Essential Treatment for Managing Osteoporosis

Fractures

If a person should suffer osteoporosis fractures, it

is important to be familiar with the therapy and

treatment procedures that can be done to

manage their condition, according to medical

experts. In normal healthy people it can be an

arduous and stressful ordeal to recover from a

broken bone; often the process might take eight

to ten weeks with therapy.

However for elderly patients who suffer

osteoporosis related fractures stemming fro

m long-term treatment

, bone healing is even more protracted making

the road to recovery very long and painful; often

with many patients unable to recover entirely due

to failing health.

The first consideration for managing an osteoporotic

patient with a fractured bone is to manage any pain.

Normally pain can last up to two months depending on

other factors. Pain can be managed in a variety of ways.

First is painkillers, often non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended.

Second, hot or cold compresses may be used to manage

pain, aside from massages. Lastly, a patient might

benefit from transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

(TENS). While pain is more of less expected to go away

given time, if a person has a history repeated vertebral

fractures then they might develop chronic low back pain.

If surgery is needed then depending on where and

how severe the fracture is casting may be all that is

needed. For hip fractures, surgery is absolutely

necessary followed by close monitoring.

Vertebral fractures may require two forms of

special surgery. Kyphoplasty which involves

inserting a balloon to expand the fractured

vertebrae and filling the cavity with bone cement;

the other procedure vertebroplasty requires the

same without the use of a balloon.

However, these procedures are far from full-proof

and have a higher than average failure rate,

though it has been noted that for those who

experience no side-effects whatsoever, the pain

relief is said to be effective.

Physical therapy is also recommended for

patients because it can assist in recovery,

regaining mobility for the patient and help

prevent fractures from occurring in the future.

Low weight bearing exercises such as swimming,

cycling or walking have been shown to prevent

bone turnover and strengthen bone thus assisting

in recovery and preventing further fracture. In

some cases balance and preventing falls can be

possible with learning how to do Tai Chi.

These are some of the basic treatments for

managing an elderly client with osteoporosis

fractures, but it is best to know and understand

this for both patient and caregiver.

If you have suffered an injury from taking Fosamax

or other bisphosphonate-related complications,

you should seek legal advice on filing a

Fosamax class action lawsuit.

URL Reference:

webmd.com/osteoporosis/bone-health-12/pt-pain-

management?page=1