Will I know if I have Osteoporosis?
Typically there aren't any symptoms in the early stages of bone loss.
But once your bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you might have signs and symptoms that include:
Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra
Loss of height over time
A stooped posture
A bone that breaks much more easily than expected
Preventing Fractures
Prevention of osteoporosis begins during childhood to early adulthood when bone density is still increasing. Depending on your age, it is recommended that you ingest appropriate amounts of calcium daily (along with vitamin D) – Adults, aged 19-50 years, 1000 mg; 51-64 years, 1200 mg; 65+ years, 1500 mg.
Other important preventative steps include weight bearing exercise, smoking cessation, and a periodic check-up including bone density testing. Walking as little as 20 minutes a day has been shown to increase bone density.
Other weight bearing exercises include jogging, dancing, hiking, and stair climbing. Swimming and bicycling are not considered weight bearing exercises. A weight-lifting exercise program can be helpful but always consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
Doctors Advice
If you have severe osteoporosis or if the more common treatments for osteoporosis don’t work well enough, your doctor might suggest trying the below drugs.
This powerful drug is similar to parathyroid hormone and stimulates new bone growth. It’s given by daily injection under the skin for up to two years.
Abaloparatide (Tymlos) is another drug similar to parathyroid hormone. This drug can be taken for only two years.
This is the newest bone-building medication to treat osteoporosis. It is given as an injection every month at your doctor’s office and is limited to one year of treatment.
After you stop taking any of these bone-building medications, you generally will need to take another osteoporosis drug to maintain the new bone growth.
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