Osteoporosis - a disease that affects the connective tissue. Most commonly affects the spine, as well as the bones of the hands and feet.
Bone with osteoporosis lose strength, that creates a risk of frequent pathological fractures.
Causes
Osteoporosis due to an accumulated amount of bone tissue and the extent of further weight reduction of the bone core. However, these factors are determined by a number of other factors.
- Genetic factor. From parents unfavorable qualities are transmitted to the children, because of which the storage array is broken bone.
- Stunting and reduced weight. Weight less than 50 kg in adulthood increases the risk of osteoporosis.
- Elderly age. Bone mass accumulation is about 25 years and is maintained at a sufficient level to 40 years of age. Further bone mass and its strength is gradually reduced.
- Female. Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis because bone loss occurs at them faster than men.
- Menopause. It is also a negative factor affecting the development of osteoporosis.
- Breastfeeding is more than six months. Prolonged breastfeeding may provoke osteoporosis, for the reason that breast milk woman loses a large amount of calcium, which affects the density and structure of bone tissue.
- Persistent smoking. There is evidence that nicotine stimulates calcium release from bone, which is then excreted in the urine.
- Improper diet. In osteoporosis affects inadequate intake of dietary calcium (less than 1 g daily), excessive use of the protein of food and abuse fats and fiber.
risk group are people with a history of
- Basedow's disease
- hypothyroidism
- sugar diabetes type I
- rheumatoid arthritis
- cirrhosis liver
- hemolytic anemia.
osteoporosis symptoms
The classic signs of osteoporosis are:
- pain in the spine or bones in the arms and legs;
- frequent bone fractures;
- postural disorders.
The most common symptom of lesions of the spine - pain in the sacral, can be a pain in the hip joints. If osteoporosis is not struck by the spine, the pain arises in other areas: the chest, ribs, ankle joints.
In the initial stage symptomatic pain is too intense, periodically occur. With the development of osteoporosis pain become permanent.
When palpation of the spine is a characteristic muscle tension and back pain behind the spine.
Another characteristic symptom of osteoporosis are frequent bone fractures, accompanied by complications, they can provoke the most minor factors. Particularly characteristic fractures of vertebral bodies with severe pain in the projection broken vertebra enhances the motion.
For patients older than 45 years are characterized by pathological fractures in the wrist joint.
Diagnostics
For suspected osteoporosis, as well as to initial diagnosis of the patient is produced growth monitoring for a predetermined time. In osteoporosis, there is growth decrease, which can reach 10 cm.
An effective technique for diagnosis radioisotope bone scan. According to the results it is possible not only to identify the disease, but also to determine the location of the lesion.
To determine the proportion of bone mass is applied bone densitometry.
Screening for osteoporosis includes the following analyzes:
- Blood and urine analysis general clinical;
- X-ray examinations of the spine;
- Monitoring calcium, phosphate, protein, total bilirubin in the blood;
- definition thyroid hormones, Pituitary and sex hormones.
treatment of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis treatment is directed at the suspension of the process of destruction of bone tissue, symptomatic treatment of pain, restoring full function of bones and joints.
Osteoporosis therapy is designed to reduce physical stress affected areas.
Patients are not recommended as long walks, and just long standing. During the walk every 10 minutes is needed leisure, designed to reduce the load on the affected bone. It excludes any heavy exercise.
appointed balanced diet with greater calcium content.
Medikamentozno calcium preparations are also shown. To stimulate the metabolic processes are written anabolic steroids. It is necessary to use drugs that stimulate microcirculation. In the treatment of osteoporosis should be considered that the lasting effect is possible only through an integrated approach. A special use of the above drugs does not bring positive results.
An important role in the treatment of physiotherapy plays. Good for the treatment of osteoporosis proven methods such as:
- ultrasound therapy;
- electrophoresis;
- Laser therapy - easier symptomatic pain in osteoporosis;
- balneotherapy (hydrogen sulfide, radon, turpentine baths).
For relief of pain syndromes are applied analgesics or anesthetics ointment. From physiotherapeutic methods used electrophoresis analgin or novocaine.
Therapeutic exercise should be necessarily included in the treatment regimen for osteoporosis. When this exercise is strictly metered, exercises are held, usually sitting or lying down, thus reducing the load on the musculoskeletal system. Bring a greater effect of exercises conducted in the pool. Do not be amiss to appoint a special gentle massage.
Spa treatment highly desirable in treatment of osteoporosis. For patients suitable resorts with mud baths and mineral waters.
In some cases, patients for the prevention of scoliosis we recommend wearing medical corsets.
Operations in osteoporosis appointed rarely, mainly in the development of complications.
The prognosis for treatment
With timely treatment of osteoporosis prognosis for life mostly favorable. However, there are limitations on the ability to work. Excluded prolonged stress the musculoskeletal system. The ideal situation for osteoporosis is considered abandonment of work.
This article is based on materials of the book "Diseases of the spine", ed. d. m. n., prof. YU. YU. Eliseev, Moscow, 2008.
