Osteoporosis and knee replacement
Carmen G., from Valencia, makes the following question:
“I am sixty-six years old, and I have osteoporosis. For a few months my knee hurts, I can hardly walk. Is this caused by the osteoporosis. Do I need a knee prosthesis?”
Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by the loss of bone mass. It does not produce symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage, in which bone weakness can cause fractures. Therefore, it is not responsible for knee pain, and is not an indication for knee replacement. You should go to the rheumatologist for its prevention and treatment.
The cause of severe and incapacitating pain on the knee is usually the osteoarthritis, which is a wearing and tear of the articular cartilage. From the Clínica Adler Orthopedic Centre, in Valencia, we recommend you to go to an orthopedic surgeon to perform a study of your knee, and if necessary start a treatment, which may include a knee prosthesis if the conservative treatment was not enough.