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When to Call the Doctor About Osteoporosis

If you have osteoporosis or think you might have osteoporosis, do you know when to call the doctor? Sooner is better than later -- especially if you have unusual pain or other related symptoms or if you have anxiety about osteoporosis.

If you have osteoporosis, a sharp pain may indicate you have a fracture. Fractures need medical treatment. And if you're at high risk of osteoporosis but haven't been diagnosed yet, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor. Getting treatment early can save you from painful, disfiguring fractures and future disability.

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If you are taking osteoporosis drugs and develop jaw pain, call your doctor. This may be a sign of a rare complication of treatment called osteonecrosis of the jaw, or jaw death. Osteonecrosis means that part of the bone in the jaw is no longer alive. Unlike normal bone, it can't regenerate itself because it has no blood supply. More than a thousand cases of jaw death have been reported in patients who take drugs classified as bisphosphonates.

There are also other reasons to call the doctor. If you're in one or more of the following situations, go ahead and make that call.

1. You Wonder if You’re at Risk for Osteoporosis

Any of the following concerns is a good reason to call your doctor:

you have two or more risk factors for osteoporosis
you are anxious about osteoporosis and have not yet been diagnosed
you are over 65 and have not yet had a bone density test
you are over 60 and have risk factors for osteoporosis such as taking prednisone for a medical condition
you wonder if one of the new osteoporosis drugs may help prevent further bone loss

2. You Take Osteoporosis Medications

Call your doctor if you are taking medications for osteoporosis and

you're having symptoms such as esophageal pain or leg pain after taking your medications
you're experiencing jaw pain

3. You Worry About a Bone Fracture

Call your doctor if you have one or more of the following symptoms of a spinal fracture:

sudden, severe back pain
worsening of pain when standing or walking
some pain relief when lying down
difficulty and pain when bending or twisting
loss of height
deformity of the spine -- the curved, "hunchback" shape

Also call your doctor if:

You've had one fracture and have sudden bone pain. That sudden bone pain can indicate another fracture.
You experience height loss. With each fracture of a spinal bone, the bone loses some of its height. Eventually, after several collapsed vertebrae, shorter stature will be noticeable.
You notice a curved back. Spinal fractures often create wedge-shaped vertebral bones. These make the spine bend forward. Eventually, neck and back pain may develop as the body tries to adapt.
You have stomach complaints. A shorter spine can compress the stomach, causing a bulging stomach and digestive problems like constipation, less appetite, and weight loss.
You have hip pain. The shorter spine brings the rib cage closer to your hip bones. If the rib and hip bones are rubbing against each other, you will feel discomfort and pain.
You have breathing problems. If the spine becomes severely compressed, your lungs may not function properly and breathing can be seriously affected.

WebMD Medical Reference

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