Osteoporosis

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which bones become weak and fragile as they become less dense or their structure changes. This decrease in bone strength increases the risk of breaking a bone, even after a minor injury.

Osteoporosis affects 10 million Americans—80% of them women—while another 34 million Americans have low bone mass (osteopenia), putting them at increased risk for developing osteoporosis. There are many. health conditions that increase the likelihood of osteoporosis. It is a serious condition but it can be treated.

What Are the Symptoms of Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis doesn't have obvious symptoms. Many people don't know they have osteoporosis until they suffer a broken bone, or fracture. Fractures cause pain, loss of independence, and can make everyday activities extremely difficult. If you have broken a bone after a minor fall from standing height, you could have osteoporosis.

By the Numbers

1 in 3 women experience a bone fracture from osteoporosis after age 50

UR Medicine's Treatments for Osteoporosis

UR Medicine uses the most advanced diagnostic tools available to develop a complete understanding of your condition, its causes, and the path we will take to help you.

During a full physical exam, we take a detailed medical history and might ask about additional symptoms that you may not realize could be connected to bone disease. Once we have a complete picture of your symptoms and your health, our doctors will order imaging and other tests to find the cause.

You may receive a DXA scan to measure bone density at key places in your body, including your spine and hip. DXA uses a weak form of X-ray to scan your bones quickly. It’s a painless test, using a scanner that passes over you as you lie on a padded table.

After your diagnosis, you and your doctor will work together to determine the best treatment based on your age, health, personal preference, and other factors.

Treatments include many approaches such as diet changes, drug therapy, physical activity and, if needed, assistive devices, as well as calcium supplements.

What Sets Us Apart?

UR Medicine is one of only a handful of health systems in the country that combines complete orthopaedic care with the treatment of metabolic bone disease such as osteoporosis for patients of all ages.

We bring together providers with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of all adult and pediatric metabolic bone diseases. We have been providing these services to the community for over 25 years.

Our rheumatologists in Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology can treat osteoporosis caused by rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or spondyloarthritis, as well as steroid-induced osteoporosis.

The specialists in UR Medicine Orthopaedics & Physical Performance are experts in fracture care, the first to spot and treat fractures that are often the initial symptoms of metabolic bone disease. In addition, we are the only program in the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding region that can diagnose and treat children as young as 5.

Our specialists in UR Medicine Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism diagnose and treat hormone-related conditions. Hormones are essential for bone health, and hormonal dysfunction can cause bone loss and osteoporosis. An endocrinologist can help to identify hormonal imbalances or other conditions that are causing bone loss and to treat osteoporosis through lifestyle changes and medications if indicated.