InstantForum.NET v4.1.4National Osteoporosis Society - Osteoporosis Forumhttp://www.nos.org.uk/forum/D.Hughes@nos.org.ukWed, 08 Feb 2012 01:14:04 GMT20http://www.nos.org.uk/forum/Topic1024-14-1.aspxDear mincepie,</P><P>Thank you for your post with your concerns about your mother and the pain she's experiencing in her back and leg.</P><P>The term osteopenia indicates some lowering of bone mineral density and this gives no outward signs, symptoms or pain, however having weaker bones than normal can raise the risk of them fracturing (breaking) more easily. Fractures can occur with osteopenia as well as osteoporosis. Unfortunately your mother's corticosteroid treatment might have raised her risk of having a fracture more. If these fractures occur in the spine they are sometimes called compression fractures and can cause pain and mobility problems even after they have healed. These vertebral compression fractures heal in a normal way, however they will heal in the new compressed shape. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can show any soft tissue damage as well as identifying fractures not seen on an x-ray. These results might give the doctors more information about the cause of your mother's pain and help them decide the best way to treat her. </P><P>A physiotherapist may be able to advise your mother as to appropriate exercise which may help with her pain and her doctor will be able to prescribe pain relievers and osteoporosis treatments if they are indicated. The charity’s booklet ‘All About Osteoporosis’ has a very useful chapter on pain which contains many strategies that you could use to help your mother, as well as general information on other lifestyle changes that may be helpful. It can be downloaded free of charge by clicking on this <A href="http://www.nos.org.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=854&amp;doctitle=All%20About%20Osteoporosis&amp;docid=380 ">link</A> and completing the form. (If you have already registered with the charity's website, the link will take you straight to the book). As the area of pain relief is quite a complex one you may also like to phone our helpline where we would be more than happy to discuss your mother's pain problems in more depth (Tel. 0845 450 0230 Mon – Fri (9-5). </P><P>I hope this information will be useful.Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:11:48 GMTHelplinehttp://www.nos.org.uk/forum/Topic1024-14-1.aspxhi my mother has had a dexa scan and been told she has osteopenia. a consultant felt her legs in the hospital and said she has osteoporosis. She has been on medication for emphysema for 8 years i think cortosteroids. after 3 weeks of agonising back pain, various hospital admissions and xrays all they said was its osteoporosis or arthritis and this was going to be expected from now on. they cant find anything on the xrays so are now sending her for an MRI scan. They are sending her for physiotherapy also. what is causing this terrible pain in her leg and back. is it possible she has fractured something. is osteoporosis a painful condition. am confused as her scan only showed her as having osteopenia yet hospital consultant said it was osteoporosis. her pain continues and she has had so much to cope with what with the emphesema as well. what can i do for her to help her. any help appreciated. thanks so much.Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:34:13 GMTmincepie