Understanding Osteoporosis and Joint Degeneration: Effective Treatments and Prevention Strategies

2023-07-03 16:45:00

2023-07-04 00:45:00 Everspring Monthly Everspring Monthly Joint degeneration is different from osteoporosis!There are no symptoms and no pain in the early stage of osteoporosis, 4 ways to fight

Taiwan is about to enter a super-aged society. In the past, the well-known three-high chronic diseases were mainly metabolic diseases, but in recent years, osteoporosis, which requires long-term treatment, has gradually attracted everyone’s attention.

Osteoporosis and joint degeneration are not the same

Zhao Yingxuan, attending orthopedic physician at the Renai District of Taipei United Hospital, said that the first thing to distinguish is two confusing terms: osteoporosis and joint degeneration. Osteoporosis is a disease of hard bones, while joint degeneration is a disease of cartilage joints.

Generally speaking, osteoporosis itself does not cause pain, but joint degeneration combined with cartilage wear, inflammation, and bone spurs can cause pain. Conversely, if you see a doctor for joint pain, the cause of the pain is probably not osteoporosis.

Zhao Yingxuan said that osteoporosis does not cause pain, so why does it need treatment? The main problem is that osteoporotic bones cannot withstand collisions, so a fall may cause vertebral fractures or hip joint fractures, which poses a considerable burden on life.

How is osteoporosis treated?

One solution is to prevent falls. Preventing falls is the first step in preventing major fractures. Indoors, you can improve lighting, clear walkways, and add non-slip mats or handrails. When participating in outdoor activities, avoid wearing excessively worn shoes, and even carry crutches or trekking poles to assist walking. In terms of your own health, you can also minimize your risk factors for falls by improving your vision or treating dizziness.

The second solution is moderate exercise. Exercise can promote bone growth, especially exercise with weight-bearing or vibration stimulation has a better effect on bone growth. It is very convenient to use the Internet now. If you search for osteoporosis exercise or osteoporosis aerobics on the Internet, there are many demonstration videos. It is worth mentioning that if these exercises can be performed outdoors, they can also promote the body’s production of vitamin D, which will also directly help the improvement of osteoporosis.

The third solution is nutritional supplements. The treatment of mild osteoporosis must first supplement calcium and vitamin D3. There are many options for calcium supplementation in the market, whether it is granules, powder or liquid, as long as it is convenient to take and has no side effects, it is a good choice. As for vitamin D3, whether it is purchased separately or taken in the same package with calcium, there is no limit.

Solution four is drug treatment. In recent years, there are many choices of medicines. From the perspective of the frequency of medication, Taiwan currently has the following choices, including daily medicine, daily injections, one dose per week, one injection per month, one injection every three months, and one injection every six months. One injection, or up to one injection per year. Of course, the most suitable drug depends on each person’s physical fitness.

Zhao Yingxuan said that in recent years, countries have developed very clear guidelines for the treatment of osteoporosis. Active treatment of osteoporosis can reduce the chance of future fractures and improve the quality of life.

Further reading:

Rib fractures can only wait for nature to heal? “New surgery” no longer has to bear the pain

Obesity increases risk of early hip fracture in women, especially with lower bone density than average

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Joint Degeneration Osteoporosis Hip Fracture Vitamin D Hip Fracture Joint Pain

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