Osteoporosis Pain Management

Osteoporosis often causes very painful fractures, which can take many months to heal. In many cases, the pain starts to go away as the fracture heals. Most new fractures heal in approximately 3 months. Pain that continues after that is generally considered chronic pain.

One cause of chronic pain is vertebral fractures. When a vertebra breaks, some people have no pain, while others have intense pain and muscle spasms that last long after the fracture has healed.

What Is Pain?

Pain is the body’s way of responding to an injury. When a bone breaks, nerves send pain messages through the spinal cord to the brain, where they are interpreted. Your response to pain is determined by many factors, including your emotional outlook. For example, depression seems to increase pain perception and decrease abilities to cope with it. Often, treating the depression treats the pain as well.

Chronic pain is pain that lasts beyond the expected time for healing and interferes with normal life. The injury has healed, but the pain continues. The pain message may be triggered by:

• muscle tension
• stiffness
• weakness
• spasms

When to See Your Healthcare Provider

Whatever the cause of chronic pain, feelings of frustration, anger, and fear can make the pain more intense. Chronic pain can affect all areas of your life and should be taken seriously.

If you have chronic pain and need help managing it, you may wish to discuss these coping strategies with your healthcare provider.

Physical Methods of Pain Management for Osteoporosis

There are several options for osteoporosis-related pain management.

Heat and Ice

Heat in the form of warm showers or hot packs, can relieve chronic pain or stiff muscles, and cold packs or ice packs provide pain relief by numbing the pain-sensing nerves in the affected area. Cold also helps reduce swelling and inflammation.

Depending on which feels better, apply heat or cold for 15 to 20 minutes at a time to the area where you feel the pain. To protect your skin, place a towel between your skin and the source of the cold or heat.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

TENS units are small devices that send electrical impulses to certain parts of the body to block pain signals. Two electrodes are placed on the body where you are experiencing pain. The electrical current that is produced is very mild, but it can prevent pain messages from being transmitted to the brain. Pain relief can last for several hours. Some people may use a small, portable TENS unit that hooks onto a belt for more continuous relief.

TENS units should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare provider or physical therapist. They can be purchased or rented from hospital supply or surgical supply houses; however, a prescription is necessary for insurance reimbursement.

Braces and Supports

Spinal supports or braces reduce pain and inflammation by restricting movement. Following a vertebral fracture, a back brace or support will relieve pain and allow you to resume normal activities while the fracture heals. However, continuous use of a back support can weaken back muscles. For this reason, exercises to strengthen the muscles in the back should be started as soon as possible.

Exercise

Prolonged inactivity increases weakness and causes loss of muscle mass and strength. Because exercise raises the body’s level of endorphins (natural pain killers produced by the brain) it may somewhat relieve pain. A regular exercise program helps you:

• regain strength and energy
• relieve tension
• increase flexibility
• strengthen muscles
• reduces fatigue

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists can help you reorganize your home or work environment to avoid further injuries. Physical therapists also teach proper posture and exercises to strengthen the back and abdominal muscles without injuring a weakened spine. Water therapy in a pool, for example, can improve back muscle strength and reduce pain.

Acupuncture and Acupressure

Acupuncture is the use of special needles that are inserted into the body at certain points. These needles stimulate nerve endings and cause the brain to release endorphins. It may take several acupuncture sessions before the pain is relieved.

Acupressure is direct pressure applied to areas that trigger pain. Acupressure can be self-administered after training with an instructor.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy can be a light, slow, circular motion with the fingertips or a deep, kneading motion that moves from the center of the body outward toward the fingers or toes. Massage relieves pain, relaxes stiff muscles, and smoothes out muscle knots by increasing the blood supply to the affected area and warming it. The person doing the massage uses oil or powder so that her or his hands slide smoothly over the skin.

Massage can also include gentle pressure over the affected areas or hard pressure over trigger points in muscle knots.

Note: Deep muscle massage should not be done near the spine if you have spinal osteoporosis. Light, circular massage with fingers or the palm of the hand is best in this case.

Relaxation Training

Relaxation involves concentration and slow, deep breathing to release tension from muscles and relieve pain. Learning to relax takes practice, but relaxation training can focus attention away from pain and release tension from all muscles. Relaxation tapes are widely available to help you learn these skills.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback is taught by a professional who uses special machines to help you learn to control bodily functions, such as heart rate and muscle tension. As you learn to release muscle tension, the machine immediately indicates success. Biofeedback can be used to reinforce relaxation training. Once the technique is mastered, it can be practiced without the use of the machine.

Visual Imagery

Visual imagery involves concentrating on mental pictures of pleasant scenes or events or mentally repeating positive words or phrases to reduce pain.Tapes are also available to help you learn visual imagery skills.

Distraction Techniques

Distraction techniques focus your attention away from negative or painful images to positive mental thoughts. This may include activities as simple as:

• watching television or a favorite movie
• reading a book or listening to a book on tape
• listening to music
• talking to a friend

Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis can be used in two ways to reduce your perception of pain. Some people are hypnotized by a therapist and given a post-hypnotic suggestion that reduces the pain they feel. Others are taught self-hypnosis and can hypnotize themselves when pain interrupts their ability to function. Self-hypnosis is a form of relaxation training.

Individual, Group, or Family Therapy

These forms of psychotherapy may be useful for those whose pain has not responded to physical methods. People who suffer from chronic pain often experience emotional stress and depression. Therapy can help you cope with these feelings, making it easier to manage your pain.

Medications for Pain Management

Medications are the most popular way to manage pain. Commonly used medications include:

• aspirin
• acetaminophen
• ibuprofen

Although these are probably the safest pain relievers available, they sometimes cause stomach irritation and bleeding.

Narcotic drugs may be prescribed for short-term acute pain. These drugs should not be used for long periods because they are addictive and can affect your ability to think clearly. They also have other side effects, such as constipation.

Many people with persistent pain that has not responded to other forms of pain relief are treated with antidepressant medication. These drugs may work in a different way when used for treatment of unyielding pain. The body’s internal pain suppression system may depend upon the concentrations of various chemicals in the brain. These concentrations are increased by the use of antidepressants.

Pain Clinics

Various methods of pain management are used in many hospitals and clinics across the country. If you have chronic pain that has not responded to treatment, you should consult your healthcare provider for a referral to a physical therapist or a clinic specializing in pain management.