Osteoporosis Treatment Options: Injections and Infusions

Osteoporosis Treatment Options: Injections and Infusions

Osteoporosis is a common condition that causes reduced bone density. Affected bones are much weaker than healthy ones, making patients vulnerable to fractures. Fortunately, reliable treatments exist that can slow or reverse the disease once it is diagnosed. Bergen Medical Associates offers treatments for a wide range of medical specialties at locations throughout northern New Jersey. Here, we discuss how injections and infusions for osteoporosis can improve bone density and reduce the risk of a fracture.

What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease caused by bone mineral loss. Over a person’s lifespan, bones steadily lose some of their mineral mass. The decrease in density makes them weaker and more susceptible to breaking. Even minor falls and accidents may result in fractures in bones weakened by osteoporosis.

Bones are made of dense minerals, mostly calcium phosphate, filling in around a collagen framework. The minerals provide enough strength to support the body’s weight, while the collagen provides underlying flexibility to absorb most kinds of impact. This durable structure allows bones to fulfill their function in supporting and protecting the body.

Who Gets Osteoporosis?

Like other degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis primarily affects older individuals. It is extremely common in senior populations. According to current estimates, it affects half of all women and one in four men over the age of 50. Of the adults who don’t have osteoporosis, one in three have a lesser degree of reduced bone density. This can become osteoporosis if left untreated.

However, osteoporosis can affect anyone from any background. Certain health and lifestyle factors may put some individuals at higher risk than others. Some of these factors are outside of the patient’s control. Others, however, can be managed to keep bones healthy longer. Risk factors include:

• Age: Bone loss increases and regrowth slows down as a person ages.
• Gender: Women have lower peak bone mass, making them more vulnerable to density loss.
• Body size: Slender-boned individuals are at greater risk of osteoporosis.
• Family history: Patients are at greater risk if many family members also have osteoporosis.
• Hormones: Low estrogen or testosterone levels can contribute to osteoporosis.
• Diet: A diet low in protein, calcium, and vitamin D provides fewer materials to rebuild bone.
• Lifestyle: Low physical activity contributes to weaker bones.

If a person has one or more risk factors for osteoporosis, they may consider getting tested. Preventative testing can detect osteoporosis before it causes a fracture, giving patients and their physicians a head start on planning treatment.

What Are Signs and Symptoms of Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is sometimes called a “silent” disease since it does not typically cause obvious symptoms. Many patients do not realize they have osteoporosis until they break a bone or undergo testing. Osteoporosis-related fractures may occur after a minor accident that should not have hurt. They may affect any bone but are most common in the following places:

• Hips
• Wrists
• Spine

Severe osteoporosis can cause other symptoms as well. These tend to be subtle or easy to attribute to other conditions. They include:

• Becoming shorter, sometimes by an inch or more
• A stooped or bent-forward posture
• Shortness of breath, indicating compressed discs in the spine
• Lower back pain

These symptoms are not sure signs of osteoporosis, but they are often warning signs of a serious underlying condition. Patients experiencing these symptoms, especially after age 50, should speak with their healthcare provider about getting a diagnosis.

How Is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?

If a patient visits the hospital for a broken bone or other sign of osteoporosis, the healthcare provider will begin by requesting a bone density test, also called a DEXA test. This is an imaging test that uses X-rays to measure how many grams of calcium are in a section of bone. Results are reported in a number known as the T-score. This number records how much the patient’s bone deviates from normal bone:

• -1 or higher: The patient’s bone has a healthy density.
• -1 to -2.5: The patient’s bone has below-average density (osteopenia).
• -2.5 or lower: The patient’s bone has very low density, indicating osteoporosis.

The physician may request additional tests to confirm a diagnosis or plan the best treatment approach. These can include blood and urine tests to determine levels of calcium, vitamin D, or certain hormones.

What Are Treatment Options for Osteoporosis?

Once an osteoporosis diagnosis is confirmed, it is time to discuss treatment. The physician may recommend one treatment or a combination of approaches, depending on the severity of the osteoporosis and the patient’s overall health. These include:

Physical Therapy

The patient may be referred to a physical therapist, who will develop a personalized exercise plan to rebuild strength in bones and connecting tissue. Weight-bearing exercises help to strengthen muscles and train balance. For severe osteoporosis, exercises that work against gravity – including walking, yoga, or tai chi – can improve strength while minimizing stress on the bones.

Supplements

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies sometimes contribute to osteoporosis. To replace lost bone mass and combat further degradation, patients may be referred to the nutrition department for vitamin D or calcium supplements. The patient may take over-the-counter or prescription supplements depending on their condition’s severity and the advice of their healthcare provider.

Medications

Some cases of osteoporosis may be treated with medication. Bisphosphonates are the most common osteoporosis medication, especially for female patients who were diagnosed after menopause. Estrogen or testosterone hormone replacement therapies are frequently used as well. These may be taken as a daily or weekly pill to rebuild bone mass density.

Infusions

People with severe osteoporosis, a high fracture risk, or who cannot swallow a pill may require infusions. These deliver medication as an intravenous (IV) drip. This provides a stronger dosage that works more quickly, making it more effective. Many patients also prefer infusions for being more convenient with less risk of missing a dose.

Access Osteoporosis Treatment at Bergen Medical Associates

If you have or may be at risk of osteoporosis, don’t delay treatment. Seek expert care at Bergen Medical Associates. Our team of more than 40 board-certified physicians, nurses, and highly trained staff represents a wide variety of specialties and services. Contact us at one of our six locations in northern New Jersey to learn more about infusions for osteoporosis and whether this treatment is right for you. We have locations in Emerson, Montvale, Northvale, Paramus, and Ridgewood, NJ, making it easy to find treatment near you.