Treatment of Osteoporosis

About the disease

Osteoporosis is a medical condition whereby the bones become brittle and fragile due to hormonal changes or a deficiency in calcium or vitamin D. As a result, the person with osteoporosis experiences pain in the bones and is more susceptible to fractures. In progressed forms of osteoporosis, the sufferer can also develop a stooped posture. If not treated in time, osteoporosis can affect the person’s mobility. It can become difficult to stand or walk for long periods of time without feeling pain and fatigue. Osteoporosis is more common in women and it has long been associated with the menopause, low weight and aging changes.

Normally, the human body constantly remodels old bones, thereby maintaining their strength. With osteoporosis, however, this process of remodeling becomes extremely slow or stops altogether. This disease progresses very gradually and sometimes the first symptoms only manifest themselves after several years of the disease’s progression. Most commonly, osteoporosis is diagnosed when the sufferer fractures or breaks a bone without having been involved in a fall or accident. Over time, it can be difficult for a person with this condition to even sit or cough.

Osteoporosis is believed to be genetically passed from a parent to a child and it usually develops in people over the age of 50. People who take steroids on a regular basis are also in the at-risk group.

Symptoms

• Pain in the bones
• Difficulty in maintaining good posture for long periods of time
• Fatigue
• Inability to exercise
• Frequent fractures

Diagnosis

• An X-ray of the bones can show whether their structure is becoming thin.
• A calcium evaluation test can establish whether there is a decreased amount of calcium in the patient’s body.
• CT and MRI scans are used for deeper analysis of the bones. 

Treatment

• Most commonly, patients who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis are recommended to undergo conservative treatment. Such treatment aims to stop the bones from thinning down and to assist the remodeling function that enables the body to constantly renew itself and create new bones. There are special drugs and injections that can help the body to rebuild the bones.
• Physical therapy, diet and calcium intake are also important for the treatment of osteoporosis. 

Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko