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Back Pain from Osteoporosis – What are the Pain Relief Options?
Osteoporosis in and of itself doesn’t cause back pain, but it does make the back hurt because of the deterioration of bone causing fractures of the spinal vertebrae. If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis then you’ll need to know what your treatment options are for pain. Read about what osteoporosis is and how you can learn to live with the disease.
The sooner you can get a diagnosis the better you will be able to fight the disease. Osteoporosis is a disease that thins the bones from the inside to the out. Fractures and breaks of legs, arms and hips are common for those affected by the disease process. It typically strikes women in their latter years of life ranging from their mid fifties onward. Medical studies have shown that certain women are more prone to contract osteoporosis. Women that are small boned, smoke, and don’t have an adequate amount of balanced hormonal productions are particularly at risk. Other health risks such as diabetes and heart disease have been shown to make osteoporosis much more difficult to handle due to additional circulatory problems.
Because osteoporosis causes fractures in the spine, it can lead to severe pain in the back and legs. The lack of circulation of blood to the area further complicates the fractures because when a vertebra is damaged by fracture it will then compress on the nerve roots of the spine. Once a compressed disk is herniated, it can also cause ligaments to become painful in the lower back too. Often surgery is the only choice for those suffering from osteoporosis. Surgery should only be considered after a complete attempt at other types of therapy for the disease. Always seek a second opinion if you feel that you’re out of other options.
The other pain reduction therapies can include varied array of treatments. Some are best used alone, and others find it helpful to incorporate them to relieve pain from osteoporosis. Other therapies include the use of warm and cold compresses to relieve pain. Deep body massages help stimulate the body to produce pain fighting hormones in the body. Deep massages on the back can be compared in effect to acupuncture that many people are turning to for pain reduction. Both remedies are known to change the perception of pain in the brain. Acupuncture is considered more effective because needles stimulate nerve points, but if used in conjunction they can be a powerful pain relief for the arthritic back.
Electrical stimulation on the surface of the back and Intra discal electrothermy (IDET) are two other options for pain in the back caused by osteoporosis. IDET is being used more, and with some success. IDET is the heating of coils through electrical stimulation and placed in a herniated disk. There is risk, and usually this type of back surgery for pain is a temporary stop gap toward decompression or fusion of the spine. Continued research is needed to perfect this procedure, but it’s another option for you to consider.
Pain relief with the use of non-steroidal medicines has been found to be effective in managing pain from osteoporosis. You will need to watch for stomach problems though because it can promote bleeding and ulcers. Aspirin is one of the best for relieving pain, but because it raises blood pressure and thins the blood many can’t take it in the levels needed to control pain. If your osteoporosis has not caused severe back pain, you might be able to take a steroidal such as Prednisone in pill form for very short periods of time. Most doctors are very hesitant about prescribing this because steroids make bones brittle over time.
Other options on pain relief for your back can include spinal injections for nerve compression, although the medication use is steroid based, it does provide a lessening of pain. A total block can be done, which will provide immediate relief. Back braces are another option. Many patients find that their back is supported and the pain is relieved because they don’t feel like them must support their entire weight on their back.
In your search for pain relief from the effects of osteoporosis, remember to keep up with the latest medical advances. Always consider different treatment options, or use them in conjunction with different therapies, but only on the advice of your doctor. Osteoporosis can be dealt with, and you can find a pain free style of living and coping with the disease.
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