Osteoporosis—The Silent Disease Due to popular demand, this month’s publication is a reprint of our July 2008 issue. Osteoporosis has become an ever larger problem across this country and, in fact, around the world. You may believe you have no need to be concerned, but you really do. In my practice, I have seen people of many different ages, particularly those over the age of 50, who have no idea that they have osteoporosis. In this article, I will explain what osteoporosis is, what you can do to help prevent it, and most importantly, how therapy can help you manage what can be a life threatening problem. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to fracture and break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress until a bone breaks. You might think that this would hurt, especially with spinal compression fractures, right? But actually, 80% of spinal compression fractures are silent and cannot be felt. Any bone can be affected but of particular concern are fractures of the spine and hips. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person’s ability to walk and can be life threatening. Complications can develop due to the lack of activity, and permanent disability is a real possibility. Spinal or vertebral fractures can be silent and have serious consequences, including loss of height, loss of lung capacity, severe back pain, and deformity. This is referred to as “Dowagers Hump.” However, this does not have to happen! Here are a few questions you want to ask yourself to see if you have osteoporosis. 1.) Have you lost height? 2.) Are you developing a stooped, bent back posture? 3.) Do you have frequent backaches? If you answer yes to all of these questions, or even 2/3, you probably have osteoporosis. The following is a list of factors that deplete bone production. Any one of them may not be a factor individually, but collectively they can really cause bone depletion and osteoporosis. • Underweight • Inadequate peak bone mass • Sugar • No exercise • Hysterectomy • Early menopause • High body fat • Tobacco • Endocrine imbalance • Drugs • Caffeine • History of frequent dieting • Nutritional deficiency • Low calcium • Junk food • Weak adrenal gland • Irregular periods • High stress levels • High protein intake • Ovary removal • Poor vitamin D intake So as you can see, osteoporosis is caused by a number of factors, not just low calcium. So what can you do to prevent osteoporosis? The most important bone building vitamins are D, C, A, B6, K, folic acid, and pantothenic acid. Leafy greens such as collards, spinach, kale, turnip greens, and bok choy have many of these nutrients. Consider other vegetables too, such as broccoli, carrots, lettuce, onions, celery, string beans, artichoke, summer squash, endive, cucumbers, asparagus, chard, peppers, sprouts, and tomatoes, which are all good for their bone replenishing properties. Eat them however you wish, but the more you cook them, the more nutrients are lost. As far as a therapy or exercise program, avoid bending forward and hunching or curving your spine; this causes pressure on the front of the vertebrae (spinal bones) and can cause fractures which are “silent”—they cannot be felt. Avoid lifting and twisting, and avoid sit-ups where you curl up, as these, too, can fracture the spine. We have implemented a program at TriState Hand & Occupational Therapy that fully addresses problems of the spine and hips related to osteoporosis. The purpose is to strengthen the back extensors to pull the spine out of its bent hump posture and back into a normal, healthy posture. AND we do it in a way that will not further injure your spine! We also offer the Spine-O-Med brace for severe cases; research shows this highly effective device reduces spinal fractures and improves function for standing and walking. If you want more information or would like to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (301) 759-4263 or ask your doctor for a referral. We can help you handle your problem with the care and hands-on expertise you deserve! |
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