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The Best Ways to Manage Osteoarthritis in the Hip

Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease of the bone. Bone density is lost gradually over time without you knowing because it occurs painlessly. However, the bone loss causes the bones to be weak and brittle and the slightest fall or accident can cause a bone to fracture. The most likely bones to fracture due to osteoporosis are the spine, hip and wrist. A spinal or a hip fracture can prove to be very difficult to bounce back from and both require a good amount of hospitalization and physical therapy.

  1. Lifestyle Changes

    • If you have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, your physician will normally ask you to make significant changes to your lifestyle in order to prevent fractures, especially to the spine and the hip. Additionally, if you drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes they will ask you to try and quit or at least reduce the amount that you smoke and drink. While reducing those two things, if they are a factor for you, the physician will also want you to increase your intake of Vitamin D and calcium. Calcium can be increased through your diet or through supplements and Vitamin D can be increased through spending more time in the natural sunlight.

    Exercise

    • Your doctor will want you to increase the amount of exercise you do to encourage strengthening of the bone. He will most likely also require you to take a medication to attempt to prevent additional bone loss. Finally, because falls are the culprit behind hip fractures due to osteoporosis, you will be required to take precautions in the home. You may be required to install bars, railings or ramps that will reduce your risk of falling and fracturing your hip or spine.

    Other Tips

    • Always make sure you go for tests when your doctor recommends them. The most common test is a bone density test. The earlier this condition is diagnosed, the more chances there are to stop it in its earliest stages. Also, always make sure to take your prescribed medications as directed by your doctor to ensure you are protected.

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