It’s natural to lose some bone mass over time, but osteoporosis speeds up the process. If you find yourself with constant back pain or a shorter height than you remember, internists Devang Shah, MD, and Nimisha Shah, MD, can evaluate you for osteoporosis and reduce your risk of fractures at Morgan Hill Internal Medicine in Morgan Hill, California. To find out more about osteoporosis and how to manage it, call Morgan Hill Internal Medicine, or reserve an appointment online today.
Osteoporosis is a degenerative condition that causes your bones to become weak and brittle over time. As it develops, your chances of breaking a bone become higher. Once the disease is advanced, you can fracture a bone by coughing, laughing, or bending forward.
A similar condition, called osteoarthritis, often appears alongside osteoporosis. Osteoarthritis affects your joints and is the most common type of arthritis. It causes your joints to deteriorate with time and limits your mobility.
During the earliest stages of osteoporosis, you might not even realize that anything is wrong. It doesn’t cause pain or discomfort until the more advanced stages. Over time, you might experience:
The symptoms of osteoarthritis also develop slowly and worsen with time. If you have osteoarthritis with your osteoporosis, you might experience:
Because osteoporosis sets in slowly, you should schedule an evaluation at Morgan Hill Internal Medicine around the time you go through menopause or if you took corticosteroids for a few months.
The team at Morgan Hill Internal Medicine evaluates the extent of your osteoporosis and/or osteoarthritis to form a treatment plan that works for you. Your treatment includes a multimodal approach that can help you avoid painful and costly bone fractures. The team might recommend:
There are many medications available that can help prevent bone loss from osteoporosis. They improve your bone density and are prescribed based on your risk for a fracture within 10 years.
The team asks about your current lifestyle and habits. They might suggest that you stop smoking, wear low-heeled shoes with good grip, and avoid excessive alcohol drinking to reduce your risk of breaking a bone.
Taking estrogen can help maintain your bone density, especially if you start taking it after menopause. Taking testosterone won’t help you manage osteoporosis if you’re a man, so the team might prescribe you other medications instead.
Book your appointment by phone or online at Morgan Hill Internal Medicine to discuss your treatment options with an expert today.
