If you have lost bone mass in your vertebrae and have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you are at a higher risk of fracturing a bone. This condition needs to be addressed because a broken bone can land you in a nursing home and rob you of your independence. It is important to receive the right medical care to help stop and if possible reverse bone loss. A combination of lifestyle changes and medication can help you to manage this disease.
Step 1
Bone loss can be stopped and sometimes reversed with the right medication, such as bisphosphonates. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, bisphosphonates are antiresorptive medications. They slow the natural process of bone loss that your body goes through to create new bone. NOF states, "When people first start taking these medications, they stop losing bone as quickly as before, but still make new bone at a normal pace. Therefore, bone density may increase." There are various types and dosages of bisphosphonates available so you and your doctor will need to decide which treatment is best for you.
Step 2
Use hormone replacement therapy. Estrogen is a hormone that helps your bones stay strong, but your level of estrogen decreases with age. Taking estrogen alone or combined with progesterone can slow and possibly reverse bone loss. In addition, taking calcitonin may be useful. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, calcitonin ".. is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that slows bone loss and reduces the risk of spine fractures. It has no serious side effects." Another hormone medication is Teriparatide which is a form of human parathyroid hormone that has also been shown to improve bone density. The websites below provide detailed information on all of the available medication options.
Step 3
Quit smoking and eat right. According to the Mayo Clinic, smoking cigarettes speeds up bone loss. Since your bones need calcium to maintain strength and your body needs vitamin D to help absorb calcium, your diet should be rich in both. If you are age 51 or older, you need 1,200 mg of calcium daily and 800-1,000 International Units, or IUs, of Vitamin D. If you are age 19 to 54, recommended amounts are 1,000 mg for calcium and 400-800 IU for vitamin D. Visit the websites below for special recommendations for children and pregnant women.
Step 4
Do weight bearing exercises. This includes activities such as walking, dancing and hiking. Activities that place stress on your bones stimulates bone growth. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons states, "When you do regular weight bearing exercise, your bone adapts to the impact of weight and pull of muscle by building more cells and becoming stronger." Activities such as biking and swimming are not weight bearing since your body weight is being supported by the bicycle or the water.
Tips and Warnings
- Osteoporosis can be prevented and improved through simple lifestyle changes. A well balanced healthy diet and regular exercise will go along way to managing this condition and reducing your risk of a fall.
- Get a bone density test. Osteoporosis and bone loss in the spine can exist without symptoms. The only way to know if you have lost bone mass is through a bone density test.
