Osteoporosis

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens your bones, causing them to become brittle and porous. It increases your risk of fractures, musculoskeletal pain, and mobility issues if left untreated.

Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but it’s most common in women aged 50 and older. There’s no cure, but you can take steps to strengthen your bones and prevent the condition from worsening.

Does osteoporosis present symptoms?

Osteoporosis is called a silent disease because it rarely presents symptoms early on. Even so, telltale signs to watch out for include:

• Lower back pain
• Unexplained fractures
• Shortness of breath (due to compressed intervertebral discs)
• Changes in posture (such as stooping or bending forward)

If osteoporosis causes a compression fracture in your vertebrae, you might experience a loss of one to two inches in height.

Who gets osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis affects people from all races and backgrounds; however, certain factors can increase your risk, including:

• A family history of osteoporosis
• Being petite or very thin
• Having Caucasian or Asian ancestry
• Being 50 or older

Certain health problems can increase your risk of osteoporosis, including thyroid disease and hormonal imbalances.

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

Your RI Rheumatology provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes a physical exam. Then, they order bone mineral density testing with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). A DEXA test is an imaging procedure that assesses the density of the bones in your spine, hips, and wrists. 

If your DEXA test confirms you have porous or brittle bones, the team develops a personalized treatment plan to prevent the condition from worsening. 

How is osteoporosis treated?

There’s no cure for osteoporosis, but a combination of healthy lifestyle changes and prescription medication can keep your bones healthy and slow the disease’s progression. 

The RI Rheumatology team usually recommends weight and resistance training to strengthen the bones and dietary supplements to increase the production of vitamin D and calcium. 

If necessary, they might prescribe:

• Hormone replacement therapy
• Testosterone therapy
• Bisphosphonates (drugs that stop the reabsorption of bone tissue)
• Anabolic agents
• Ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections

Sometimes, the RI Rheumatology team recommends biologics. These powerful medications are administered intravenously. They can increase bone density, reduce reabsorption, and help prevent bone fractures.

Call RI Rheumatology to receive treatment for osteoporosis, or book your appointment online today.