Osteomalacia – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Osteomalacia – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments you should know. In addition, Osteomalacia is a weakening of the bones. Problems with bone formation or the bone building process cause Osteomalacia . Osteomalacia is not the same thing as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a weakening of living bone that has already been formed and is being remodeled.

Causes of Osteomalacia: Osteomalacia is caused by a lack of vitamin D. Vitamin D is an important nutrient that helps absorb calcium in the stomach. Vitamin D also helps maintain calcium and phosphate levels for proper bone formation. It is made within the skin from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight. It can also be absorbed by foods like dairy products and fish.

Low levels of vitamin D mean your body can’t process the calcium your bones need for structural strength. If you’ve had surgery to remove parts of your stomach or small intestine, you may also have a problem absorbing vitamin D or breaking down food to release it.

Symptoms of Osteomalacia: This vitamin D absorption mechanismin healthy people keeps bones strong, preventing them from demineralizing and becoming brittle. Characteristic of both rickets and Osteomalacia in which bones become “soft”. People suffering from Osteomalacia are unable to metabolize the substances necessary to strengthen the skeleton and progressively show the following symptoms:

Muscle and bone pain.
Bone deformities.
Repeated fractures.
Curvature of the legs.
Appearance of kyphosis and lordosis (accentuation of spinal curves).

Another symptom is muscle weakness. This is due to problems where the muscle attaches to the bone. You may have difficulty walking and may develop a walking gait.
Bone pain, especially in the hips, is also a very common symptom. This dull, aching pain can spread from your hips to your lower back, pelvis, legs, and even your ribs.

Treatments For Osteomalacia: If Osteomalacia is caught early, treatment can be as simple as taking oral supplements of vitamin D , calcium or phosphate. If you have absorption problems due to intestinal damage or surgery, or if you have a diet low in key nutrients, this may be the first line of treatment.

In rare cases, you can take vitamin D as an injection through your skin or intravenously through a vein in your arm. You may also be asked to spend some time outdoors in sunlight so your body makes enough vitamin D within your skin.

If you have other underlying conditions that affect your vitamin D metabolism , they need to be treated. Liver cirrhosis and kidney failure must be treated to reduce Osteomalacia .

What Can I Expect in the Long Term: If left untreated, Osteomalacia will lead to many broken bones and severe deformities. With an increase in vitamin D , calcium and phosphorus, improvements can be seen within a few weeks. Complete healing of the bones takes about six months.