Bone loss begins to occur at an approximate rate of 0.25% a year and is variable depending on many genetic and environmental factors. This may be considered the second stage towards osteopenia and/or osteoporosis. It is important to understand that this is a perfectly normal part of the aging process.
What can happen if osteoporosis is not treated? Osteoporosis that is not treated can lead to serious bone breaks (fractures), especially in the hip and spine. One in three women is likely to have a fracture caused by osteoporosis in her lifetime. Hip fractures can cause serious pain and disability and require surgery.
There are four stages of osteoporosis. As the condition progresses, an individual's bones get weaker over time until they start to have fractures. In the early stages of osteoporosis, a person is not likely to have any symptoms. They may also not know that they have the condition until they experience a bone fracture.
Stage 2. In stage two, you've entered the time when your bone loss is happening faster than your new bone can form. You still won't have any symptoms, and your bone density scores may be lower, possibly indicating osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis, and your bone density is anywhere from -1 to -2.5.
This excess risk is more pronounced in the first few years on treatment. The average life expectancy of osteoporosis patients is in excess of fifteen years in women below the age of 75 and in men below the age of 60, highlighting the importance of developing tools for long term management.
Men who began treatment at age 50 had a life expectancy of 18.2 years, while the life expectancy for a man beginning treatment at 75 was an average of 7.5 years. For women, the figure was 26.4 years for those beginning treatment at 50 and 13.5 years for those beginning treatment at 75.
But "you can live with osteoporosis for a long, long time and never have complications such as fractures -- if you take certain precautions," says Felicia Cosman, MD, osteoporosis expert and medical director of the clinical research center at Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, N.Y.
When should you call the doctor about osteoporosis? If you have risk factors and are concerned about osteoporosis, ask your healthcare provider about being screened, even if you are not as old as 65 (for women) or 70 (for men). Osteoporosis can be serious. Fractures can alter or threaten your life.
The bones that make up your spine (vertebrae) can weaken to the point that they crumple and collapse, which may result in back pain, lost height and a hunched posture. Bone fractures, particularly in the spine or hip, are the most serious complications of osteoporosis.
Sudden, severe back pain that gets worse when you are standing or walking with some relief when you lie down. Trouble twisting or bending your body, and pain when you do. Loss of height.
Preventing osteoporosis should begin in childhood, but no matter what your age, it's never too late to take steps to strengthen your bones.
People with osteoporosis may not have any symptoms. Some may have pain in their bones and muscles, particularly in their back. Sometimes a collapsed vertebra may cause severe pain, decrease in height, or spinal deformity.
In general, life should be able to go on as normal – perhaps with just a few adjustments. Not everyone with osteoporosis will break a bone. Be reassured that if you don't break a bone, you won't have any pain or other long-term problems. Even if you do break a bone, pain and other ongoing problems aren't inevitable.
Tiredness/fatigue, sleeping problems and breathlessness were other physical problems affecting the people we talked with. People commented that pain and tiredness often went together because pain made it hard to sleep, or even rest.
Osteoporosis can lead to immobility, which means you may not be able to move as freely as you did before. Walking seems so simple—until you're not able to do it easily. But, there's good news: If osteoporosis has slowed you down, you can regain your mobility and independence.
Without any intervention, osteoporosis can progress to stage four. During this stage the effects of significant bone loss become visible. Softening of the bones and accumulated fragility fractures, especially in the spine, results in deformity.
The best non-drug treatments for slowing/stopping progress of osteoporosis are: – Good diet with adequate protein (huge issue for older women, who tend to consume too little). – Adequate levels of Calcium, Magnesiun, Vitamin K, Vitamin D3 & Zinc.
Include physical activity in your daily routine.
Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, and climbing stairs, can help you build strong bones and slow bone loss.
Romosozumab (Evenity).
This is the newest bone-building medication to treat osteoporosis. It is given as an injection every month at your doctor's office and is limited to one year of treatment.
There is no cure for osteoporosis, but treatment can help to slow or stop the loss of bone density and reduce the risk of fractures. This may involve medications, diet changes, exercise, and steps to prevent fracturing a bone.
Choose weight-bearing exercise, such as strength training, walking, hiking, jogging, climbing stairs, tennis, and dancing. This type of physical activity can help build and strengthen your bones. Don't smoke. Smoking increases your risk of weakened bones.