I am 55, female. What is the treatment for my osteoporosis?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 55-year-old woman, recently diagnosed with osteoporosis after a DEXA scan showed low bone density. I am worried because my mother had a hip fracture at my age. I want to know:

What lifestyle changes can I make beyond calcium and vitamin D?
Are medications like bisphosphonates safe long-term, and do they affect dental health?
Should I avoid certain exercises, or is strength training actually recommended?
I also want to understand whether menopause and hormone therapy play a role in protecting bone health.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

You have osteoporosis, and other than calcium and vitamin D, you can take:

Daily morning sunlight from 6 to 10 AM for 15 to 20 minutes, five days a week.
Avoid iron tablets along with calcium.
Take calcium at night with milk.
Dairy products like milk, curd, paneer, and tofu, if you are not lactose intolerant.
Sesame seeds, one teaspoon daily.
Use ragi (finger millet) products, whatever you prefer.
Add drumsticks to your diet.

These are all measures other than medications that might help. Bisphosphonates are generally safe in the long term, but need a dental checkup before starting the therapy, and the medication should be continued under supervision. Very rarely, it may lead to jaw osteonecrosis.

You can do strength training, but it is advisable to first start your medication for calcium and vitamins, and make sure to start with the lowest level first. Do not strain too much, as it may lead to a stress fracture. You can do exercise, but within limits.

No heavy weight lifting.
No sudden jumping.
You can do swimming, which is a safe option.

Menopause is the main factor affecting bone health because of a reduction in the hormone estrogen after menopause.

Starting hormonal replacement will be decided based on the severity of the condition. This is personalized and person-specific, so a better option is calcium and vitamin supplements than bisphosphonates. If nothing works and you have other menopausal symptoms, then hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be considered, but for a short duration only.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.