Things You'll Need:
- Light weights or dumbbells
- Vitamin D and calcium supplements
- Prescription drug treatment(s)
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Step 1
Take vitamin supplements. While it is well known that an increased calcium intake can strengthen bones, Vitamin D has also proven effective in the management of osteoporosis. Studies suggest that Vitamin D alone can reduce fractures and bone cracks in osteoporosis patients by as much as 25 percent.
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Step 2
Exercise regularly. One of the risk factors for developing osteoporosis is an inactive lifestyle. Your doctor can suggest an exercise regimen that will not put undue stress on your already compromised bones.
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Step 3
Perform a light weight-lifting routine. Use dumbbells or whatever substitute you prefer to perform weight-bearing exercises. These have been clinically proven to prevent and treat osteoporosis by strengthening bones.
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Step 1
Ask your doctor about bisphosphonates. These bone-strengthening drugs are a mainstay of osteoporosis treatment. However, bear in mind that they come with a potentially unpleasant set of side effects. Nausea, acid reflux, ulcers and stomach pain can all be induced by the use of bisphosphonate drugs. If you do take up a bisphosphonate treatment, use your drugs as directed and tell your doctor about any side effects you experience.
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Step 2
Try hormone therapy (HT) if your doctor recommends it. While this was once the primary means of treating osteoporosis, it is considered less safe than newer drug treatments. It is now normally used as a supplementary treatment, or a secondary treatment if bisphosphonate use proves too difficult.
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Step 3
Use more powerful drugs like teriparatide, which actually stimulates new bone growth, or raloxifene, which copies the bone-strengthening action of sex hormones. However, both these drugs carry a significant risk of undesirable side effects and are not recommended for use by all patients. Talk to your doctor if bisphosphonate treatments don't work for you.
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Step 4
Know that other drugs are also used, albeit rarely, to treat or prevent osteoporosis. Calcitonin hormone supplements may reduce the risk of bone breakage, and tamoxifen, usually used to treat breast cancer, has shown promise in helping maintain bone strength.
