Osteoporosis: How to Live With It

When it comes to the health of an elderly person, fractures are one of the greatest concerns, due to increasingly brittle bones as a person ages. The culprit in many cases is osteoporosis, a condition that develops when calcium and phosphate leave the bones and are reabsorbed in the body, leaving the bones thinner and weaker. Often caused in menopausal women by an estrogen shortage, osteoporosis is very likely to affect women over age 50. It can also develop in men over age 70 due to a drop in testosterone.

 

If left untreated, the fragile bones that result from osteoporosis can result in serious and life changing fractures in the elderly person, and when the disease is in the later stages, those fractures can be very serious. Fractures in seniors can lead to extreme pain and loss of mobility as well as negative changes in lifestyle. Even after the fractures heal, pain may remain and the issue then is to try and cope with it as much as possible.

 

The chronic pain and problems of osteoporosis can occur in the form of stiffness and weakness, muscle tension and spasms. The senior’s doctor can order a bone density test to see if he/she has osteoporosis and determine how severe it is. Then, she can assist in managing the pain in a number of ways. Some ways to manage osteoporosis pain are:

• Regular exercise – Exercise releases natural pain killers called endorphins from the brain. Engaging in a regular exercise program also helps the senior build strength and increases energy, makes him/her more flexible and builds muscles that protect the fragile bones – among many other benefits.
• Massage – A therapeutic massage therapist can do wonders for the pain caused by osteoporosis. Other benefits include relaxation and increasing blood supply. If mom or dad decides to start massage therapy, make certain that the massage therapist knows that he/she has osteoporosis so that the pressure can be adjusted to make certain that the spine won’t be affected.
• Hot and cold packs – Cold packs can relieve pain by anesthetizing nerves in the painful area(s). Taking a warm bath or shower or adding warmth to the pain area can loosen stiff muscles. Your elderly family member can try both of these methods to see which works best for the pain.
• Acupuncture – An acupuncturist might be able to relieve pain associated with osteoporosis by inserting specially-developed needles at specific body areas. The needles cause the brain to release endorphins.
• TENS – Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation are small mechanisms that are sometimes used to send electrical currents to the area where pain occurs, preventing pain transmissions to be sent to the brain. These devices are small and can be fastened to a belt for uninterrupted relief.

 The chronic pain suffered with osteoporosis can affect victims emotionally as well as physically and could cause depression, isolation and hopelessness. Seniors suffering from osteoporosis may feel despondent and withdraw from life, so it’s very important to make sure that your aging parent is tested and treated for the chronic pain that may occur.