Osteoporosis - bone loss

Osteoporosis: bone loss - brittle bones

Osteoporosis is a disease which affects the bones, making them more brittle (and as a result, breakable), there may also be 'bone loss'. Bones affected by osteoporosis can be broken by the slightest pressure, people suffering from this disease can fracture a vertebra just by bending over, coughing or vacuuming.

Most fractures occur at the vertebrae, hip or wrist. It is often said that osteoporosis is a disease suffered only by women, but over the last few years more and more men are showing the same symptoms. As well as those suffering from osteoporosis, there are even more people who have reduced bone density (which is a milder form of osteoporosis which can lead to osteoporosis in the long-term).

Bone loss: symptoms of osteoporosis

The problem with osteoporosis, as with other 'silent killers', is that it is an illness which has no obvious symptoms until it reaches the point where the disease reveals itself. In this case a bone is broken (at the vertebrae, hip or wrist) and an x-ray reveals the bone to be incredibly brittle. It is never too late - or too soon - to do something about the risk of osteoporosis.

We can take a number of measures to protect our bone reserves, such as regular exercise, include calcium-rich foods in our diet (dairy products and green vegetables) and get enough exposure to the sun (of course with the right protection during the summer to avoid premature aging).

Causes of bone loss - osteoporosis - brittle bones

The risk of osteoporosis or bone loss is largely determined by the bones' peak strength between the ages of 25 and 35, and how quickly this declines over time. The higher the bone reserves built up during this period, the lower the chance of developing osteoporosis later in life. A calcium deficiency (in the diet) and Vitamine D deficiency (from the sun) contributes to accelerated deterioration in bone density in later life.

What can we do for you? Tests to screen for osteoporosis and risk factors

We perform comprehensive blood tests to measure the stage of osteoporosis and other risk factors. We carry out tests to determine the underlying causes of bone loss.

We measure your bone density, at the dorsal vetebra as well as the hips.

The DEXA scan (Duel Energy X-ray Absorbtiometry) measures bone density in parts of the body which are prone to fractures and breaks.

DEXA uses minimum level radiation, much lower than with a normal x-ray. Based on these results we can compile a tailor-made treatment plan.

Our medical treatments: osteoporosis therapy

It is important for everyone over the age of 50 to have enough calcium and to absorb enough vitamin D.

We have a particular deficiency in both of these because our daily diet doesn't provide us with enough calcium and we don't get enough sun, which is extremely important for the absorbtion of vitamin D.

As well as this you may need medication or hormone replacement to stop further deterioration and to stimulate new bone production.

Medication: treating osteoporosis

The most well-known medications are:

Fosamax: The alendronate Fosamax stops bone loss and stimulates the production of new bone mass. In 1 to 3 years Fosamax stimulates bone mass by 5-9 % and reduces the number of bone fractures by 50%. Fosamax is usually taken 1x a week : 1x 70g tablet of Fosamax. Fosamax can damage the oesophagus when taken, it is therefore important to drink enough when ingesting the Fosamax tablet.

Raloxafteen: Raloxafteen also stops bone loss and stimulates the production of new bone mass. Raloxafteen has the same effect on the bones as oestrogen, the female hormone. It therefore strengthens the bones and prevents fractures. Raloxafteen provides protection against heart disease and breast cancer and reduces cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels as well as the coagulating protein fibrinogen : often an additional advantage of treatment. At least if you don't have any problems with thrombosis, as this can be a side effect for 3 patients out of 1000.

Hormone replacement therapy: There is a wide choice of hormone treatments. Hormone therapy can include synthetic hormones(e.g. Tibolon Livial), or natural hormones. Hormone injections or Strontium ranelate are only prescribed if the basic therapy with bisphosphonates (Fosamax) is not successful, or if Fosamax or Raloxafteen are not tolerated.

Deca-Durabolin: is a drug which resembles the male hormone and is associated with the world of sport: a steroid. But Deca-Durabolin can also help with osteoporosis, especially with older patients who have reduced muscle strength and physical weakness. Deca-Durabolin is taken once to twice a month and is usually administered as an intramuscular injection in the buttocks.