​Osteoporosis

Get Tested

​​Osteoporosis is a "silent" disease which causes bones to become weak and brittle. It often progresses without symptoms until a fracture occurs. Bones affected by osteoporosis may become so fragile that fractures occur spontaneously or as the result of minor bumps, falls, lifting or even sneezing and coughing.

​Healthy bones look like a honeycomb. When osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb become much larger. As the disease progresses the bone mass or density of the bone becomes less dense. The bones become more brittle and are more likely to break. 

Symptoms

• No physical symptoms early in the disease

After significant bone loss:

• Back, neck and bone pain
• Shortened height and curvature of the spine (Dowager's Hump) due to collapse of bones in the spine
• "Crunching, cracking or popping" with movement of spine or joints
• Multiple bone fractures (especially spine, hip, or wrist fractures) with little or no injury

Risk factors
​​It is important to identify your personal risks for osteoporosis. Take an active role in prevention, early diagnosis and treatment.​

• Post-menopausal woman
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Diet - low in calcium and vitamin D
• Excessive dieting or inadequate caloric intake
• Small/Thin body frame
• Low Testosterone in men
• Eating disorder such as bulemia or anorexia
• Early menopause
• Late onset of puberty in women
• Long-Term use of Glucocorticoids
• Thyroid medication
• Inactive lifestyle
• Excessive use of alcohol
• Smoking​​

​* Not an inclusive list
​

Associated Medication Risk

• Anticoagulants (Heparin)
• Anticonvulsants (some)
• Aromatase inhibitors
• Cyclosporine A and tacrolimus
• Cancer chemotherapy drugs
• Glucocorticoids
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists
• Lithium
• Methotrexate
• Proton pump inhibitors
• Selective serontin reuptake inhibitors
• Thyroxine

* Not an inclusive list

Diagnosis and Tests
Testing your bone density is the only way to know if you have osteoporosis. 

A DEXA Scan is the most accurate method for diagnosing osteoporosis. It is a form of x-ray technology that is used to measure bone mineral loss or density (BMD). The scan focuses on two main areas, the hip and the spine.  

Benefits of a DEXA Scan

• learn if you have osteoporosis
• predict your chance of breaking a bone
• see if your bone density is improving, getting worse or staying the same
• find out how well and osteoporosis medicine is working
• let you know if you have osteoporosis after you break a bone

​Call our office to schedule your DEXA Scan
830-372-5200
or just click below.

Schedule my DEXA Scan