Osteoporosis

Written by: Muhammad Nasir Serat

Osteoporosis, which means porous bone, is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased. The loss of bone occurs silently and progressively.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some patients who are suffering from this disease and a physician.

Maryam, a resident of Baghlan province says about her problems: “My let is broken and I could not walk and I feel bad pain. My family members are also in trouble with me.”

Muhammad Salman, a resident of Herat province says: “My mother was suffering from Osteoporosis. She had severe pain in her leg and its pain was increasing gradually.”

Doctor Abdul Bari Rahimi, an orthopedist at Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital, Kabul city says: “The main sign of Osteoporosis is severe pain and this pain increases when the bone breaks. 

 When a bone breaks, its prominent symptoms are inflammation, pain, and redness of the mentioned bone. Osteoporosis often occurs in the hip, wrist, leg or spine. If one does not pay attention to this problem, the fracture might increase and the patient might not be able to do his/her daily activities, and it might cause the disability of the person.”

What do people think about the causes of osteoporosis?

Hasanat, a resident of Bamiyan province says: “Aged people face more cases of osteoporosis due to the weakness of their bodies. A slight hit causes to break the bones of these people. Living in rooms with the no direct sun also causes osteoporosis.”

 Rana, a resident of Ghazni province says that she does not know anything about the causes of osteoporosis.

Doctor Rahimi says: “There are many causes of osteoporosis. Not only bones lose density with age, but some medications could also lower bone density. Lack of calcium; not having daily activities; improper nutrition; living in a dark and damp rooms, diabetes, and joints rheumatism also could be the cause of osteoporosis.”

Do people treat osteoporosis at home?

Shukrana, a resident of Herat province who is suffering from osteoporosis says: “I rub my affected bone with olive oil; I do hand exercise every morning and prevent lifting weight and now I feel better.”

A patient, Samia Naimi says: “When my leg bone broke, I went to an orthopedist and he directed me to Wazir Akbar khan hospital and I am better than before.”

Doctor Rahimi says about the treatment of osteoporosis: “Massage, physical exercise, rubbing olive oil, drinking milk, keeping warm the affected leg, eating fresh fruits, especially apples are very useful for this disease but consulting a doctor for essential treatment is strongly recommended.”