Screening & Diagnosis of Osteoporosis: Identifying Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Osteoporosis Screening and Treatment

As women age, their bones change. At Emory Decatur Hospital in Atlanta, an osteoporosis screening may lead to a diagnosis of osteoporosis, which means bone mass or density is lost, resulting in pain or an increased likelihood of fractures. Osteoarthritis symptoms include joint that become stiffer and less flexible as fluid in the joints decreases and the cartilage begins to rub together and erode.

Osteoporosis, the most common type of bone disease, is the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density over time. An estimated 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and another 18 million have low bone mass, or osteopenia, which may eventually lead to osteoporosis if not treated. Many women can benefit from osteoporosis screening, as researchers estimate that about one out of five American women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. About half of all women over the age of 50 will suffer a fracture of the hip, wrist, or vertebra (bones of the spine).

Minerals may deposit in some joints (calcification). This is common in the shoulder. Hip and knee joints may begin to lose structure (degenerative changes). The finger joints lose cartilage and the bones thicken slightly. Finger joint changes are more common in women and may be hereditary. Some joints, such as the ankle, typically change very little with aging. Many of these bone changes can lead to osteoarthritis and diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis Treatment

Our team of experts provides osteoporosis screening and osteoporosis treatment for symptoms to help:

• Control the pain.
• Slow down or stop bone loss.
• Prevent bone fractures with medicines.
• Minimize the risk of falls that might cause fractures.

In Atlanta, osteoporosis treatment at Emory Decatur Hospital includes:

• Bone Densitometry, also known as a DEXA Scan which is one of the most common ways to do osteoporosis screening and provide a diagnosis of osteoporosis and is recommended for all women over age 65.
• Kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive treatment that can repair spinal fractures.
• Vertebroplasty, a minimally invasive treatment that also can repair spinal fractures.

For women in Atlanta, osteoporosis treatment also is provided through our Comprehensive Rehabilitation Solutions for Women program. Atlanta osteoporosis treatment may include physical and occupational and is designed to help patients attain their maximum potential for reducing pain and inflammation while improving deficits such as strength, balance, endurance and joint range of motion. A healthy diet is an important way to prevent diagnosis of osteoporosis.