Can You Recover From Osteoporosis?

Healthy bone constantly regenerates. With age, however, bone is resorbed by the body more quickly than it can be replaced. The result is osteoporosis, a deterioration of the bone structure that eventually causes fragile bones more likely to fracture under stress, such as a fall. But you can recover from osteoporosis.

Bone Growth and Remodeling

• Bone is living tissue that regenerates in a process called bone remodeling, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). The old bone is resorbed by specialized cells called osteoclasts, while other cells called osteoblasts form new bone. A balance between bone resorption and regeneration maintains bone mass and density.

What is Osteoporosis

• Loss of bone density occurs when the balance shifts between bone resorption and formation. Advancing age, long-term use of medications such as glucocorticosteroids and, for women, menopause and the accompanying drop in estrogen levels increase the rate of bone turnover. Bone formation can no longer keep pace with the rate of resorption, and the internal scaffolding of the bones erodes. Bones become brittle and prone to fracture, resulting in osteoporosis. Osteoporosis progresses slowly with no signs or symptoms until the first fracture. Osteoporosis is a progressive condition, but bone loss can be stopped and reversed with treatment, according to the NOF.

Stop Bone Loss

• Bisphosphonates, the most common treatments for osteoporosis, slow the bone resorption process. They include alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate and zoledronic acid, according to the Mayo Clinic. By slowing resorption and resetting the resorption-regeneration balance, bisphosphonates help preserve bone mass, increase density, and reduce the risk of hip and spine fractures. Bisphosphonates are absorbed into the bone, so the protective effect remains after the drugs are stopped. For menopausal women, estrogen replacement therapy also helps preserve bone density. Estrogen, however, may increase the risk of certain types of cancer and is not recommended solely for osteoporosis treatment. Calcitonin, a hormone produced by the thyroid gland, also slows bone resorption, but it is not as effective as the bisphosphonates.

Stimulate New Bone Growth

• In more severe osteoporosis, halting further bone loss is insufficient and bones remain weakened. Teriparatide, a form of parathyroid hormone, is an aggressive treatment for women who are at very high risk for fractures, such as those who have very low bone density or who have already had several fractures. Teriparatide stimulates new bone growth and may actually reverse osteoporosis, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Calcium and Vitamin D

• Calcium and vitamin D supplements complement any osteoporosis treatment. Calcium reduces the risk of fracture, and vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption. Vitamin D also enhances muscle performance and balance, reducing the risk of falls. The NOF recommends 1,200 to 1,500 mg calcium daily and 800 to 1,000 IU vitamin D daily for women older than 50 years. Calcium doses above 1,500 mg per day have no added benefit and may increase the risk of kidney stones or cardiovascular disease.