The most serious and debilitating osteoporotic fracture is the hip fracture. Hip fractures are expensive and debilitating. Most hip fracture patients who previously lived independently will require help from their family or home care. An episode of acute back pain while at rest or during routine activity is often the first indicator. The onset is often sudden.
Spinal movement is restricted severly and pain is relieved by rest.
Fractures following trivial injury lead to increased suspcion of this disorder. Spinal defrmities like shortening of stature, hump back, etc. are seen. The diagnosis of osteoporosis is usually made by your doctor using a combination of a complete medical history and physical examination, skeletal X-rays, bone densitometry and specialized laboratory tests. Routine lab tests include complete blood count, urine analysis, renal parameters, measremnt of blood levels of calcium, and phosphorus. X-rays of the spine are obtained in a patient with suspected fracture of the spine secondary to osteoporosis .