Last Updated on November 29, 2020
3. Treatment
In the previous section, we discussed a few natural ways to prevent osteoporosis. But as soon as you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, there is no such thing as an effective “treatment.” In these cases, the preferred term is “management”: to reduce the risk of dangerous brakes in bones and prevent further bone loss in some important bones. Fall prevention: older adults (above 65 years old) are way more prone to falls than young adults. They may occur due to gait deviations, balance disorders, visual/sensory/motor impairment, and accidents.
In people with osteoporosis, it is really important to reduce the risk of falling to prevent further complications: a seemingly harmless fall may mean a fractured hip. Some environmental changes in the house, such as grab bars in the bathroom and handrails in staircases, as well as an improvement in lighting and luminance levels, could be very important. Sometimes, the use of a front-wheeled walker, a cane, or even a hip protector is also recommended.
Medication: there are a variety of drugs usually administered to patients with osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates help to reduce the risk of broken bones, but are only applicable to some specific bones, and could be taken in several ways – by injections, pill or through an IV. To prevent spine fractures in postmenstrual women, Raloxifene is a viable option. There are a few more options, but are either expensive (like bone-forming medications such as Tymlos and Forteo) or could aggravate the risk of other disorders (like calcitonin drugs, that increase the risk of certain cancers). Ask your doctor about your options and listen to all the pros and cons of each one.
