Learn about Osteoporosis symptoms from Consumer Reports Health.

Osteoporosis

What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?

The main symptom of osteoporosis is breaking bones because they have gotten weak. You can't feel them getting weak and you don't usually look any different on the outside.

You may not know you have osteoporosis until you break a bone.

Source:
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Health topics: osteoporosis overview.
May 2009. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/bone/hi/overview.htm (accessed on 7 October 2009).

When you break a bone, doctors say you have a fracture. The bone might be snapped right across, like when you break one of the long bones in your arms or legs. Or it might be crushed. This is more likely if you break a bone in your spine.

Lots of people break their bones without having osteoporosis. But this is usually because they have a bad accident, like a big fall or a car crash. If you have osteoporosis, your bones are so weak that you can break them from a gentle bump, lifting something heavy or even just sneezing.

Source:
Old JL, Calvert M.
Vertebral compression fractures in the elderly.
American Family Physician. 2004; 69: 111-116.

The symptoms you get depend on which bones get broken. With osteoporosis, you are most likely to break the ones in your spine, hip and wrist.

Source:
Grady D, Rubin S, Petitti D, et al.
Hormone therapy to prevent disease and prolong life in postmenopausal women.
Annals of Internal Medicine. 1992; 117: 1016-1037.

Broken bones in your spine

Here are some facts about broken bones in your spine.

This is the most common fracture caused by osteoporosis. About 1 in 5 white women get a broken bone in their spine during their lifetime.

Source:
Grady D, Rubin S, Petitti D, et al.
Hormone therapy to prevent disease and prolong life in postmenopausal women.
Annals of Internal Medicine. 1992; 117: 1016-1037.

³
You may not feel any pain at all when you break a bone in your spine. Or you may feel a sudden bad pain in your back.
If you break several bones in your spine, you may get shorter. Your spine may start to bend over, too. This is sometimes called a dowager's hump or widow's hump.
Because you don't always get bad pain, you may confuse fractures of your spine with other diseases like

rheumatoid arthritis
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your joints get painful, swollen and stiff. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation inside your joints. It happens when your immune system attacks the lining of your joints.

rheumatoid arthritis.

Source:
Cooper C.
The crippling consequences of fracture and their impact on quality of life.
American Journal of Medicine. 1997; 103: 12-19.

⁴
Most fractures of the spine caused by osteoporosis gradually heal by themselves. But if you suspect you have fractured your spine (if you get a sudden unexplained back pain, for example), see your doctor. You may need treatment in the hospital.

Broken bones in your hip

Here are some facts about broken bones in your hip.

This is the second most common fracture caused by osteoporosis. About 1 in 6 white women get a broken bone in their hip during their lifetime.

Source:
Grady D, Rubin S, Petitti D, et al.
Hormone therapy to prevent disease and prolong life in postmenopausal women.
Annals of Internal Medicine. 1992; 117: 1016-1037.

³
If you break your hip, you get bad pain right away. You won't be able to stand on it.
You will need to stay in the hospital for treatment until your hip heals. And you may need an operation.

Broken bones in your wrist

Here are some facts about broken bones in your wrist.

This is the third most common fracture caused by osteoporosis. About 1 in 7 white women break a bone in their wrist during their lifetime.

Source:
Grady D, Rubin S, Petitti D, et al.
Hormone therapy to prevent disease and prolong life in postmenopausal women.
Annals of Internal Medicine. 1992; 117: 1016-1037.

³
If you break your wrist, you get bad pain right away. And your wrist or arm may swell up.
You may need to go to the hospital for treatment. And you will have to wear a cast on your wrist until it heals.

Sources for the information on this page:

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Health topics: osteoporosis overview.May 2009. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/bone/hi/overview.htm (accessed on 7 October 2009).

Old JL, Calvert M.Vertebral compression fractures in the elderly.American Family Physician. 2004; 69: 111-116.

Grady D, Rubin S, Petitti D, et al.Hormone therapy to prevent disease and prolong life in postmenopausal women.Annals of Internal Medicine. 1992; 117: 1016-1037.

Cooper C.The crippling consequences of fracture and their impact on quality of life.American Journal of Medicine. 1997; 103: 12-19.

This information was last updated on Oct 16, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.