Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by reduced bone mass and disruption of the microarchitecture of bone. This condition results in decreased bone strength. Because of this, people suffering from osteoporosis have bones that fracture easily. These fractures are costly to maintain, and they also increase mortality. For instance, osteoporosis and the fractures it causes result in the need to use assistive devices for mobility. It also creates the need to use a bone funnel and other fracture management techniques. About 6.8 million Americans utilize assistive devices to aid with movement. There are several methods and techniques used to treat osteoporosis. Here’s how this situation is handled.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
To decrease the risk of your patients falling, you need to recommend that they exercise a lot if they are suffering from osteoporosis. These exercises include things like lifting weights, brisk walking, jogging, and even tennis or volleyball. They can also do some exercises to help improve their balance. These include standing on one leg and walking backward. It’s also crucial to tell them to maintain a healthy weight if they are suffering from osteoporosis. Your patients will benefit from stopping smoking and lowering their alcohol consumption. This is essential to improve bone strength.
MEDICINES FOR OSTEOPOROSIS
There are several medications that are used to treat osteoporosis. Some of these medications are used to strengthen your patients’ bones. Apart from that, devices like the bone funnel can also assist. Medications to treat osteoporosis include bisphosphonates which help to reduce the rate of natural bone density loss. These drugs are taken either as pills or can be injected.
Another drug that’s used to treat osteoporosis is Denosumab. This is an injection that is administered twice a year. It helps to slow down the progression of osteoporosis. There is another class of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators. These drugs are the same ones used for estrogen replacement in women who are post-menopause.
If one of your patients has tried the above medications and the condition is not improving, you might want to prescribe them for Teriparatide. This drug prevents their bones from breaking or fracturing easily. Apart from strengthening their bones, they might also need medications to stop the pain. This condition can be quite painful at times. As their doctor, you will be able to recommend the best pain medication for them.
These are some of the methods of managing osteoporosis. If bone fractures have already occurred in one of your patients, you can use the bone funnel to help them heal. While this condition can’t be entirely prevented, there are several things that you can do to help them lower the risk of developing it. For instance, in women who are over the age of 50, it’s advisable to start looking closely at calcium and vitamin D levels in the body. Some individuals in this category can benefit from supplementation with calcium or vitamin D, so it may be beneficial to start recommending this to your patients.