Make Pain a Thing of the Past – Osteoporosis – Physician Partners of America

Tag Archive for: Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis Pain Relief

Osteoporosis, which is a disease that affects the strength and density of the bones, is extremely common. It is estimated that more than three million Americans are newly diagnosed with this condition each year, resulting in more than 50 million annual cases of osteoporosis.

While anyone can develop osteoporosis, certain risk factors greatly increase your chances of developing brittle, weak bones:

  • Being Caucasian or Asian
  • Being female
  • Being over the age of 60
  • Low body weight
  • Low sex hormone levels
  • Menopause
  • Small body frame
  • Smoking

Although osteoporosis is most common in older individuals, bone mass gradually starts to decrease – sometimes by as much as one percent each year – as early as the age of 30. Taking preventive measures when young, such as exercising and getting sufficient calcium and vitamin D, is an essential part of life-long bone health.

Osteoporosis Diagnosis & Symptoms

Unfortunately, many people don’t realize they have osteoporosis until a bone fracture occurs. Considered a “silent” disease, osteoporosis can develop over the course of many years without producing any noticeable symptoms. Being vigilant about potential signs of bone loss is extremely important, as taking measures to fend off osteoporosis early can help prevent dangerous fractures down the line. Talk to your doctor about your risk for osteoporosis if you notice:

    • Bone pain or low back pain
    • Spinal curvature
    • Height loss

A diagnostic test called a bone mineral density scan, or DEXA scan, is an X-ray specifically geared toward detecting loss of bone density. Images of your bones are compared to healthy bone benchmarks for someone of your age, gender, and ethnicity. Your doctor may order a DEXA scan if you are at an increased risk for osteoporosis or exhibit any of the symptoms listed above.

Osteoporosis Treatment in Texas and Florida

If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, treatments will likely include calcium, vitamin D, specialized osteoporosis medication, physical therapy, and strength training. Treatment may vary if you are experiencing osteoporosis pain due to a bone fracture. Back pain due to a fracture of one of the spinal vertebrae can be especially debilitating and may require surgery. At Physician Partners of America locations across Texas and Florida, we offer osteoporosis pain treatment and vertebral fracture treatments such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. These minimally invasive procedures can help heal a vertebral fracture caused by osteoporosis so that you can get back to living your life.

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3 Risk Factors for Osteoporosis

Are You Suffering From Osteoporosis?

Like a thief in the night steals your valuables without warning, osteoporosis can suddenly arrive without you knowing it. All of a sudden your bones are frail, weak and can easily become fractured by the simplest of falls and your ability to live an active lifestyle goes out the window.

Even though there aren’t alarm bells alerting you to an oncoming onset of osteoporosis, there are certain factors that can lead to this disorder, some you can’t change, many you can. Things like age, sex, race and inherited family traits are beyond your ability to change. Don’t focus on those things, but instead do all you can to remove the risks of the things you can change.

 

3 Risk Factors for Getting Osteoporosis

As we said, there are things like your biology, sex and race that are unchangeable. It would be a waste of time to worry about these. Instead, there are definitely things you can do to reduce your risk of getting osteoporosis.

  1. Lifestyle. A sedentary lifestyle where your job and your leisure activities don’t require much movement can lead to osteoporosis. When your bones and muscles are at constant rest, they don’t have the ability to build up and become weaker. Additionally, a lifestyle that involves walking, running, and exercise promotes good posture, muscle strength and overall better health that can deter the onset of this disorder.
  2. Diet. You’ve heard that “milk does a body good” for a long time, but did you ever take the phrase to heart? A low intake of calcium can make your bones frail and brittle, causing a low bone density which is the key to strong bones and bone tissue replacement over your lifetime. Up the calcium intake to make your bones stronger and lessen the risk of osteoporosis.
  3. Medication. This one is a bit tougher to alter since it involves medications you’ve been taking for any other potential medical issues you may have. Regular use of steroids (oral or injected) can slow down bone tissue replacement to a crawl, causing lower bone density and raising the potential for broken or fractured bones.

Get Osteoporosis Treatment in Tampa

No matter your risk factor, if you’re suffering with – or are at risk for – osteoporosis, the pain experts at Florida Pain Relief Group in Tampa can help manage the pain and control the disorder. Don’t live in agony one more day when help is so close by. Contact us today!

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