Decreased body height.

Generally, the symptoms of spine osteoporosis start gradually, and are more intense when a compression fracture occurs, which occurs when one or more spine vertebrae does not support, collapse, and may cause pressure on the spinal cord or nerves near the affected vertebra.

Compression fracture is more common to occur in the lower back, but can also affect the chest or cervical vertebrae.

As the symptoms of fractures caused by osteoporosis arise, it is important to seek medical attention, so that the most appropriate treatment is diagnosed and the most appropriate treatment begins.

Online symptom test

If you would like to know the risk of osteoporosis in the column, select the symptoms you have in the following test:

The symptom test should be used only as a orientation tool and, therefore, does not replace the consultation and diagnosis of the orthopedist.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of osteoporosis in the spine is made by the orthopedist through bone densitometry examination to evaluate bone density and detect compression fractures in vertebrae. It is evaluated in the spine and femur lap.

Also read: Bone densitometry: what it is, what it is for and results

tuasaude.com/densitometria-ossea

Make an appointment with the nearest orthopedist, using the following tool to make an assessment of the risk of osteoporosis:

Main causes

Osteoporosis in the spine is related to bone cell aging and decreased bone mass, which makes bones more fragile, being more common in women and men over 50.

Some situations may favor the development of osteoporosis, such as:

• Physical inactivity;
• Menopause;
• Nutritional deficiencies, mainly calcium and/ or vitamin D;
• Smoking and/ or excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• Use of some medicines;
• Hypothyroidism;
• Hormonal changes.

In addition, some diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, kidney failure, thalassemia and HIV infection, for example, may increase the risk of spine osteoporosis development.

How treatment is done

The treatment of osteoporosis in the spine should be done with orthopedist guidance, which includes:

1. Exercise

Exercise for spine osteoporosis helps improve balance, such as yoga or tai-chi-chuan, reducing the risk of falls and fractures.

In addition, the orthopedic doctor may recommend walking, dance and some bodybuilding exercises regularly, because due to the biomechanical force caused by the bone muscles, these types of exercise are capable of increasing bone mineral density. See other osteoporosis exercises.

2. Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy for spine osteoporosis can be indicated by the doctor to strengthen the back muscles and abdomen that support the spine, helping to increase muscle strength, decrease the risk of fractures and improve quality of life.

Physiotherapy sessions should be done with the orientation of the physiotherapist respecting the limitations of each person, and stretching exercises that increase flexibility and improve spine stability may be recommended. Learn how physical therapy is done for the spine.

3. Remedies

Remedies for spine osteoporosis aims to reduce bone loss and prevent vertebra fractures.

The main remedies for osteoporosis in the spine that can be indicated by the doctor are:

• Calcium and vitamin D supplementationbecause they help in the formation of bone mass;
• Bifosphonatossuch as Alendronato, Riseronate or Zoledronic Acid, are the first choice medications in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis;
• Recombinant hormone of the parathyroidsuch as the thermiparast, indicated for men or women in post menopause with high risk of fracture;
• Synthetic polypeptide hormonessuch as calcitonin, which act by regulating blood calcium levels, increasing calcium deposit in bones;
• Monoclonal antibodiessuch as denamab, which reduces bone absorption, suitable for postmenopausal women or men with prostate cancer who have an increased risk of bone fractures;
• Hormone replacement therapy with estrogensuch as raloxifen in menopause women, who do not have contraindications for estrogen replacement, being used especially for the prevention of osteoporosis;
• Testosterone Therapyindicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in men with high risk of fractures, when combined with other remedies for osteoporosis

These remedies should be used only with the indication of the orthopedist, and regular follow -up with the doctor with evaluations with physical and laboratory examination should be done. See other remedies for osteoporosis.

4. Changes in lifestyle

The adoption of a healthy lifestyle is also very important for the treatment of osteoporosis in the spine. Thus, it is advisable to maintain a balanced diet and richer in foods with calcium and vitamin D, such as egg, almonds, kale, broccoli or salmon, for example. See how to diet for osteoporosis.

In addition, abandoning activities that may have a negative effect on health, such as smoking or consuming too much alcohol, is also extremely important.

Watch the following video what you consume to have stronger bones and thus combat osteoporosis: