What to do if osteoporosis causes leg pain?

Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
Updated on September 29, 2024
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To alleviate leg pain caused by osteoporosis, it is important to pay attention to a reasonable diet and regular exercise. Maintaining a balanced diet to ensure sufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D is crucial, with options such as high-calcium, low-fat fresh milk, cheese, cow milk, and dark green vegetables being the best choices. Based on the imbalance of yin and yang in the body, regularly taking kidney-nourishing products can to a certain extent stabilize and enhance the level of human sex hormones, indirectly inhibiting the bone-resorbing activity of osteoclasts. Smoking should be avoided, excessive drinking should be prevented, and timely prevention of systemic metabolic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and gout is essential. Elderly individuals with leg pain should persist with gradual and progressive exercise, such as swimming, practicing health exercises, Tai Chi, and walking. These activities not only can alleviate the loss of bone mass but also significantly increase the content of bone salts and promote the activity of bone cells. However, engaging in intense physical activities, especially those that cause excessive muscle soreness, should be avoided. If continual leg pain is experienced, it is advisable to visit a hospital for examination to determine if it is caused by osteoporosis.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?

The main symptom of osteoporosis is pain, including pain in the limbs, spine, and pelvic area. Sometimes, the pain may worsen during activities such as walking. Even light activities like climbing stairs, hiking, or even sneezing can cause fractures due to osteoporosis, leading to increased pain.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What to do with osteoporosis?

When osteoporosis occurs, it is first important to determine the cause of the osteoporosis, whether it's due to postmenopausal women, overuse injuries, or osteoporosis caused by long periods of immobilization following trauma. If such osteoporosis occurs, it is advisable to appropriately supplement with calcium and vitamin D, especially for postmenopausal women and elderly individuals affected by degenerative changes. These supplements can be taken orally, and appropriate physical exercise can be incorporated to increase bone strength and achieve recovery. In cases of disuse osteoporosis, appropriate functional exercises should be performed to allow for active muscle contractions and slight weight-bearing by the bones, which promotes circulation around the bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What are the symptoms of osteoporosis in women?

Symptoms of osteoporosis in women generally include the following: The first is pain, which can be localized back pain or generalized pain throughout the body. The second is spinal deformity, which is often manifested by bending and hunching over, as well as some individuals appearing shorter than before—these conditions are also caused by osteoporosis, leading to reduced bone strength and vertebral deformity. The third is brittle fractures, which occur because osteoporosis leads to a reduction in bone mass, making the bones less sturdy. Even a minor external force can cause a fracture, for example, a simple fall might result in a distal radius fracture. Thus, the basic symptoms of osteoporosis in women include pain, spinal deformity, and brittle fractures.

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Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
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What department should I go to for osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass and destruction of bone microstructure, leading to increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures. It can be divided into primary and secondary types based on the cause. Secondary osteoporosis has a clear primary cause, often due to endocrine metabolic diseases such as gonadal insufficiency, hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, type 1 diabetes, or systemic diseases. Primary osteoporosis is commonly seen in postmenopausal osteoporosis and senile osteoporosis. Therefore, it is recommended to consult an endocrinology or orthopedics department for osteoporosis.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Osteoporosis nursing measures

Osteoporosis is commonly seen in postmenopausal women, elderly patients with degenerative diseases, and patients with disuse osteoporosis caused by long-term immobilization due to fractures, with the first two groups having the highest incidence rates. When osteoporosis occurs, it is essential first to provide psychological guidance to the patients, encouraging them not to be afraid and to face their condition correctly. This disease can be prevented and its progression delayed. Similarly, guiding patients to engage in appropriate exercises, such as walking slowly and practicing Tai Chi, can help increase bone strength. It is also necessary to advise patients to appropriately supplement with calcium and vitamin D, as osteoporosis primarily involves the loss of inorganic bone salts, particularly calcium and phosphate ions. Adequate supplementation of calcium and vitamin D can prevent some cases of osteoporosis. If osteoporosis is severe, it may be necessary to provide medications that promote bone formation and inhibit bone resorption for symptomatic treatment. Additionally, the diet should include foods rich in calcium to enhance the care of patients with osteoporosis from these various aspects.