How to Treat Osteoprosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your body to lose bone mass. This results in brittle, weak bones that are more likely to fracture from even simple activities, such as lifting. You will not notice early symptoms of osteoporosis, however your doctor can run tests to determine if you are losing bone mass. Later symptoms of osteoporosis may include fractures, the gradual loss of height and back pain.

Things You'll Need

• Bisphosphonates
• Raloxifene
• Calcitonin
• Calcium
• Vitamin D

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Instructions

• 1

  See your doctor for an osteoporosis screening if you have risk factors that could contribute to the condition, such as being older than 65, type 1 diabetes, kidney, liver or thyroid disease, early menopause or a family history of osteoporosis. It's important to begin treating osteoporosis as soon as possible to help prevent further bone loss.

• 2

  Discuss medication options with your doctor, such as bisphosphonates. These drugs can not only prevent further bone loss, but can also help increase bone density. This means that you are less likely to suffer from fractures. These drugs may cause side effects, such as abdominal pain and nausea. If you experience severe side effects, your doctor may recommend taking your medication intravenously.

• 3

  Ask your doctor about potentially using the medication raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), if you are a postmenopausal woman without a history of blood clots. (This medication is not approved for men.) Raloxifene has the same benefits for your bones as estrogen without some of the possible risks (such as uterine cancer).

• 4

  Ask your doctor about a hormone called calcitonin if you are unable to tolerate the stronger medications. It's available for use as a nasal spray or as an injection (some users may experience nasal irritation with the spray).

• 5

  Modify your diet to include calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products, sardines, fortified orange juice, soybeans and broccoli. Take calcium and vitamin D supplements to ensure your bones have the nutrition they need. According to the National Institutes of Health, you should be getting between 1,000 and 1,200 mg. of calcium and between 400 and 600 IU of vitamin D daily.

• 6

  Develop an exercise plan with the guidance of your doctor. According to Discovery Health, exercise, specifically weight-bearing exercises, can help build your bone mass. Examples of weight-bearing exercises include stair-climbing and weight-lifting. Of course, discuss this, as well as all of the above, with your doctor before starting.