Osteoporosis has been defined as a bone disease that causes a reduction in the strength of your bones. The literal meaning of the word is porous bone, and this condition also impacts your bone density.

Anyone who is contending with osteoporosis is at an increased risk of suffering a fracture.

It is possible for someone who has osteoporosis to not be aware that the condition has developed because they will not be experiencing any symptoms or any form of pain.

It has also been stated that around 10 million individuals in the U.S. have osteoporosis, while around 44 million people in the U.S. are facing an issue with their bone density. This places them at greater risk of breaking a bone due to this condition.

Understanding Bone Mass And Bone Loss

Peak bone mass was recently discussed in this article. Your bones undergo a continual process that includes both growth, and actual bone loss. This includes your bones being built, broken down, and replaced by new bone throughout a process that is referred to as bone remodeling or bone metabolism.

Most individuals will have a point in their lives in which their bones will reach maximum strength. This is your peak bone mass, and it often occurs around the age of 30.

As you continue the aging process, your body does not rebuild your bones with the same frequency that it did earlier in your life.

As a result, your body becomes incapable of producing new bone at the same rate in which the old bone is being absorbed. This process in which your body is unable to replace old bone sufficiently can eventually cause osteoporosis.

The Downside Of Osteoporosis

The loss of bone will increase your vulnerability toward suffering a fracture if you fall. Approximately 50% of women who have reached the age of 50 will eventually be confronted by a bone fracture. This is also the case for around 25% of all men once they have progressed to the same age.

Broken bones can emerge in the hip, wrist, arm, leg, and spine. However, the most problematic form of fracture takes place with the hip.

Your hip is a joint that is formed as a ball-and-socket. A traumatic hip dislocation occurs when this joint is forced from its normal configuration.

This can occur if the thighbone – which is also referred to as the femur – moves out of its normal location inside the socket. This will take place if there is a significant impact from an event such as a fall, or from a collision inside a vehicle.

Anyone who does encounter a fractured hip will require immediate medical attention. This will also result in a lengthy period of recovery, and a loss of independent living. Any patient that is dealing with a fractured hip will need ongoing care from a professional or a family member.

Symptoms Of Osteoporosis

In many cases, there is no indication that you are dealing with bone loss. But if you are contending with osteoporosis, then you might experience back pain.

Sometimes a loss of height can be a sign that osteoporosis is present, which is also true for any form of stooping in your posture. Any bone that breaks easily is also a symptom of this condition.

Preventing Osteoporosis

It will be helpful to know that there are steps that you can take to prevent osteoporosis. This includes making sure that you are receiving a proper amount of calcium in your system. Your body stores calcium in your bones as a resource to protect your level of bone mass.

However, your body also consumes calcium, which makes it important to offset the loss. Otherwise, your body will use the calcium that would otherwise be contained in your bones.

You can replenish your level of calcium by consuming foods that deliver it back to your system. These include salmon, sardines, yogurt, cheese, milk, broccoli, spinach, beans, and kale.

If you a woman between the ages of 19 and 50, or you are a male between the ages of 51 and 70, then you should consume 1,000 mg of calcium each day.

If you are a woman between the ages of 51 and 70, then you should be receiving 1,200 mg per day. Anyone who is 71 years of age or older should also consume 1,200 mg of calcium per day.

You can also help your body absorb the calcium that it desperately needs by also keeping Vitamin D as part of your daily regimen. The usual recommended dosage is 200-600 IU (international units). This will increase the effectiveness of how bones use the calcium that is present in your system.

It is also critical for you to remain involved in consistent physical activity. Exercising is beneficial in many different ways, and this includes maintaining the health of your bones. Physical regimens that include weights or resistance are particularly helpful with your efforts to sustain healthy bones.

In addition to exercise, calcium and Vitamin D, it is also important that you retain a healthy weight. You will also reduce the risk of encountering osteoporosis by avoiding the habit of smoking.

Treatment For Osteoporosis

Your doctor will conduct a physical examination that will help determine if you are dealing with osteoporosis. He or she will ask a series of questions that include your medical history, your family’s history, and the specific nature of your pain. Your physician could order x-rays, MRIs, ultrasound. bone scans, and blood tests to determine whether osteoporosis is the source of your pain.  

If you receive an official diagnosis of osteoporosis, then the form of treatment will be built with the goal of decreasing any further bone loss. This treatment plan often includes a mixture of exercise, proper nutrition, and physical therapy. There are also some medications that can be prescribed for osteoporosis.

At Orthopedic Associates, We Are Here To Help

If you are concerned that you might be experiencing osteoporosis, or if you have any questions about discomfort, illness, or an injury that is limiting your ability to remain involved in physical activity, the professionals at Orthopedic Associates want to provide our expertise.

With eight board-certified physicians and two board-eligible physicians in orthopedic specialties, our doctors have been practicing medicine for a combined total of 183 years. Our team also contains specialists for every condition that you might encounter.

This helps Orthopedic Associates offer a full spectrum of musculoskeletal care, along with in-house physical therapy, our state-of-the-art technology, and an on-site surgical center.

We also encourage you to consult one of our neck and spine doctors if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Hard, knotted muscles in your neck or shoulders
• Decreased range of motion
• Pain
• Tightness in the general neck-and-shoulder area
• Stiffness as you go to look over your left or right shoulders
• Headaches originating from the base of your skull and continuing to the front of your forehead

Our specialists also provide on-call availability, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can treat these additional neck conditions:

• Anatomy of the Spine
• Cervical Radiculopathy
• Coccydynia
• Compression Fracture of the Spine
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Facet Joint Syndrome
• Herniated Disc(s) (Cervical)
• Kyphosis
• Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)
• Metastatic Cancer of the Spine
• Muscle Strain of the Upper Back (Trapezius Strain)
• Myelopathy
• Osteomyelitis
• Osteoporosis
• Post-Laminectomy Syndrome
• Scoliosis
• Spinal Epidural Abscess
• Spinal Infection
• Spinal Stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spondylosis
• Where Lower Back Pain Begins
• Where Neck Pain Begins

We encourage you to visit one of the Orthopedic Associates’ two locations or request an appointment today to be on your way to feeling better.