How to Stay Strong When Living With Severe Osteoporosis

With severe osteoporosis, your bones lose their strength and fracture more easily. Healthy habits, proper treatment and fall prevention efforts can protect your bones, slow disease progression and help you stay independent for years to come.

“While there’s no cure for osteoporosis, there’s a lot you can do to manage the condition and maximize your quality of life,” says Dr. Vandit Sardana, a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon who sees patients at Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists. “The trick is to detect it and begin treatment as early as possible.”

Read on to learn more about severe osteoporosis and how you can manage the condition for improved quality of life.

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How Serious Is Osteoporosis?

When you lose a lot of bone mineral density and bone mass, you have osteoporosis. This causes reduced bone strength, which is always a serious problem.

Unfortunately, osteoporosis is a silent disease that often goes undetected in its early stages. According to the National Institutes of Health, breaking a bone is often the first sign of severe osteoporosis. Wrist and hip fractures are two common bone fractures caused by osteoporosis, but all bones are at risk.

Once you have a fracture, you’re at higher risk for other problems, such as:

• Loss of mobility
• Increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Muscle weakness
• Chronic pain
• Reduced independence

How Osteoporosis Advances Over Time

Osteopenia is a condition characterized by lower-than-normal bone density, which increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. Your body continuously breaks down old bone and replaces it with new bone. When the breakdown exceeds the replacement, bones weaken.

“The road to severe osteoporosis is typically a long, progressive journey,” Dr. Sardana says. “The progression from osteopenia to osteoporosis can take years or even decades, often leading to broken bones or other symptoms.”

While osteopenia raises your risk, treatment is effective. Staying physically active and consuming a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D can help slow bone loss and prevent the progression to osteoporosis, according to the National Council on Aging.

If you've already developed osteoporosis, stay in regular contact with your healthcare team to monitor your condition and adjust your treatment plan as necessary.

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Signs Your Severe Osteoporosis May Be Getting Worse

Severe osteoporosis often progresses without any obvious signs. When your condition worsens, you may experience the following:

• Back pain — This pain usually occurs near your waist and is not directly caused by osteoporosis itself. Instead, it is the result of a fracture in your spine, which is a common complication of osteoporosis. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, these types of fractures are often linked to the weakening of bones due to osteoporosis.
• Loss of height — Height loss of up to six inches can occur due to long-term bone loss from osteoporosis and compression fractures in the spine, often linked to low bone density.
• Stooped posture — As bone density lessens in the spine, the bones in your spine collapse and your spine curves forward. Known as kyphosis, the condition is one reason you may become shorter as you grow older.

Is Severe Osteoporosis Painful?

By itself, osteoporosis doesn’t cause pain. The pain comes when severe osteoporosis results in a broken bone. You may also experience pain if you have other bone- and joint-related conditions, such as a herniated disc or arthritis.

How Severe Osteoporosis Is Diagnosed and Monitored

Currently, there’s no cure for severe osteoporosis, and while it can’t be reversed, it is manageable. Fractures related to osteoporosis can heal, although recovery depends on the type of fracture. Some fractures heal easily, while others may require more intervention.

To diagnose osteoporosis or osteopenia, your primary care provider or orthopedic provider relies on the following:

• In-office exam — You discuss your family history of osteoporosis, personal lifestyle and new or ongoing health issues. Additionally, your healthcare provider gives you a physical exam to check for signs of osteoporosis, such as changes in your posture, height or weight.
• Bone density tests — Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans use X-ray technology to see your bones. This imaging exam helps measure the density of your bones. These bone density tests can also help determine your risk for fractures and whether osteoporosis treatment is working.

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4 Ways to Stay Strong and Protect Your Bones

“No matter how severe your osteoporosis is,” Dr. Sardana says, “there are steps you can take to improve your bone strength.”

Here are tips from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to get started.

• Eat smart — Bones need vitamin D and calcium to stay strong. Great sources include fruits, vegetables, salmon and low-fat dairy products. If you have a hard time getting enough in your diet, you may benefit from vitamin D or calcium supplements. Talk with your healthcare provider about your options.
• Perform weight-bearing exercises — Weight-lifting and other strength-training exercises improve your balance and strength. They can also reduce your risk of falling. If you’re unsteady on your feet, working with a physical therapist or other rehabilitation services professional can help you exercise safely and with confidence.
• Take medication — Medicines are available that slow bone loss, improve bone density and prevent fractures. Your healthcare provider will help you determine an appropriate choice.
• Work with your body — A healthy lifestyle can help maintain your bone health. Don’t drink more than one (women) or two (men) alcoholic drinks a day, quit smoking, stay away from secondhand smoke and never skip checkups with your healthcare provider.

Living a Full Life With Severe Osteoporosis

Life with severe osteoporosis requires ongoing care and maintenance. You may need to rearrange your house to reduce fall risks or find new activities that don’t put your bones at risk. These efforts can help you enjoy a normal and full life.

“We can’t ignore the fact that osteoporosis comes with challenges,” Dr. Sardana says, “but lifestyle changes, medication and your healthcare team can reduce its effect on your life.”

Read More: Stress Fracture: When It’s More Than Muscle Soreness

Severe Osteoporosis: A Summary

Severe osteoporosis is often a silent disease that reduces bone strength and can significantly impact mobility and independence. Proper treatment and management can reduce its effect on your daily life.

• While it develops slowly, worsening osteoporosis can cause back pain from spinal fractures, loss of height and a stooped posture.
• There’s no cure for osteoporosis, but you can manage it through a healthy diet, weight-bearing exercises, medication and lifestyle adjustments.
• Diagnosing osteoporosis involves an in-office exam and testing to measure bone mineral density. Both of these also help your care team monitor the progression.

Request an appointment with one of our orthopedic medicine specialists.