Osteoporosis Specialist

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition where you lose bone mass, making your bones brittle and more susceptible to injury. The rate of your bone’s natural regeneration doesn’t keep up with the need for new bone tissue as you age, and bone mass decreases. This causes bones to become weak, and as a result fractures and bone injuries occur more easily and heal slower, increasing the potential for long-term complications like infection and loss of mobility and independence.

Osteoporosis is most often diagnosed in white or Asian women who are postmenopausal, but can also affect men and women of younger ages.

What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is referred to as a “silent disease” because there may not be any symptoms in its early stages. You may not know you have this disorder until you have a fracture or bone injury.

When the disease is more advanced, you may have symptoms related to weakened bones that can include:

• Back pain
• Stooped posture
• Loss of height
• Fractures, including ones that don’t heal

Dr. Rizvi diagnoses osteoporosis using a bone density scan. Current recommendations are to begin regular bone density scans after age 65, or sooner if you’re at a high risk for osteoporosis.

Who is at high risk for osteoporosis?

There are a number of factors that can place you at higher than normal risk for bone loss. Some factors can’t be prevented, such as:

• Age
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• A family history of osteoporosis
• Previous fracture history
• Small bones or short stature
• Autoimmune disorders
• Metabolic disorders

Other factors that can be improved to decrease your risk for osteoporosis include:

• Hormone imbalance
• Smoking and alcohol abuse
• Diet poor in calcium or vitamin D
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Long-term use of corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Long-term use of blood thinners, such as heparin

Improving the risk factors within your control can go a long way to preventing bone loss.

How is osteoporosis treated?

Prevention is the best way to treat osteoporosis. However, once you have osteoporosis, Dr. Rizvi works with you to develop a treatment plan that may include:

• Aggressive fall prevention
• Nutritional supplements to boost calcium and vitamin D levels
• Physical therapy
• Medications to slow progression of the disease

Dr. Rizvi works closely with you to both help create a plan to prevent this disorder, as well prevent injury if you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis.

For a consultation with Dr. Rizvi about your bone health, call Houston Rheumatology and Arthritis Specialists or book an appointment online today.