What is osteomalacia

To understand osteomalacia, it’s worth looking at what happens inside bones. Bone is a living tissue. Old bone cells are continuously being removed and replaced with new cells. This is called bone turnover. Bone has a hard outer shell, called the cortex. Inside the bone there’s a softer and lighter structure, called the matrix. It has a structure a bit like a mesh or honeycomb. To protect the inner part of bone, layers of calcium and phosphorus are laid down on top of it to form the outer shell. The strength of the bone depends on how much of these minerals is laid down. Vitamin D controls levels of calcium and phosphorus in your body. For example, vitamin D will help your body take calcium out of food so it can be used to make bones strong. If you don’t have enough vitamin D, calcium or phosphorous, bones will become soft and weak. Often in the early stages there aren’t any symptoms. However, as the condition progresses, osteomalacia can cause: • pain felt in the bones and joints • muscle pain and weakness, particularly following exercise • bones that break more easily, particularly those in the hips, lower back and feet • difficulty walking and a change in how you walk – possibly with a waddle • muscle cramps • pins and needles in the hands and feet because of low calcium levels. Bone pain is felt most often in the legs, groin, upper thighs and knees. It’s sometimes felt in the feet when you stand, walk or run. Sitting or lying down to rest often eases the pain. Sometime...

A lack of Vitamin D also helps maintain calcium and phosphate levels to help your bones form properly. It’s made within the skin from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays in Your body can’t process the calcium your bones need to stay strong if you have low levels of vitamin D. A vitamin D deficiency can result from: • a problem with your diet • a lack of sun exposure • an issue with your intestines You may also have a problem absorbing vitamin D or breaking down food to release it if you’ve had surgery to remove parts of your stomach or small intestine. Certain conditions can interfere with the absorption of vitamin D: • • Certain types of cancer can interfere with vitamin D processing. • A diet that doesn’t include phosphates can cause phosphate depletion, which can also lead to osteomalacia. Drugs for treating There are a few symptoms of osteomalacia. The most common is bones that fracture easily. Another is muscle weakness. This happens because of problems in the areas where muscle attaches to bone. A person with osteomalacia may have a hard time walking or may develop a waddling gait. Bone pain, especially in your hips, is also a common symptom. A dull, aching pain can spread from your hips to the following places: • lower back • pelvis • legs • ribs If you also have very low levels of calcium in your blood, you may have: • • • • Your healthcare provider will do a blood test to diagnose the condition. If it shows any of the following, you may have osteomalacia or another ...