關節痛 = 骨質疏鬆？
Does Joint Pain Indicate Osteoporosis?
「藥劑師，我關節痛呀，係咪有骨質疏鬆呀？食止痛藥醫唔醫得好呀？」
“Hello Pharmacist, my joints are very painful. Is it osteoporosis? Does taking painkillers help?”
好多人一有關節痛就誤會自己患上骨質疏鬆。其實兩個係截然不同嘅病症，關節痛可能係由關節炎引起，食消炎止痛藥可以舒緩發炎痛症。而骨質疏鬆並唔係單靠食止痛藥就醫好，兩者嘅治療方式係唔可以混為一談。
Many people misunderstood that joint pain indicates osteoporosis. In fact, the two conditions are totally different from each other. Joint pain may be caused by arthritis, in which taking anti-inflammatory painkillers can help relieve inflammation and pain. On the other hand, treatment of osteoporosis is more complicated that cannot be simply cured by taking painkillers.
「咁我要點樣分關節痛同骨質疏鬆呀？」
“How should I differentiate between osteoporosis and joint pain?”
要分辨兩者其實好簡單。試諗下一條長長嘅骨頭，兩邊負責活動就係關節，如果發炎嘅話就會引起關節痛。但如果係骨頭中間部分出現結構性問題，就可能係骨質疏鬆啦。有別於關節痛，骨質疏鬆好多時無任何病徵。骨質密度會隨住年紀，女性更年期後，或長期服用類固醇嘅影響下慢慢流失，直到跌親骨折先發現到佢嘅嚴重性，所以算係一種「隱形疾病」黎。
It is easy to tell the difference between the two. Joints are responsible for motor activities at the two side of the long bone. Inflammation at these two ends will consequently cause joint pain. However, if there is a structural problem in the middle part of the bone, it is probably osteoporosis. Unlike joint pain, osteoporosis is often asymptomatic. As bone mineral density will slowly decrease with age, menopause in women, or long-term use of steroids, osteoporosis is usually identified late until patient suffers a fall which leads to fracture. Therefore, osteoporosis is considered an “invisible disease”.
「點樣先知我有冇骨質疏鬆呀？有冇藥食架？」
“How to know whether I have osteoporosis or not? Is there any medicine for it?”
要確診骨質疏鬆係要搵醫生做骨質密度檢查，根據病歷同其他風險因素，先決定需唔需要食藥嘅。骨質疏鬆當然有藥食啦！不過，關節炎同骨質疏鬆用嘅藥係完全唔同，所以要問返醫生同藥劑師嘅意見。
To diagnose osteoporosis, a bone density test is performed by your doctor. You maybe prescribed with medications to prevent or treat osteoporosis, based on a number of factors including your medical history. Nevertheless, the medications for joint pain and osteoporosis are totally different. You should always ask your doctor or pharmacist for more advice!
屈臣氏藥劑師團隊
Watsons Pharmacy Team
