Síntomas y tratamiento de la osteoporosis en el área de Chicago

Osteoporosis is called a silent disease because people who have it often don’t notice symptoms.

When your bones are healthy, old bone tissue is constantly replaced by new bone tissue. Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which old bone is not replaced by new bone fast enough, causing a decrease in bone mass and bone density. Over time, your bones become weak and brittle and may break easily – even from lifting light objects, bending, coughing or a minor fall.

Las cuatro etapas de la osteoporosis

La osteoporosis se desarrolla gradualmente, en cuatro etapas durante muchos años, y con frecuencia no se diagnostica hasta que se rompe un hueso.

Osteoporosis en etapa 1

Between ages 20-40, your bones break down at the same rate as new bone tissue is being made. Esta se considera la primera etapa de la osteoporosis porque es la primera vez desde el nacimiento que el crecimiento óseo ya no supera la pérdida ósea. There are no osteoporosis symptoms at this stage, and your bone density will be normal.

Osteoporosis en etapa 2

En esta etapa, la pérdida ósea comienza a superar el crecimiento óseo. Si se rompe un hueso o se somete a una prueba de densidad ósea, es posible que le diagnostiquen osteopenia o pérdida ósea leve. You may not have any symptoms of bone loss.

Osteoporosis en etapa 3

Esta es la etapa donde comienza la osteoporosis. You may not notice any osteoporosis symptoms, but you’ll be at increased risk for broken bones – even from simple injuries that previously would not have caused a fracture.

Osteoporosis en etapa 4

This is the most severe form of osteoporosis, and it’s the only stage where you may physically notice bone loss in your general appearance. Softer and weaker bones can show in the form of a bent-over appearance and pain with daily activities. Most people at this stage have had one or more bone fractures.

What are the main causes of osteoporosis?

The main cause of osteoporosis is when enough bone mass and bone density is lost that your bones become weaker and thinner. The bones most often affected by osteoporosis are the hips, wrists and vertebrae in the spine.

Many risk factors increase your chances of developing osteoporosis, including:

• Edad: el crecimiento de hueso nuevo se ralentiza a medida que envejece.
• Abuso del alcohol: Frequent, chronic drinking.
• Dieta: A diet low in calcium and vitamin D, poor protein intake, or excessive dieting for weight loss.
• Antecedentes familiares: When a parent has a history of osteoporosis or hip fracture.
• Género: Women are at greater risk for osteoporosis. Los hombres también corren riesgo, pero es más probable que tengan osteoporosis después de los 70 años.
• Hormonas: Low levels of estrogen in women and low levels of testosterone in men.
• Afecciones médicas: Gastrointestinal diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, endocrine and hormonal diseases, HIV/AIDS, anorexia nervosa and some cancers.
• Medicamentos: Many medications, including some cancer medications and glucocorticoid steroids, are risk factors.
• Actividad física: Low levels of physical activity and prolonged periods of inactivity.
• Origen étnico: Osteoporosis is most common in Asian women and non-Hispanic White women and men.
• Fumar cigarrillos: Studies show that smoking is a risk factor.

Diagnóstico de osteoporosis

A algunas personas se les diagnostica osteoporosis solo después de romperse un hueso. Doctors also diagnose osteoporosis during routine screenings for the disease. Your doctor may recommend beginning screening at age 65 or younger if you have a high risk of osteoporosis.

Cuando visite a su médico, recuerde informar fracturas previas y sus antecedentes familiares de osteoporosis y fracturas óseas. Your doctor will ask you about other medical conditions and medications as well as your menstrual history, which can affect your risk for osteoporosis. Also be prepared to talk about your usual diet, exercise routine, alcohol use and smoking history.

Your doctor may do a physical exam to check your posture, balance and the way you walk, and to check for height and weight loss. Testing may include blood work, DEXA scan (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) to measure bone mass and thickness, and X-ray, CT scan, or MRI to show any new or existing fractures.

Tratamiento de la osteoporosis

We offer expert care to ensure you stay healthy and avoid complications and bone fractures from osteoporosis. Our team will evaluate your condition, discuss your test results and develop a personalized osteoporosis treatment plan that will help improve your mobility and minimize your osteoporosis symptoms.

Taking care of your bone health includes:

• Consumir una dieta nutritiva rica en proteínas, calcio y vitamina D
• Limitar el consumo de alcohol
• No fumar
• Doing weight-bearing exercises such as walking and lifting weights

Tratamiento no quirúrgico para la osteoporosis

For nonsurgical osteoporosis treatment, your doctor may recommend the following to improve symptoms and avoid injuries:

• Exercise to increase strength, muscle mass, coordination and balance plus relieve any pain
• Instrucciones sobre la mecánica corporal correcta para el trabajo y las actividades diarias a fin de evitar el esfuerzo excesivo de la columna que puede causar fracturas
• Fisioterapia
• Education to prevent falls and avoid fractures
• Medicamentos para el dolor o para tratar la osteoporosis
• Suplementos de calcio o vitamina D
• Weight loss counseling

Tratamiento quirúrgico para la osteoporosis

For more advanced osteoporosis, additional osteoporosis treatment may also include spinal surgery. Methods may include:

• Cifoplastia: primero se inserta un globo en el área afectada para descomprimir la columna y permitirle recuperar la altura perdida. Then your surgeon will inject a medical-grade substance called bone cement to stabilize your vertebrae.
• Fusión espinal: Two vertebrae are permanently fixed together to reduce pain, increase spinal stability and stop bone spurs from forming.
• Bloqueo del nervio espinal: se inyecta un fármaco anestésico cerca o directamente en el nervio espinal. Los bloqueos del nervio espinal pueden aliviar el dolor y, a veces, se usan como una herramienta de diagnóstico para determinar el origen del dolor.
• Estabilización de la columna: el médico implanta varillas, tornillos o placas de bloqueo en la columna vertebral. En el caso de fracturas menos graves, se puede usar un chaleco o dispositivo ortopédico.
• Vertebroplastia: Your doctor injects bone cement, which holds the bones of the spine in the proper position to reduce bone deformity and pain.

Complicaciones de la osteoporosis

En etapas avanzadas, la osteoporosis puede causar u ocurrir junto con varios otros padecimientos de salud, que incluyen:

• Estenosis y mielopatía cervical (mielopatía cervical espondilótica): estrechamiento del conducto vertebral en el área del cuello, que puede hacer que la médula espinal se comprima o se dañe. Los síntomas pueden incluir dolor, entumecimiento, hormigueo, problemas de equilibrio, debilidad muscular y mareos.
• Tetania hipocalcémica: A condition where extremely low blood levels of calcium cause involuntary muscle contractions.
• Radiculopatía: presión sobre una raíz nerviosa que produce dolor, debilidad y entumecimiento. Dependiendo de la ubicación del nervio, también podría tener dificultades para controlar músculos específicos.
• Fractura por compresión de la columna: A break or rupture in the vertebrae (collapsed vertebrae). El signo más común es el dolor de espalda intenso.