| Since working at a desk for hours on end, I assumed | | | | sense. Most people know that calcium and bone |
| my lower back pain was caused by pressure on the | | | | density go together. A diet low in calcium rich foods |
| bottom of my spine. When I started an exercise | | | | and drinks, including milk, can speed up the condition. |
| regime and the pain didn't let up, I began to have | | | | Some people resist drinking milk due to gas problems |
| some concerns. To add to my discomfort, I also had | | | | but there are many options and calcium-free milks |
| severe pain in one foot, even though I'd followed my | | | | available. Becoming aware of other foods which have |
| doctor's instructions to start out gradually and | | | | high levels of calcium is an important part of an |
| increase exercise slowly. What was going on? The | | | | osteoporosis treatment plan. |
| answer was not something I'd considered: | | | | In addition to milk, foods with plenty of calcium |
| osteoporosis. | | | | include most cheeses, enriched whole grain cereals |
| I'd always thought of this as a disease that affected | | | | and cornmeal, spinach and sardines. A good |
| only older people, not someone in the prime of her | | | | nutritionist can provide examples of other foods. If at |
| life. Since my diagnosis, I've learned that I believed | | | | least 1,000 mg of calcium was not part of the daily |
| many myths about the causes of osteoporosis and | | | | diet before diagnosis, this may be one of the causes |
| its treatment. I thought that all I had to do was drink | | | | of osteoporosis. |
| milk, stay active and eat a reasonable diet and I'd be | | | | I was overly fond of colas and diet drinks. I quickly |
| safe. But I was way off the mark when it came to | | | | learned that these can deplete the body of calcium |
| this condition. While it can often occur in old age, it | | | | and may have been a contributing cause of my early |
| also strike many between the ages of 45 to 65. | | | | diagnosis. Giving up the sodas was important. Some |
| Osteoporosis is very common among Baby Boomers, | | | | people, however, only have cut down on their sodas, |
| although it mostly affects females. However, men | | | | as long as they have proper nutritional |
| shouldn't assume they are in the clear. What are | | | | supplementation. |
| some of the causes of osteoporosis? After seeing | | | | Exercise was also very hit or miss with me (usually |
| my doctor, I learned that working inside much of the | | | | missed). My doctor was no nonsense about the |
| day had left me with a Vitamin D deficiency. My | | | | important of weight bearing exercises as part of my |
| doctor was honest about the fact that research is | | | | osteoporosis treatment. No sitting in a chair and doing |
| still being conducted and there may be many more | | | | gentle exercises while watching tv. That didn't count |
| factors that affect who gets this condition - and | | | | as the right type of exercise. Instead, I was told to |
| when. Even so, he went over many of the risk | | | | meet with a personal trainer and start a weight |
| factors and treatment options. | | | | training program to help treat my osteoporosis, with |
| Family history is one common cause for osteoporosis. | | | | an emphasis on weight bearing exercises to help |
| When I thought back, I recalled how my elderly | | | | maintain and even build bone mass. This was to be |
| grandmother had a slanted back, almost a hunchback. | | | | mixed with lower body training to strengthen my |
| I was told that she probably could have been | | | | lower back and spine. The results of this program |
| diagnosed and treated today but - back then- | | | | were amazingly quick and I could feel the lower back |
| osteoporosis treatments weren't so available. Also, it | | | | pain lessen within weeks. |
| is a quiet disease, something I knew because I'd had | | | | I'd never been a smoker and only an occasional |
| no symptoms until I started to exercise and my | | | | drinker but was told that both (in excess) were risk |
| fragile bones had reacted.I'd gotten a stress fracture | | | | factors and possible causes of osteoporosis. I was |
| in one foot. It wasn't until I was given a basic test | | | | glad to learn about this and become even more |
| that I was told I had the condition. | | | | careful about alcohol intake. |
| For unknown reasons, Caucasians and Asians are at | | | | Being relatively small and also on the thin side, |
| higher risk for low bone mass than African Americans. | | | | something I thought was desirable, turned out to be |
| Again, because it can be silent until relatively severe | | | | another potential problem and risk factor. I actually |
| symptoms develop, it is important to get proper | | | | put on a bit of weight once I started a good |
| tests and osteoporosis treatment as early as | | | | nutritional plan but nothing excessive thanks to the |
| possible. Some procedures and medications can even | | | | exercise program. |
| reverse early bone loss. My first symptom was lower | | | | After starting treatment, I was given regular bone |
| back pain as well as the stress fracture in my foot. | | | | mineral density tests and the results were promising. |
| However, I was told I was at risk of sudden bone | | | | The treatments were working and that was great to |
| breaks in my hips or wrist. | | | | know. I also had to have my hormone levels tested, |
| Women who are in or past menopause need to be | | | | since low levels of some hormones - as well as any |
| aware that this can be an osteoporosis cause. Bones | | | | history of eating disorders - can be tied to |
| start break down rather than build up, even though a | | | | osteoporosis. Luckily, they came back within the |
| woman may still look and feel fairly youthful and | | | | normal range but any woman who has a history of |
| healthy. Stealthily, the bone-thinning condition can be | | | | infrequent or missed periods should let her doctor |
| starting to attack the lower back and other areas of | | | | know about this when being treated for |
| the body. | | | | osteoporosis. |
| I was already on thyroid medication and learned that | | | | Finally, in addition to following a doctor's |
| high doses of that medication, Synthroid, could | | | | recommendations, patients should provide a full list of |
| actually aggravate bone thinning. That was a surprise | | | | all medications taken, since some can interfere with |
| to hear. Osteoporosis treatment for someone who | | | | bone development and density. If lifestyle changes, |
| also has a low or high thyroid includes blood tests and | | | | improved nutrition and exercise don't work to keep |
| careful monitoring of bone density. I immediately | | | | the condition from worsening, some may have take |
| made regular appointments. | | | | osteoporosis medications such as Fosamax or |
| Another risk factor for osteoporosis makes more | | | | Actonel. |