Dealing with an osteoporosis diagnosis is never fun but understanding the condition and properly treating it is the best way at reducing the effects and symptoms of it. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that results in your bones becoming weaker and brittle, which can make them easily susceptible to fractures. It affects more than 28 million people (75% of which are women).
Osteoporosis typically occurs in older age as the bone density starts to decrease. It can also be triggered by hormonal changes (menopause in women and low testosterone in men), or poor lifestyle choices such as little-to-no physical activity, lack of calcium or vitamin D in your diet, and smoking.
Signs & Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Seeking osteoporosis treatment is important if you’re display the signs and symptoms, however, with osteoporosis, there’s no real definitive sign until a bone fracture occurs. There are some key indications that you may have osteoporosis, which include:
- Mid-to-lower back pain (particularly with physical activity)
- Decreased height (osteoporosis causes bones to compress and weaken over time)
- Fractures during minor incidents (falls that result in fractures to the spine, hip, or forearm could indicate osteoporosis)
- Brittle nails (or nails that break easily)
- Receding gums (osteoporosis causes the jawbone to lose density)
- Weakening grip (your bones and muscles become weaker)
- Stooping posture (your spine vertebrae will weaken with osteoporosis)
If you notice any of these signs, particularly many of them, you may want to seek osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment soon to help mitigate the signs and discomfort.
Osteoporosis Treatment
Before osteoporosis treatment can begin, you’ll need to be diagnosed. While a primary care physician can surmise that you’re dealing with osteoporosis, in order to be completely sure, you’ll need to have a bone density test (DEXA Scan) in order to determine that you have osteoporosis.
Once you’ve been officially diagnosed with osteoporosis, one of our practitioners will lay out a treatment plan that factors in medications, recommended lifestyle changes, as well as any additional therapies that can help you achieve comfort and suppress any pain.
The recommended lifestyle changes can include an increase in calcium and vitamin D consumption, an exercise regimen, balance therapy (to reduce the risk of falls), and if applicable, smoking cessation.
Osteoporosis Prevention
The primary treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. It is important to avoid environmental risk factors (e.g. smoking and alcohol). Exercise and dietary modifications such as increased calcium and vitamin D are essential to prevent bone loss. In cases where the bone loss is too much to be treated just with dietary and supplement modifications, there are oral and injectable FDA approved medications for both osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Our team at AOA has the required experience and the can perform the tests/scans necessary to help you manage your condition effectively.
Schedule a Visit at Our Osteoporosis Diagnosis & Treatment Center
Whether you’re beginning to show the signs, sustained a fall that resulted in a fracture, or you’ve been recommended by your primary care physician, the team at Arthritis & Osteoporosis Associates is here to assist you.
We can accurately diagnose you with osteoporosis and provide the necessary treatments to help you obtain comfort while working to reduce the effects of the condition so you can maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.
Schedule a visit with us so you can begin your osteoporosis treatment today!
*We accept most major insurances and select Medicaid plans. It’s recommended that you consult with your primary care physician before seeking diagnosis and treatment from Arthritis & Osteoporosis Associates.
