Does osteoporosis cause pain?

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on May 13, 2025
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Osteoporosis can be painful, and the clinical manifestations of osteoporosis are threefold: first, pain; second, vertebral deformation; third, fragile fractures. Pain is the earliest symptom of osteoporosis, which can be localized pain, generalized pain, aching pain, or dull pain. Therefore, for older individuals or women around the time of menopause, if there is unexplained pain, and no primary or secondary lesions can be found, osteoporosis should be considered. In fact, the examination for osteoporosis is quite simple. Currently, the most commonly used clinical examinations are radiological and biochemical tests. In radiological tests, DXA, which stands for Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry, is the gold standard for clinical diagnosis. In addition, some bone markers can be tested, making diagnosis fairly straightforward. Therefore, osteoporosis can be painful, and if there is unexplained generalized pain in conjunction with age and gender, osteoporosis should be considered.

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Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
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Can osteoporosis be cured?

We cannot generalize about this issue. For instance, osteoporosis caused by certain medications can be cured after stopping the medication and then undergoing treatment for osteoporosis. If the osteoporosis is caused by a certain disease, it can also be cured after the disease is treated. However, for some chronic long-term diseases that inherently cannot be cured, osteoporosis caused by these diseases is difficult to cure. Then there are many patients with primary osteoporosis who, after comprehensive treatment that includes supplements of calcium and vitamin D3 and regular use of anti-osteoporotic pain medications, can completely lose their symptoms after several years. When bone density tests are performed, these patients' bone density has moved out of the osteoporosis range. This can also be considered a clinical cure.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
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Which department should I go to for osteoporosis?

What department should I go to for osteoporosis? According to the latest osteoporosis treatment guidelines, osteoporosis is classified as a chronic, frequently occurring disease in orthopedics. Generally, hospitals rated Grade IIIA or above have specialized clinics for osteoporosis. Therefore, if you suspect you have osteoporosis, you can first visit the orthopedics department. If there is a specialized osteoporosis clinic, you can go there directly. Both departments can treat this disease, but the specialized osteoporosis clinic is relatively more professional.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What should be supplemented for osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease characterized by decreased bone density, loss of bone mass, and increased bone fragility, which can lead to an increased risk of fractures. It is divided into primary and secondary types. The primary type primarily affects postmenopausal women and is caused by age-related degeneration. Adolescents can also be affected, though it is mainly postmenopausal women and age-related degeneration that lead to osteoporosis. Managing osteoporosis involves not only supplementing with calcium but also with vitamin D, as hormonal levels in postmenopausal women decrease, leading to lower calcium absorption. This could result in bone destruction exceeding bone formation. Therefore, it is important to maintain high levels of calcium and increase vitamin D absorption to prevent the onset of 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.

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How to maintain bone health with osteoporosis

Patients with osteoporosis should first pay attention to the following in their daily lives: First, persist in supplementing calcium and second, supplement Vitamin D as medication. In other aspects of life, it is important to engage in appropriate activities and develop a habit of regular activity. Vigorous activities, such as sprinting or playing ball games, are not recommended. Generally, it is advised that patients regularly take walks outdoors and ensure exposure to sunlight. This is why outdoor activities and enhancing sunlight exposure are related, which is the third point. The fourth important point is that if osteoporosis is diagnosed, elderly individuals must implement anti-slip measures at home to prevent falls. (Medication usage should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)