Home Osteoporosis causes Osteoporosis symptoms Osteoporosis prevention Osteoporosis fractures Osteoporosis treatment Osteoporosis types Medicines Evista Actonel Boniva Rocaltrol Fosamax Miacalcin Nasal Spray		Treatment of Osteoporosis There are several types of treatment available, and often a combination will be more appropriate than just one. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) Oestrogen protects bone strength. The drop in oestrogen that occurs following menopause is mirrored by an increased loss of bone for a few years thereafter. The loss continues, but less steeply, in older women. Hormone replacement therapy replaces oestrogen and so reduces the rate of bone loss. HRT is thought to be of most benefit for preventing osteoporosis if it is started early in menopause and is taken for at least five years. However long-term use increases the risk of side effects.Any woman should discuss the risks and benefits for her individual circumstances with her doctor before making a decision about treatment considering HRT. HRT is connected with an increased risk of breast cancer, cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial cancer), blood clots in the veins (thrombosis), stroke and heart disease. However, as well as preventing osteoporosis, HRT reduces the symptoms of the menopause, which can be very stressful for some women, and is also related, with a reduced risk of bowel cancer. It depends on a woman’s individual risk of developing the condition, her personal and family medical history and her individual views on the potential risks and benefits, to use HRT to prevent osteoporosis and how long time all of which should be discussed with her doctor. HRT is not now suggested as a first choice of therapy for long-term prevention of osteoporosis in women who are over 50 years of age, as there are other medicines available that do not carry the risks associated with HRT. There is more information about these medicines below. HRT remains an option for women over 50 at risk of fractures for whom these other medicines are not suitable. HRT is also still a suitable option for women who have had an early menopause. However in this case HRT should only be used for treating menopausal symptoms and preventing osteoporosis until the age of 50, after which time other medicines may be more suitable. These treatments are quite specialized and not commonly used. Calcitonin (Miacalcic) is a hormone involved in the regulation of bone turnover. It is given by injection or nasal spray and is used for postmenopausal osteoporosis when treatment with bisphosphonates, strontium or raloxifene is unsuitable. It can relieve pain when used following collapsed vertebrae, but has a number of potential side effects, including allergic reactions. Calcitriol (Rocaltrol) is a vitamin D-like compound that can be used in osteoporosis following the menopause or in situations where osteoporosis has been caused by steroid drugs. Studies of the effect of calcitriol on bone loss and fractures have produced conflicting results, however it has been shown to reduce the risk of spinal fractures but not hip fractures. Teriparatide (Forsteo) is for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It works by increasing the formation of bone and is given by daily injection under the skin, using an injection pen similar to those used by people with diabetes for injecting insulin. It has been shown to reduce the incidence of spinal but not hip fractures. Hip protectors Hip protectors are shock-absorbing pads that can be worn to cushion the impact over the hip bone, should a person fall down. They spread the load across a wider area of the upper leg and are useful as an extra measure in an elderly person prone to falls. Hip protectors come as a sort of girdle with padding at the sides. However, it can be difficult for people to remember to put one on, or even wish to wear Bone Mineral Density Tests A Bone Mineral Density test (BMD) is the only way to diagnose osteoporosis and determine your risk for future fracture. Since osteoporosis can develop undetected for decades until a fracture occurs, early diagnosis is important. A BMD measures the density of your bones (bone mass) and is necessary to determine whether you need medication to help maintain your bone mass, prevent further bone loss and reduce fracture risk. A bone mineral density (BMD) test is a special type of test that is accurate, painless and noninvasive Aquatic therapy for osteoporosis Low bone mass and osteoporosis affect approximately 44 million American men and women over the age of 50. Ten million individuals are estimated to already have the disease and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass. The term osteoporosis simply means "porous bone" and is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and a deterioration of bone tissue that leads to fragile bones and the risk of fractures. Often, this disease goes undetected until a simple bump, fall, handshake, or, even worse, a hug from a loved one causes a broken bone. One of the most important things you can do to prevent or reduce the effects of osteoporosis is to maintain a regular exercise routine. Weight-bearing activities, such as walking or jogging, and resistance exercise, build muscle strength as well as improve your balance and body awareness, thereby reducing your risk of falls. Unfortunately, if a loving hug can break a rib, imagine how terrifying it must be to attempt an exercise routine. This is where aquatic therapy can help. Water serves as a safety net for individuals with osteoporosis. Physical therapy in a swimming pool provides a safe place for you to exercise without putting yourself at risk for falls or broken bones. Aquatic therapy increases muscle strength, decreases pain by reducing weight-bearing forces to joints and bones, improves balance, speeds the rate of recovery, and increases proprioception (your body's ability to sense muscle and joint positioning). Aquatic therapy can help you relax and improve your circulation, range of motion, muscle tone, and self-confidence. Half the battle of reducing falls is eliminating the fear. Aquatic exercise can do just that. The aquatic exercises illustrated below can help you improve your strength, balance, and coordination. Aquatic therapy can complicate rather than complement certain conditions. So, before you begin any exercise program, first discuss the program with your doctor or other health care professional.		-ADVERTISEMENT-
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