HOMEOPATHY FOR OSTEOPOROSIS

Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones become weak and are thus more likely to break. The bones lose calcium and the insides become porous, like a honey comb. Technically speaking this is called losing bone mass. People with low bone mass are more susceptible to breaking bones.

Osteoporosis is the most common cause of fractures. Roughly 10 million individuals over age 50 in the United States have osteoporosis of the hip. An additional 33.6 million individuals over age 50 have low bone mass or “osteopenia” of the hip and thus are at risk of osteoporosis and its potential complications later in life.

Due primarily to the aging of the population, the prevalence of osteoporosis and low bone mass is expected to increase. By 2020, one in two Americans over age 50 is expected to have or be at risk of developing osteoporosis of the hip; even more will be at risk of developing osteoporosis at any site in the skeleton.

Osteoporosis does not affect everyone to the same degree. Women, especially older women, are more likely to get the disease than are men. An estimated 35 percent of postmenopausal White women have osteoporosis of the hip, spine, or distal forearm. That said, men, especially elderly men, can and do get osteoporosis.

The age-adjusted prevalence of osteoporosis and the rate of hip fracture are lower in Black women than in White women in the United States. The prevalence of osteoporosis in Hispanic and Asian women is similar to that found in White women, and the incidence of hip fractures among Hispanic women in California appears to be on the rise. However, it is important to remember that osteoporosis is a real risk for any aging man or woman.

Osteopenia —After having a bone test, your doctor may tell you that you have Osteopenia. Osteopenia is not a disease, but just the technical term for having lower than normal bone density. Your bone density is lower than is normal and safe, but not so low that osteoporosis is indicated. Roughly 34 million women and 12 million men have Osteopenia in the US.

Low bone mass can be caused by variety of factors including, but not limited to:

·       Genetics

·       Non- ideal bone mass development during adolescence 

Having low bone mass does not mean you will develop osteoporosis, however your risk to develop this disease and the associated fractures greatly increases.

Causes—Actually there is no single factor that causes osteoporosis. Rather, there are numerous risk factors that contribute.

Aging- Bone loss inevitably starts to happen as we get older. Bone is a living tissue that is always growing and being replaced. Most people reached their maximum bone mass density in their mid-thirties. Afterwards, the rate at which bone degrades and is removed starts to become larger than the rate that new bone is created. On average I % of bone mass is lost per year  starting around age 40

Hormones-The female hormone oestrogen plays an important role in osteoporosis. Women need oestrogen to keep their bones strong, and oestrogen production falls for all women once menopause starts. In women, bone loss can reach much higher levels about 3-5 %, during the first 5-6 years in post menopause. About one out of every three postmenopausal women has osteoporosis to some degree, even mild osteoporosis leads to an increased risk of fractures, particularly of the hip, vertebrae and wrists. Fractures can have serious consequences as well. About 20 percent of elderly women who undergo hip replacement surgery due to a hip fracture die within one year. And half of those who survive will require full-time nursing care.

Genetics-Heredity is a factor and people with a history of osteoporosis in their family should be diligent in monitoring their bone mass density. Heredity also plays a factor in the skeleton structure you begin with.  Individuals who naturally have skinnier, less dense skeleton structures are more prone to osteoporosis since they will have less bone mass to begin as they enter middle / old age.

Physical activity-Like muscles bones are living tissue that need exercise in order to remain strong and healthy. Stress from physical activity –whether it comes normal every day activities like walking or from physical training – exerts force on your bones. Your bones respond by restructuring and building up bone. Just like muscles, if you are inactive, your bones become weaker since there is nothing for the to respond to. Use it or lose it.

Diet-Calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus are all critical building blocks for bone. If your diet is lacking in these foods, this can contribute to osteoporosis

Smoking - The relationship between bone loss and smoking has been confirmed by numerous studies. However, once you quit smoking, even later in life, the bone loss influenced by this habit can be minimized.

Excessive alcohol intake - People who drink alcohol to excess are more prone to fractures. This may be partially due to the diuretic effect of alcohol, which induces calcium losses through the urine. Alcohol can also decrease the absorption of calcium from the intestines and cause deficiencies in vitamin D and magnesium - both of which are important to bone health.

High sodium intake - Several studies have demonstrated the harmful effects of high dietary sodium on bone integrity. Reducing sodium intake can reduce bone loss considerably.

Coffee - Coffee consumption of more than two cups a day may contribute to accelerated bone loss.

High consumption of animal protein - Some studies have shown that a diet high in animal protein actually promotes bone loss by leaching calcium from the bones, although the verdict is still out on this issue.

A high acid-ash diet - Recent research has suggested that eating an acid-ash producing diet (high in animal protein and grains, low in vegetables and fruit) causes an increase in urinary excretion of calcium, leading to bone loss.

Medications - Certain medications, such as cortisone, corticosteroids, thyroid supplements, anticoagulants and anticonvulsants can interfere with calcium absorption, that may contribute to bone demineralization.

Illness-Additionally other illness such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism can cause bone loss.

Certainly, men are not immune to osteoporosis. Bone loss is more gradual in men, but once they reach age 70 their risk for osteoporosis increases significantly. Men in this age group are at increased risk for fractures.

Symptoms of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is often called a silent disease as it does not have any obvious external symptoms until a fracture occurs. In a recent study, nearly half of women age 50 or older had osteoporosis or low bone mass density and did not know it. You may not know you have osteoporosis until you actually have a serious sign such as breaking a broken or fractured bone, lower back pain, or a hunched back. Breaking a bone occurs while doing normal activity such as climbing stairs, bending forward, or lifting objects.

Osteoporosis can affect any bone in your body, but tends to occur most frequently in the hip, waist, and spine. Osteoporosis in the vertebrae of the spine is a very serious problem.

Symptoms of osteoporosis in your vertebrate include:

·       Height loss- osteoporosis leads to vertebrae in your spine collapsing and actually making you shorter.

·       Back pain

·       Curved or hunched back

·       Sloping shoulders

If you are elderly, a broken hip makes up to four times more likely to die within three months. If you survive, the injury often causes your health to spiral downward. One in five people with a hip fracture ends up in a nursing home within a year. Many others become isolated, depressed, or frightened to leave home because they fear they will fall.

RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES

Radiological evidence of decreased bone mass is more reliable, but about 30 percent of the bone mass must be lost before it becomes apparent on X- rays. Following features may be noted on X- rays

·       Loss of vertical height of a vertebra due to collapse

·       Cod fish appearance- The dish bulges in to the adjacent vertebral bodies so that the disc becomes biconvex

·       Ground glass appearance of the bones, conspicuous in bones like the pelvis

·       Singh’s index- Singh et al. graded osteoporosis in to 6 grades based on the trabecular pattern of the femoral neck trabeculae

Metacarpel index and vertebral index are other methods of qualification of osteoporosis.

 

OTHER INVESTIGATIONS

These include the following, some of them more recent:

·       Biochemistry: Serum calcium, phosphates and alkaline phosphatase are within normal limits. Total plasma proteins and plasma albumin may be low.

·       Densitometry: This is a method of quantify osteoporosis. In this method absorption of photons (emitted from gamma emitting isotopes) by the bone calcium is measured. Two types of bone densitometry are available – ultrasound based and X-ray based. DEXNA scan is an X-ray based bone densitometry, and is the gold standard in the quantification of bone mass.

·       Neutron activation analysis: In this method, calcium in the bone is activated by neutron bombing, and its activity measured.

·       Bone biopsy

 

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathy today is a growing system and is being practiced all over the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When OSTEOPOROSIS is concerned there are many effective medicines are available in Homoeopathy, but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient, considering the mental and physical symptoms.

CALCAREA CARBONICA

Fat, flabby persons. Easily tired by least exertion. Back pain and neck pain. Cannot sit upright in the chair from weakness of back. Vertebrae, feel loose, painful on pressure. Faulty development of bones. Swelling and pain in joints.  Worse from cold and dampness. Chilly patient, easily catch cold. Craving for indigestible things like chalk, coal, pencils, dirt etc. Craving for eggs. Profuse perspiration, especially on the scalp. Much perspiration, wets the pillow. Overweight persons.

CALCAREA FLOURICA

Deformities of bones. Easy joint dislocation. Cracking in the joints. Swelling and indurated enlargements having their seat in the tissue and ligaments. Chronic lumbago. Lumbago worse on beginning to move and better from continued motion. Better from rubbing, warm applications.

CALCAREA PHOSPHORICA

Slow ossification, non-union of bones. It has an affinity where bones form sutures or symphysis, pain, burning along sutures.  Curvature of the spine to the left. Lumbar vertebrae bend to the left. Soreness of sacro-iliac symphysis, as if broken. Violent pain, worse least effort, screams with pain.

SILICEA

Osteoporosis from defective assimilation of calcium. Necrosis, decay, and softening of bones. Silicea can stimulate the organism to re-absorb fibrotic conditions and scar tissue. Silicea patient is cold, chilly, hugs the fire, wants plenty warm clothing, hates drafts, hands and feet cold, worse in winter. Lack of vital heat. Prostration of mind and body. Ailments associated with pus formation. Tendency to easy exhaustion and abnormal sweats. Offensive sweat on hands, axilla, and feet.

SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE

Fractures due to osteoporosis. Symphytum is commonly known as ‘knit bone’ and as the name represents it helps in knitting/uniting the fractured bone by increasing the callous production. This remedy helps in union of fractured bone very efficiently. Pricking pain and soreness at the fractured site.

POTENTIZED CORTISONE

Potentized cortisone has the exact opposite action. Regular cortisone causes a reduction in bone matrix and may induce osteoporosis. Homoeopathic doses give opposite action. Osteoporosis. Painful post traumatic osteoporosis. Osteo-necrosis of hips.