What should I do about osteoporosis?

Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
Updated on January 25, 2025
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Once osteoporosis is diagnosed, the first step is to change lifestyle habits. For example, if someone likes to drink strong tea and coffee and dislikes exercise, these unhealthy habits should be changed. Additionally, it's beneficial to get more sun exposure, and to supplement the treatment with calcium and vitamin D. Then, it is necessary to visit the hospital and consult a specialized clinic for osteoporosis or the department of metabolic endocrinology for targeted medical intervention, to prevent the condition from worsening and avoid fractures.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What to do with osteoporosis?

When osteoporosis occurs, it is first important to determine the cause of the osteoporosis, whether it's due to postmenopausal women, overuse injuries, or osteoporosis caused by long periods of immobilization following trauma. If such osteoporosis occurs, it is advisable to appropriately supplement with calcium and vitamin D, especially for postmenopausal women and elderly individuals affected by degenerative changes. These supplements can be taken orally, and appropriate physical exercise can be incorporated to increase bone strength and achieve recovery. In cases of disuse osteoporosis, appropriate functional exercises should be performed to allow for active muscle contractions and slight weight-bearing by the bones, which promotes circulation around the bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Does osteoporosis hurt?

The clinical manifestations of osteoporosis include three main points. The first is pain, thus osteoporosis will definitely cause pain. This pain may be localized or it may be widespread. The second is spinal deformation, which can result in forward bending of the spine, scoliosis, or even spinal shortening, which is a reduction in height. The third point is pathological fractures, which are characteristic of osteoporosis. These fractures occur due to insufficient bone strength caused by osteoporosis, and sometimes even low energy or minor external forces can cause fractures, such as pulling a door or being struck by a car door. Therefore, osteoporosis definitely involves pain, and pain is one of the main symptoms of osteoporosis.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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How to Prevent Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common aging-related disease closely associated with aging. The symptoms of osteoporosis can be alleviated and the progression of bone hyperplasia can be prevented through the following methods: proper lifestyle, a balanced diet rich in calcium, low in salt, and with adequate protein, appropriate outdoor activities and sunlight exposure, and engaging in physical exercises beneficial for bone health. Avoid smoking and excessive drinking, and use medications that affect bone metabolism with caution. Additionally, supplementing with calcium and vitamin D can promote bone health, maintain muscle strength, and improve body stability.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What should I do if osteoporosis is severe?

The severity of osteoporosis manifests as fractures, which are caused by increased brittleness. The principle of treatment varies based on the location of the fracture. Different methods are chosen accordingly. However, it is important to first reposition the fracture and then strengthen internal fixation. After fixation, patients should be advised to engage in appropriate functional exercises. During these exercises, medications for treating osteoporosis should be administered, such as increasing the intake of calcium or vitamin D. Additionally, medications that promote bone absorption and inhibit bone loss should be used for symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

How to check for osteoporosis? Currently, in clinical practice, there is no single instrument or technology that can definitively determine whether you have osteoporosis. Therefore, the examination for osteoporosis involves measuring bone density and bone markers, or combining these two methods to achieve a joint diagnosis. What is the gold standard for bone density measurement? It is DXA, which stands for Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Through the measurement of this instrument, a Z-score and T-score will be obtained, among which the T-score is mainly used as the diagnostic indicator, while the Z-score is primarily considered for differential diagnosis. Secondly, bone markers are tested, and large hospitals, especially tertiary hospitals, perform this test very well. So, if you suspect that you have osteoporosis and want to know what tests to take? These two tests would be sufficient.