Osteoporosis is a severe pathology of the skeletal system, in which there is a progressive decrease in bone strength. Without proper treatment, the patient is at increased risk of fractures. Let’s find out what osteoporosis is, what kind of doctor treats the disease? Consider the symptoms, especially the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Which doctor treats osteoporosis?
The elimination of the problem requires an integrated approach to the selection of treatment methods. So which doctor treats
bone osteoporosis? Such specialists as a traumatologist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist, orthopedist conduct diagnostics and prescribe treatment.
The main goal of therapy for the development of osteoporosis is the elimination of discomfort, which affects the quality of life of the patient. To determine the success of treatment, the patient is periodically examined by a radiologist.
Which doctor treats osteoporosis in older women? Failures in the restoration of bone tissue in older people can lead to a violation of the functions of the pancreas, adrenal glands, and thyroid gland. Therefore, such patients are required to be examined by an endocrinologist.
Which doctor treats osteoporosis with frequent fractures? In such situations, patients seek help from traumatologists and rheumatologists who specialize in detecting disorders of the connective and bone tissue.
Forms of Osteoporosis
Depending on the degree of development of the disease, several forms are distinguished:
- Light - bone density is reduced to the slightest extent. A person prone to the development of an ailment periodically feels discomfort in the limbs, the spine, suffers from a slight decrease in muscle tone.
- Moderate - pronounced changes are formed in the structure of bone tissue. The pain syndrome becomes more stable. The patient develops a stoop, the cause of which is tissue damage in the spinal column.
- Severe is a rather rare form of manifestation of an ailment in which the bulk of the bone tissue undergoes destructive processes. A characteristic feature is a decrease in growth, pronounced, pathological changes in posture.
As a rule, patients begin to find out which doctor treats spinal osteoporosis only during the course of the disease in a moderate form, since the mild stage of its development is almost asymptomatic. With a severe, progressive nature of the disease, most patients fail to fully return to a full life. At the same time, by deciding in a timely manner which doctor treats osteoporosis in women and men, the most serious consequences of the disease can be prevented. Among them, a fracture of the spine is of particular danger , which often ends with a loss of ability to move independently, and in some cases fatal.
Next, we will consider what osteoporosis manifests itself, symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention of the disease.
Symptomatology
Unfortunately, in the early stages of development, osteoporosis is hidden. For a long time, the ailment proceeds without vivid signs. Therefore, its diagnosis is often belated.
To find out which doctor treats osteoporosis, a person is often prompted by sudden fractures that occur literally out of the blue. Along with this, patients are disturbed by a change in posture, dental problems.
A common symptom is persistent bone pain. The most pronounced discomfort is felt in the thighs, forearms, lower spine. Over time, the pain syndrome passes to the chest area, making breathing difficult, Unpleasant sensations intensify with a mechanical load on the skeleton, in the case of prolonged stay in a certain position. Muscle contractions can occur in response to calcium deficiency in body tissues.
Causes of the disease
Among the main reasons that contribute to the formation of pathology, it is worth noting the following:
- Insufficient production of sex hormones in the body of women. Most of the fairer sex report the presence of various manifestations of the disease after the age of 60 with the onset of menopause.
- Aging is often accompanied by the extinction of the health of organs. In this case, bone tissue also suffers.
- Long-term treatment with drugs, the main active substances of which are glucocorticoids, is negatively reflected in the condition of the skeletal system. These hormones contribute to the activation of the adrenal cortex. One of the negative manifestations in this case is the slow renewal of bone tissue.
- Osteoporosis can occur against the backdrop of chronic ailments, among which are: diabetes mellitus, renal failure, excessive thyroid activity, hepatitis, cancer pathologies.
- A common cause of the development of the disease is a deficiency of vitamin D in the body, as well as a lack of calcium in bone tissue.
Diagnostics
The use of modern medicine methods allows timely identification of the prerequisites for the development of osteoporosis. In particular, densitometry is an effective diagnostic measure. In fact, the technique is an ultrasound scan aimed at obtaining images of the skeletal apparatus. Unfortunately, the diagnostic technique makes it possible to record pathological changes only in the case of loss of about 15% of bone tissue.
Supporting solutions aimed at the diagnosis of osteoporosis are special laboratory tests. When examining a patient, specialists pay attention to the following indicators:
- the content of estrogen or testosterone in the body;
- the amount of calcium and hydroxyvitamin D;
- thyroid hormone production activity.
Drug treatment
Which doctor treats osteoporosis? An endocrinologist is able to develop adequate drug therapy. During treatment with the use of drugs, patients are often prescribed drugs with a high content of calcium salts. To get back to normal, the body needs about 1.5 grams of this mineral per day. Since the assimilation of such an amount of a substance is impossible at a time, medications containing calcium are taken several times a day. To ensure the absorption of the mineral and its concentration in bone tissues, the patient is prescribed vitamin complexes, which contain an increased amount of vitamins of group D.
Biophosphonates significantly slow down the development of destructive processes in bone tissue. Substances in this category are administered intravenously. In the case of taking such drugs orally, damage to the mucous membrane of the digestive system is likely. As practice shows, competent therapy based on biophosphonates halves the risk of fractures.
Hormone therapy
In women, osteoporosis how to treat? The causes of the disease lie in the insufficient production of the sex hormone estrogen by the body. Therefore, patients are prescribed drugs containing the specified substance. The only danger during this kind of therapy is the risk of a stroke. To avoid trouble, taking hormonal drugs should occur under the strict supervision of a specialist.
An excellent alternative to estrogens is their synthetic substitutes. They are indispensable in the presence of contraindications for taking funds, in which the hormone is contained in its pure form. The use of synthetics avoids reducing blood coagulability, the formation of malignant cells in body tissues.
Non-drug treatment
Therapy without taking medication involves regular walking, performing aerobics in a gentle mode. The load on the body should not be increased. For this reason, exhausting long-distance running, exercises with a barbell, training on power simulators are excluded. Patients are prohibited from active games that are accompanied by strokes, other mechanical load on the body.
Diet
In addition to increasing physical activity and medication therapy, patients with osteoporosis are shown to correct their daily diet. When treating, they recommend a diet based on dairy products. So, 100 grams of cheese contains about 1000 mg of calcium. In a similar volume of yogurt or cow's milk, this element is about 120 mg. Calcium is best absorbed by the body when consuming fermented milk products.
From food of plant origin, the main emphasis is on the use of hazelnuts and walnuts. Also high in calcium is different sea fish, brown bread, white cabbage.
Among other things, the diet is supplemented with foods saturated with potassium, magnesium, phosphorus. At the same time, it is recommended to reduce the use of salt, which is the most important solution not only to eliminate the manifestations of osteoporosis, but also to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Finally
So we found out which doctor treats osteoporosis, examined the symptoms, the main manifestations, the features of the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. In conclusion, I would like to note only that the development of the disease is easier to prevent than to eliminate its manifestations with the help of complex therapy. That is why it is extremely important to adhere to a balanced diet, resort to regular physical activity, and avoid bad habits. For people aged 45-50 years, taking calcium-containing preparations is of decisive importance. All this makes it possible to avoid the development of the disease and maintain health for many years.