Osteoporosis Specialist

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that causes porous, brittle bones. As your bones weaken, they become vulnerable to fractures (breaks). What makes osteoporosis especially dangerous is that it usually remains undetectable until it’s done its worst.

Fractures caused by osteoporosis can happen anywhere on the body but most commonly affect the hips, spine, and wrists.

What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis rarely causes noticeable symptoms, like pain. However, the most common symptoms are:

• Bone fractures
• Lower back pain
• Poor posture
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of height

Symptoms of osteoporosis rarely develop suddenly. Instead, the disease slowly gets worse. The earlier you seek osteoporosis treatment, the better your outcome will be.

What causes osteoporosis?

Bones are living tissue that replenishes themselves. As old bone tissue breaks down, new bone takes its place. When you’re younger, your new bone replenishes at a fast rate to help build your muscle mass. Once you reach 30, it slowly begins breaking down faster than new bone replaces it. Having osteoporosis means this process is happening quicker than it should.

Anybody can develop osteoporosis, but you’re more likely to develop the disease if you:

• Are a woman
• Are older
• Carry excess weight
• Are of white or Asian ethnicity
• Have a thyroid disorder
• Follow a low-calcium diet
• Take certain medications
• Have another underlying condition like rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

You’re more likely to develop osteoporosis if a close relative, like a sibling, has the disease.

What are the treatments for osteoporosis?

After diagnosing osteoporosis with a physical exam, medical history review, and bone density scan, the Rheumatology Associates team could recommend prescription medications, like Prolia® and Evenity®. These medications either help eliminate bone-removing cells or rapidly rebuild bone to prevent fractures before they reach the old bone.

Other common treatments for osteoporosis include:

• Changing the kind of shoes you wear to prevent falls
• Eating a healthy diet
• Limiting your alcohol intake
• Quitting smoking

The team might also recommend Oasis Health supplements to help protect your bones and prevent fractures as you age.

Call Rheumatology Associates today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about diagnosing and treating osteoporosis.