Osteoporosis: pain, prevention and treatment options

Osteoporosis is a disease whose name is at least widely known. In everyday life, we encounter it again and again in the form of synonyms and those that are actually not: bone loss, bone weakness or even brittle bone disease (actually a completely different disease). The awareness of the disease is based on the fact that about 200 million people worldwide suffer from it and have to live with osteoporosis pain. 

The condition leads to a reduction in bone density and can have serious health consequences. Despite the widespread assumption that osteoporosis is a problem in old age, younger people can also be affected by the disease. 

The good news is that there are many treatment options that can help to alleviate the symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. Massages can also be a useful addition here, although a massage for osteoporosis requires increased attentiveness.

Reading tip: If you want to learn more about the areas in which massages can be effective, we recommend our article: "From head to toe: Massages help here"

Important note: This article does not replace medical advice. If symptoms persist, please consult your doctor.

What is osteoporosis?

In osteoporosis, bone mass and density decrease, which leads to increased brittleness of the bones. Affected bones lose strength and are more prone to fractures, even with minor loads or falls. Osteoporosis often develops insidiously over years and often goes unnoticed until a bone fracture occurs.

Source: https://www.hessing-kliniken.de/fileadmin/user_upload/01-hessing-stiftung/images/content/pillarpages/Knochenstruktur_Osteoporose.jpg

This disease actually mainly affects the elderly, but it can also occur in younger individuals. Women are particularly often affected after menopause. It is not uncommon for muscle pain to occur with osteoporosis, but it is not a symptom but a consequence of the disease.

Reading tip: You can find out more about muscle pain during menopause in our article.

How osteoporosis develops: Causes

The development of osteoporosis is multifactorial and can be favored by a variety of causes. One of the main factors is age: bone density naturally decreases with age. In women, this process accelerates after menopause due to the decline in estrogen levels.

Other risk factors include genetic predisposition, hormonal disorders, insufficient calcium and vitamin D intake, and a generally inactive lifestyle. Secondary osteoporosis can also be triggered by certain diseases or medications. Basically, a distinction is made between three types of osteoporosis.

What types of osteoporosis are there?

Since osteoporosis can have a variety of causes and the course is individual, the disease is divided into three different types:

1. Primary osteoporosis: This form is the most common and includes postmenopausal osteoporosis, which mainly affects postmenopausal women.  Senile osteoporosis is common in older men and women. Both types are mainly caused by the natural aging process and hormonal changes.
   
   
2. Secondary osteoporosis: This occurs as a result of other diseases or by taking certain medications. Chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or chronic kidney failure, as well as long-term use of corticosteroids, can affect bone density and lead to osteoporosis.
   
   
3. Idiopathic osteoporosis: This form occurs without an identifiable cause and often affects younger people and children. The exact triggers are unknown, and diagnosis is usually made by ruling out other causes.

Osteoporosis symptoms

Subtle and insidiously developing - this is how one could summarize the signs of osteoporosis. In most cases, the symptoms manifest themselves after a longer period of illness. For this reason, osteoporosis is often only diagnosed at an advanced stage.

The most common signs of osteoporosis include:

• Back pain: Due to vertebral body fractures or microfractures of the vertebrae.
• Bone fractures: Especially of the hip, wrist or spine, even under low load - often known as fragility fractures.
• Loss of height: Due to collapse of the vertebral bodies.
• Hunched posture: A consequence of vertebral collapses that lead to a hunchback.
• Slow healing of fractures: Osteoporosis patients heal more slowly, and fractures can lead to deformities such as a spinal curvature.

All these pains and symptoms typical of osteoporosis often have serious long-term consequences.

Muscle pain in osteoporosis: a consequence of weakening of the bones

The weakening of the bones in osteoporosis has far-reaching consequences that go beyond the risk of bone fractures. A common problem is muscle pain, which occurs in osteoporosis due to the change in posture and the strain on the muscles. 

When the vertebral bodies collapse, this often leads to a hunched posture, which puts additional strain on the muscles in the back area and causes tension and pain. 

Reading tip: Muscle pain and its causes are versatile and can occur in all parts of the body. You can learn more about this topic in our article on muscle pain all over the body.

There is no question that an osteoporosis diagnosis plays a crucial role in avoiding long-term consequences and finding the right therapy as early as possible. So how do you tell if someone has osteoporosis?

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

 

Osteoporosis is usually diagnosed by a bone density measurement, also known as DXA (dual X-ray absorptiometry). This procedure measures the density of the bones and helps to assess the risk of bone fractures. In addition, blood tests may be done to check calcium and vitamin D levels, as well as other markers that could indicate a bone metabolism disorder.

Early detection is crucial in order to start appropriate treatment measures at an early stage and to slow down the progression of the disease. Regardless of the time of diagnosis, there are a variety of treatment options for osteoporosis, which we present to you below.

Osteoporosis therapy: What can help?

Treatment for osteoporosis aims to improve bone density, relieve pain, and reduce the risk of bone fractures. The proven options for osteoporosis therapy include:

1. Exercise and training: Regular physical activity, especially strength training and exercises with weight, strengthens bones and improves muscle strength. Gentle activities such as yoga and tai chi can also promote physical balance and flexibility and thus prevent falls.
   
   
2. Drug therapy: There are various medications that can help slow down bone resorption or promote bone formation. Among the commonly used drugs are bisphosphonates, calcitonin, hormone therapies and, more recently, drugs such as denosumab or teriparatide.
   
   
3. Massage for osteoporosis: Gentle massages can improve circulation and relieve tension, which can be helpful for muscle pain caused by osteoporosis. However, it is very important to ensure that massage techniques are not applied too deeply or intensively, which could strain the fragile bones. Massage treatment for osteoporosis therefore depends on the stage of the disease and should only be carried out by experts.

Reading tip: You can find out under what conditions massage chairs can be used as an accompanying therapy or in prevention in our article: Are massage chairs medically useful?

Osteoporosis and nutrition

In addition to the various therapy options, nutrition also plays a central role in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. A balanced diet is crucial for bone health and can reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Important nutrients for healthy bones are:

• Calcium: Essential for bone health. Good sources include dairy products, green leafy vegetables, and fortified foods.
• Vitamin D: Supports calcium absorption in the body. Sun exposure and foods such as fatty fish or fortified dairy products are good sources.
• Protein: Important for building and maintaining the muscle mass that supports the bones.

Proper nutrition can improve bone density and reduce the risk of bone fractures. Therefore, make sure you eat a bone-friendly diet: Include calcium-rich foods such as dairy products and green leafy vegetables, make sure you get enough vitamin D from sun exposure, oily fish or substitutes, and eat enough protein to strengthen your muscles and bones. 

Just as you can positively counteract the disease through diet, there are also some things that should be avoided at all costs with osteoporosis.

What to avoid with osteoporosis

Some activities and habits can do more harm than good with osteoporosis. These include:

• Deep Tissue Massage: This intensive massage technique can put additional strain on the brittle bones and should be avoided.
• Smoking: Damages bone health and reduces bone density.
• Excessive alcohol consumption: May interfere with calcium absorption and increase the risk of falling.
• Caffeine: High caffeine consumption can increase calcium excretion and thus reduce bone density.
• Lack of exercise: Lack of exercise can lead to a deterioration in your bone density because the bones are not sufficiently stimulated without regular exercise.

Being aware of these risks not only helps to minimize the risk of disease, but also contributes to a generally healthy lifestyle in a relatively simple way. Let's take a look at what other measures you can take to prevent the development of osteoporosis.

Prevention of osteoporosis pain through a conscious and active lifestyle

The prevention of osteoporosis pain and other symptoms begins at a young age. The aim is to build up the musculoskeletal system and keep it fit, but also to keep an eye on the nutrient balance.

An active and healthy lifestyle is a marathon, not a sprint. It depends on regularity over many years.  This does not mean that you have to force yourself to do something every day. However, many people are much more likely to get into the routine of never being active at all, and that's exactly what needs to be avoided. 

Strengthen bones and fight osteoporosis symptoms - your lifestyle makes the difference

Osteoporosis and the pain it causes is a daily challenge for millions of people. And even if the disease is not curable, understanding the causes and symptoms of osteoporosis can already make a valuable contribution to improving the quality of life of those affected. A balanced diet, regular exercise and avoiding risk factors such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are relatively easy to take into account at a young age. 

Gentle massage techniques such as Swedish massages and lymphatic drainage can also help relieve tension in everyday life, promote blood circulation and thus improve the supply of nutrients throughout the body.

There are many, often inconspicuous factors and increased mindfulness of your own body that increase your quality of life in the long term. Therefore, our tip: Be proactive and take care of your body and do yourself good whenever possible.

 

Cover image: Otto Norin, more images: Pratik Patel