ORTHOPEDICS/OSTEOPOROSIS
Prevention
Due to Osteoporosis, bones are thinning and weakening gradually to the point that they become fragile and crack easily.
Most frequently, Osteoporosis break bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. However, Osteoporosis medicines, diet, bodybuilding, and safety precautions can help preventing and lessening the risk.
Osteoporosis/Therapy Program
Therapy Program for pationts suffering of Osteoporosis will focus on:
- Healthy diet : specifically rich in calcium and vitamin D, including a doctor recommendation to add calcium and vitamin D supplements
- Trainings: that will improve bone health and increase muscle strength as well.
- Safety topics to prevent falls that may result in cracks.
In addition, your physician may recommend a medicine to slow or stop bone loss, increase bone density, and decrease your bone cracking risk.
Bisphosphonates
As you get older, the breakdown risks of your bones get faster – the bisphosphonates slowdown this procedure.
Bisphosphonates is the medicines commonly used to treat osteoporosis by decreasing the activity of the bone-dissolving cells.
Here are some bisphosphonates that have been approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S.:
- Actonel (risedronate):
Increases bone mass and lessens cracking risk chances of the spine, the hip, and others.
Available in daily, weekly, twice monthly, and once-a-month dosage.
- Boniva (ibandronate):
Lessens cracking risk chances of the spine only.
Available in a monthly dosage and as an intravenous injection given once every three months.
- Fosamax (alendronate):
Increases bone mass and lessens the cracking risk chances of the spine, the hip, and others.
Available in daily and weekly dosage.
- Reclast (zoledronic acid):
Increases bone mass and lessens the cracking risk chances of the spine, the hip, and others.
Available as an intravenous injection given once yearly.
Side effects
Oral bisphosphonates medicines may enhance some gastrointestinal difficulties such as difficulty in absorbing, inflammation of the esophagus and stomach ulcers.
Intravenous bisphosphonates may enhance flu-like signs, fever, muscles or joints pain and headache.
These above mentioned side effects can happen after receiving an infusion and generally stop shortly within two to three days.
(Note that rare reports of osteonecrosis of the jaw and few visual problems have been noticed with people taking oral and intravenous bisphosphonates).
Prevention
- Evista Raloxifene
Evista (raloxifene), approved therapy to Osteoporosis prevention for women after menopause.
Evista slows bone loss and diminishes cracking risk in the spine, but not on the hip and other bones.
Evista can also be used to help preventing breast cancer in women.
Evista is available in pill form once each day.
Occasionally, hot flashes and blood lumps in deep veins may appear as side effects with Evista.
- Calcitonin
Calcitonin is a naturally arising hormone that helps regulating calcium levels in the body.
With past menopause, calcitonin slows bone loss, increases spinal bone density, lessens the cracking risk of the spinal and may relieve pain related to bone cracks.
Calcitonin is available as an injection (given under the skin or into a muscle every day or every other day) or as a daily nasal spray.
As side effects, injectable calcitonin may cause an allergic reaction and unpleasant feeling including flushing of the face and hands with recurrent urination, nausea, and skin rash.
- Forteo Teriparatide
Forteo (teriparatide) is an injectable alternative of human parathyroid hormone, as it is approved for postmenopausal women and men with osteoporosis.
Forteo acts by stimulating new bone formation in both the spine and the hip.
Available as a daily injection for up to 24 months, it increases bone tissue and bone strength, as it reduces the cracking risk of spine and other bones.
Side effects had rarely shown nausea, dizziness, and leg cramps.
In addition, of its side effects, Forteo may increase the risk of developing osteosarcoma, a rare but serious cancer.
- Estrogen/Hormone Therapy (ET/HT)
ET/HT has been evaluated to reducing bone loss, increasing bone density in both the spine and hip, and lessening the cracking risk of the spine and hip especially in postmenopausal women.
ET/HT is most commonly given in the form of a pill or skin patch.
When Estrogen therapy or ET – is taken alone, it may increase a woman’s risk of developing cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer). To eliminate this risk, physicians prescribe the hormone therapy or HT –
Side effects of ET/HT may show vaginal bleeding, breast sensitivity, mood disturbances, blood lumps in the veins, and gallbladder disease.