Menopausal Women: Protect Your Bones From Osteoporosis-Related Fractures

If your gynecologist recently diagnosed you with osteoporosis, take steps to protect your bones from fractures. Osteoporosis-related bone fractures can be dangerous and life-changing for many menopausal women. Bone fractures can affect your way of life as well as your overall health. Here's how osteoporosis affects menopausal women and what you can do if you fracture one of your bones. 

How Does Osteoporosis Affect Menopausal Women?

Osteoporosis develops when the bones in your body become thin, fragile, weak, and prone to injury. The condition can occur if you lack certain vitamins and minerals in your body, including vitamin D and calcium. The reduction of estrogen in your body before and after menopause can also weaken your bones. 

Estrogen is a very important hormone of your reproduction system. The hormone helps your digestive system and bones absorb the vitamins they need to be healthy, strong, and resilient. A reduction of estrogen can prevent your digestive system from breaking down and using the calcium and vitamin D you obtain through your food and beverages. 

Your regular doctor may give you hormone replacement medicine to replenish your estrogen levels. A doctor like those at Radius may also instruct you to eat foods high in calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients. But if these treatments and lifestyle changes don't protect your bones from fractures, seek care from a specialist immediately.

How Do You Treat an Osteoporosis-Related Fracture?

Before a specialist treats you, they'll need to examine your bones by x-ray, CT scans, or MRI. The diagnostic tests can allow a specialist to note the location and extent of your fractures. Some bones fractures can occur close to major organs and tissues, such as your liver and arteries. It's important to treat these issues as soon as possible to prevent complications with your health. 

If you don't have any other issues to treat, a specialist may repair your bone fractures with surgery. Some doctors use surgery to fuse fractured bones together, which prevents the tissues from moving out of place during the healing process. If your osteoporosis is too severe, a doctor may consider other treatment options for you. 

It may not always be possible to fuse or repair severely damaged bones with surgery. In this case, specialist may place you on special medications to strengthen your bones or to prevent your osteoporosis from getting worse. The medications may include calcium and vitamin D supplements. A specialist will adjust or make changes to your medications as your condition progresses.

For more information about osteoporosis and its affects on your bones, contact a specialist today.


Share