Osteoporosis of the Spine: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

Osteoporosis does not cause pain. Only when fractures* (broken bones) have occurred can the following symptoms occur:

  • Pain – osteoporotic fracture pain is severe and lasts for approximately four to six weeks, until the fracture is consolidated (longer if the fractures do not heal). Typically, there is a concussion sensitivity of the spine (head sensitivity) and pain that radiates ventrally (anteriorly) in a belt-like pattern.
  • Reduction in body size
  • Myalgia (muscle pain) – occur due to overstretching and increased holding work as a result of static changes in the trunk.
  • Myogelosis (nodular or bulging, clearly circumscribed hardening in the muscles; colloquially referred to as hard-tension) due to poor posture – To achieve pain relief, many people adopt gentle postures and avoid movement, but this leads to muscle tension and hardening, which in turn cause pain.
  • Gait insecurity due to misstatics and shifting center of gravity → risk of falling (falls).

* Frequent fractures are femoral neck or vertebral fractures, sometimes accompanied by deformation of the bones. This can cause severe pain.

As vertebral deformities increase, a typical change in shape and posture occur as the disease progresses:

  • Fir tree phenomenon (= transverse folds of the skin form on the back). This is due to the shortening of the spine, whereby the trunk muscles and the overlying soft tissues, including skin, become relatively too long.
  • In far advanced osteoporosis, multiple vertebral fractures may be present, so that the spine is deformed. There is a decrease in height with fir tree folds on the back and the so-called “widow’s hump” (thoracic kyphosis), which can cause severe back pain and breathing difficulties.
  • The extremities appear relatively too long compared to the trunk (seemingly too long arms). The rib arches approach the iliac crests. Because of the convergence of the origin and insertion of the abdominal muscles and the increased lordosis (forward (ventral) convex curvature of the spine) of the lumbar spine, the abdomen bulges forward. The abdominal muscles are no longer able to perform their supporting work even when tensed, and the pelvis tilts forward. The already developing hyperlordosis of the lumbar spine (LS) is thereby reinforced.
  • Ventral displacement (forward displacement) of the head.
  • With increasing thoracic kyphosis (widow’s hump), to be able to look straight ahead, hyperlordosis of the cervical spine (cervical spine) and flexion posture of the knee joints must be taken.